Department of Psychiatry

At the Department of Psychiatry, we work every day to better understand human behavior and mental health — and apply what we've learned to help our community live happier, healthier lives.
Psychiatrist and patient talking

Paving the way for psychiatric advancements

As one of the first and most diverse psychiatric departments in Greater Boston, our vast network gives our residents the support system they need to become the brightest minds in medicine.  

It also helps us push forward. From striving to solve the work-life balance equation to understanding how tryptophan production can influence depression risk, our cutting-edge research isn't just theoretical — it's put into practice.

Our pursuit of the "what's next" in psychiatry is firmly rooted in our belief that to serve our patients best, we must guide their comprehensive evaluations with the most advanced scientific knowledge available. That's why our department includes physicians and other clinicians with expertise in pharmacotherapy, individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy and family and couples psychotherapy, as well as the medical complications associated with psychiatric illness.
Contact info
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Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic
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800 Washington Street
Farnsworth 3rd floor
Boston, MA 02111
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Department research

We’re always pursuing what’s next in psychiatry, and what’s next in our patients’ health. Every faculty member in our department, as well as our residents, takes part in clinical and laboratory research projects. Together, through our research, we strive to make breakthroughs across every aspect of behavioral health.

Our recent focus areas include:

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Employer-based depression care 
  • Inflammatory processes in psychiatric disorders
  • Neuropsychology 
  • Psychiatric and medical illness
  • Psychopharmacology in the foster care system
  • Systems of care in psychiatry and child psychiatry

Clinical research projects

Our researchers want to know the answers to complex, big-picture questions, like how certain chronic Hepatitis C virus treatments trigger depression and how to reduce stress in the workplace. Some of our clinical research projects include:

  • Be Well at Work initiative
  • Markers to predict interferon-alpha-associated depression
  • Safety and efficacy study of ramelteon tablets in adults with bipolar I disorder
  • How tryptophan impacts the aging process 

Explore our research + projects

 
Brent Forester

Podcast

Brent Forester, MD, MSc, Psychiatrist in Chief, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of Behavioral Health at Tufts Medical Center discusses the complexity of dementia care and the importance of a holistic approach.

Featured clinical trials

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THC-AD
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Alzheimer's disease, Psychiatric disorders
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All genders
person-wave 60-95
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Recruiting now
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Training + education

We excel at nurturing leaders. Being a leader is pivotal in psychiatry because, at some point in our residents’ careers, they’ll need to step into that role to champion their patient’s health and wellness.  

Our residency and fellowship programs are designed to teach the next generation of psychiatrists all of that and more. We help prepare mental health professionals through hands-on learning and guidance from the brightest minds in behavioral medicine.
General Psychiatry Residency Program
Learn why our residents chose Tufts Medicine’s General Psychiatry Residency to advance their careers as upcoming psychiatrists.
Residencies + fellowships

 

Child + Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Training
Doctoral Psychology Practicum Training Program
General Psychiatry Residency Program
The Boston Triple Board Training Program
Working with some of the people here connects you to some of the very old traditions in psychiatry. You're tapped into a very valuable network that can help you find what you may be interested in and pursue opportunities within that.
Jon-Michael Saenz
Resident, Psychiatry Residency Program
Tufts Medical Center | Tufts Medicine
Jon Michael Saenz, MD talking to colleague at a Tufts Medical Center event.
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Our leadership

Our leadership team gives us the guidance and support we need to ensure that the clinical, research and training goals of the department are met.

  • Department Chair: Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc
  • Program Director, General Psychiatry Program: Daniel Morehead, MD
  • Program Director, Triple Board Residency Program: Karen Saroca, MD
  • Division Chief, Adult Outpatient Psychiatry: Zaina Jabur, MD
  • Program Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program: Neha Sharma, DO
  • Vice Chair, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Albert John Sargent, MD
  • Vice Chair, Adult Psychiatry: George Koldzic, MD
  • Division Chief, Consultation-Liaison and Psychiatric Emergency Services: Cristina Montalvo, MD
  • Division Chief, Inpatient Psychiatry: Michelle DiBlasi, DO
  • Division Chief, Addiction Psychiatry: Amanda Von Horn, MD
  • Director, Medical Student Education: Jody Schindelheim, MD
  • Medical Director, Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center: Marco Caicedo, MD
  • Medical Director, Tewksbury Hospital: Sarah Patt, MD
Anasuya Gunturi MD, PhD talks with patient at Lowell General Hospital's Women's Wellness Center clinic appointment.
Our locations

From regular office visits to inpatient stays, our specialists across Tufts Medicine offer the best in healthcare, when and where our patients need it.
Female psychiatrists talking with a patient
Our doctors + care team

Our specialists and care team members across Tufts Medicine deliver unmatched healthcare with a personalized touch.

What's new?

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Q&A with Varsha Radhakrishnan, MD, Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, about spending Thanksgiving alone.
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