I received my medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed my psychiatry residency training at Harvard Medical School–affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

I am currently an Assistant Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and a staff psychiatrist at the Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center. I serve as Principal Investigator on several federally funded research projects aimed at improving substance use disorder treatment outcomes among homeless-experienced Veterans, with an emphasis on translating evidence-based interventions into real-world care settings.

My clinical work integrates psychotherapy and medication management when appropriate, grounded in a collaborative and person-centered approach. My psychotherapy training spans psychodynamic and psychoanalytic traditions, informed by faculty at the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute, as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I also draw on principles from Internal Family Systems to help individuals develop greater insight, flexibility, and self-understanding.

My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including JAMA, Frontiers in Psychiatry, JMIR Mental Health, and The American Journal on Addictions. I regularly present my work at national conferences and am a frequent invited speaker to academic institutions, conferences, and private companies on topics related to mental health, addiction, cannabis, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health.

I am an advocate for responsible pharmaceutical drug pricing and am committed to promoting evidence-based, safe, and clinically appropriate use of cannabinoid-based therapies, as well as advancing research that clarifies their risks, benefits, and limitations.