Welcome!  I am a psychiatrist with over 26 years of experience in working with younger children, adolescents, adults, and families.  My specialty is working with youth and young adults who have or are at risk for serious mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder.  I also specialize in PANS/PANDAS and related neuropsychiatric disorders.  By working with children who have these complex conditions, I have also accumulated extensive experience in working with ADHD, anxiety, behavioral disorders, OCD, tic disorders, psychotic disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. 

My research has focused on genetic and biological markers, particularly brain imaging, for risk for development of severe mood disorders, and interventions to prevent such disorders from occurring.  These interventions have included psychotropic medications as well as family therapy and mindfulness interventions.  I also have worked closely with numerous pharmaceutical companies to help design and analyze large scale studies of psychotropic medications in youth, to determine their efficacy and safety.  To download my CV, please click below.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, playing basketball, cooking, and playing music.  I also run a home recording studio, Shaka Studios, and enjoy producing and recording bands.

BACKGROUND

2021-Now University of Texas at Houston Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

2017-Now           Private Practice

1999-2017          Stanford University School of Medicine                    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

          Director, Pediatric Bipolar Disorders Program

          Co-Founder, Stanford PANS Clinic

1996-1999          Stanford University School of Medicine                    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and T-32 Research Fellowship

1993-1996          University of Cincinnati School of Medicine          Psychiatry Internship and Residency

1988-1993          Tufts University School of Medicine                              M.D.

1984-1988          Princeton University                                                                      A.B. in Molecular Biology

DISCLOSURES

In the past three years I have consulted for and/or received research grants from the following companies: Sunovion, AbbVie, Compass Pathways