Why psychiatry?

When I offer my clients the opportunity to ask me questions, the most common question I get asked is: why do you do this?

I always return to this: “We do this, not to keep the heart beating or the lungs breathing, but to retain that spark that makes the difference between living and just existing.”

As I reflected on what part of medicine aligns with my values and beliefs, I resonated most deeply with quality of life. How we feel about and react to our circumstances are just as important as the circumstances themselves. Through psychiatry, we get to experience together the art of balancing the medical and the psychological to create meaningful understanding and change in life. Simply put, I want you to live the life you want to be living. 

I deeply value the relationship that I get to build with my patients. I don’t just want to know about side effects and rating scales - I care about how our work together impacts your ability to find purpose, meaning, and joy in life.

About me

I am a second-generation American of mixed-Asian heritage (Chinese and Indian). As a military kid, I have lived all over the United States, from Hawaii to Texas to Massachusetts to California, and places in between. I moved to San Diego with my family in 2018, and this is where we plan to stay. I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and I have recently gotten into weightlifting and stained glass art. I’m not very good at either of those yet, but I’m enjoying the process of learning!

Contact me.

contact@saritashahmd.com
(858) 221-0344

5060 Shoreham Place, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 921211