Double Board Certified, Adult & Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist

Encino

✅ Accepting New Patients

💼 6-10 Years Experience

⭐ Highly Recommended

🕰️ Excellent Wait Time

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Getting to know Ernest Okwuonu, M.D.

Dr. Ernest Okwuonu is a Stanford-trained Psychiatrist with a robust background in managing complex psychiatric conditions in diverse medical settings. He completed his Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in New York and served as Chief Resident. Dr. Okwuonu earned his MD from the American University of the Caribbean and holds a BSc Honors in Pharmaceutical & Biological Chemistry from York University in Toronto, which informs his in-depth psychopharmacology knowledge.

Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Dr. Okwuonu has specialized training in managing psychiatric complications in intensive care, surgical, and oncology settings. He has contributed to the field through his quality improvement project on dyspnea in critically ill patients and has presented his work at multiple conferences. His scholarly activities include publications in the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. He is currently an active member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, where he serves on the mentorship committee.

Focus Areas

Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Mood Swings
PTSD

Chronic Illness Adjustment
Panic Attacks
Anxiety

Childhood/ Adolescent Issues
Women's Issues (Perinatal/ Reproductive)

Clientele

Veterans
Geriatric

People with chronic illness

Adults
Young Adults

Treatment Approaches

Addiction Psychiatry: Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders.
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Provides psychiatric services to patients in other medical specialties.
Geriatric Psychiatry: Focuses on the mental health of older adults.
Neuropsychiatry: Combines psychiatry with neurology to treat disorders affecting both the brain and mind.
Emergency Psychiatry: Provides psychiatric care in emergency settings.
Reproductive Psychiatry: addresses the mental health needs of individuals during times of hormonal change, focusing on conditions and symptoms influenced by the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum period, infertility, and menopause.

Identity

Gender

Male

Languages

English

Insurance Providers

UMR
PHCS MultiPlan
Medicare
Carelon Health
VHP

ComPsych
Kaiser Permanente
Aetna
Cigna

BlueCross BlueShield
Magellan Health
TriWest
MHN

5.0

The doctor that is working with me is thorough, attentive and understanding. I am very happy with my experience.

FAQs

1. What is your approach to working with patients?

I utilize a nuanced, individualistic treatment approach that includes a therapeutic and psychopharmacological intervention.

2. How do you integrate medication management?

I practice a unique psychopharmacological approach, that breaks with the usual algorithmic protocol. This allows me to effectively utilize treatments that is optimal for my patients, with strong positive outcomes.

3. What types of concerns do you specialize in treating?

Functional neurological conditions, cancer patients, transplant patients, geriatric, veterans and women's health.

4. What's something you want your patients to know about you?

I am a firm believer in a holistic approach towards both the body (soma) and the mind (psychological). Focusing on the root causes, rather than just symptomatic management.

5. What do you believe is the most important part of the healing process?

The intergration of the body and the mind in a multifaceted approach, that allows for improvements in various spheres of overall functionality.

6. What kinds of clients do you work with best?

I find such a profound meaning working with patients with chronic medical conditions with intersect with psychological symptoms.

7. Do you have experience with trauma or PTSD?

Yes

8. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I do play recreational soccer regularly. An avid Arsenal FC fan, COYG!