WoW Woman in Mental Health I Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, Chief Medical Officer at LifeStance Health

Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn serves as Chief Medical Officer at LifeStance Health.

Anisha has nearly 20 years of experience as a practicing psychiatrist and managing a large group practice, having co-founded Pacific Coast Psychiatric Associates, Inc. (PCPA) in 2006, now part of LifeStance Health, in San Francisco. Anisha is responsible for overseeing all clinical services delivered through LifeStance ensuring that care quality meets and exceeds professional standards. Anisha holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Emory University and received her medical degree from The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific at Western University of Health Sciences. Anisha enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, and scuba diving.

Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. They are one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Their mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance employs approximately 5,200 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 32 states and approximately 600 centers.

Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.

I grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago with my parents, who are responsible for instilling a strong work ethic in me from a very young age. Both of my parents were first-generation immigrants to the U.S., so academics, hard work, and helping others were always highly valued in our home. In my professional career, I was drawn to the mental health industry, becoming a Board Certified Psychiatrist, and eventually co-founding and managing a large group practice called Pacific Coast Psychiatric Associates, Inc. (PCPA) in 2006. That practice is now a part of LifeStance Health, where I currently serve as Chief Medical Officer. 

How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?

I was inspired to pursue psychiatry and business through many role models in my life. My aunt, who was a pediatrician in Los Angeles, helped to model the balance between being a physician and a mother. My mother, who was a business owner and networker, was constantly looking to help other people achieve success and reach their goals. And finally, my father has helped me immensely as an entrepreneur and leader to know what next steps to take, and advise me on building a successful practice. 

How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? 

Of course, when first starting out in any career it’s natural to make small mistakes and learn through experience. For those in the medical industry however, the stakes are higher and in residency we are trained to not make mistakes at all, so I remember the sinking feeling of panic in my gut when I realized I double booked two patients back in 2006 when we first opened our doors. However, I learned a valuable lesson from that experience which I still implement today – when you make a mistake or something goes wrong, it’s essential to take ownership of it and be proactive in identifying a solution — do not give excuses. That lesson has helped me navigate countless challenges in my career.

What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in? 

The mental health crisis was present long before the pandemic, but the silver lining of the last few years is that there is more of a spotlight than ever on the importance of prioritizing your mental health. We still have a long way to go to fully destigmatize mental health care, but the ongoing conversation and attention sparked by the pandemic will only better serve generations to come. 

What are your biggest achievements to date?

As a psychiatrist, I’m extremely proud of the work I’ve accomplished in opening and managing my practice that helped countless patients find needed mental health care support. When we became a part of LifeStance, my role expanded from leading a local practice to the thousands of clinicians that LifeStance employs in my capacity as Chief Medical Officer. Clinical excellence is at the cornerstone of everything LifeStance does, and since its clinicians are its single largest asset, I’m proud of the best-in-class work environment that we’ve created to support them. 

By far my biggest achievement thus far, however, is being a dedicated mother to my two daughters.

What are the projects you are currently working on?

I also feel proud to lead other initiatives within LifeStance that allow me to work directly on projects that energize me the most. I serve as Executive Vice President of the LifeStance Health Foundation, which focuses on supporting especially vulnerable patients including youth and adolescents, underrepresented minority communities and the underemployed/uninsured. I also am an executive sponsor of our National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. 

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why? 

As a mother of two young daughters, I’m a vocal supporter of women being at the forefront of innovation in every industry. In healthcare specifically, we’ve seen technology become central to everyday life more so than ever before during the pandemic. Telehealth is an important tool for improving access to mental health services, and our hybrid model at LifeStance ensures that patients have access to the care that is most convenient and effective for them. 

What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?

In the next five years, I anticipate we’ll see more integration between physical and mental healthcare. Historically, there has been a lack of coordination between mental and physical health which leads to poorer health outcomes. In fact, this poor coordination leads to over 63 million unnecessary ER visits annually related to mental health issues, and patients who experience an ongoing mental health condition typically see a 50-100% increase in overall media costs.

Making mental and physical health care more integrated will not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce the burden on the healthcare system. In the next five years, I expect that we will have made major strides forward in this area of health care. 

What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?

I would advise them to join us! Being in the mental health field is hard work, but it is extremely fulfilling work. I have patients who I’ve seen develop and grow over many years, and being a part of their healing and overall health is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I log on every day knowing that I have a powerful community of mental health clinicians that I can brainstorm with, empathize with, and share experiences with and that we are all on this journey together. 

Find out more about LifeStance on their website.

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This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic and read her stories for Forbes here.