Bio
Dr. Bajestan serves as Neuropsychiatry Section Chief, Associate Neuropsychiatry Fellowship Director, Co-director of Individual Psychotherapy Clinic and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.She is involved in clinical practice, research and training of the psychiatry residents and neuropsychiatry fellows. Dr. Bajestan is the neuropsychiatric consultant at Stanford University’s Inpatient Neurology Units, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, and Outpatient Neurology Clinics. She also works in different psychiatry clinics in department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, providing consultations (mainly) and outpatient care (both medication management and psycho therapy). She takes joy in working closely with her patients, their family members, other health care providers, teaching/mentoring trainees and also attending to her research projects.
Dr. Bajestan is the recipient of many national awards, such as American Psychiatric Association’s Irma Bland Award for Excellence in Teaching, American Psychiatric Association’s Leadership Award, American Association of Psychiatry Residency Director’s Brain Scholar Award, American College of Psychiatrists’ Laughlin Fellowship, American Neuropsychiatric Association’s Young Investigator’s Award, and Stanford University Psychiatry Department's Outstanding Resident Award. She is also the recipient of department of psychiatry's Chair’s Mission Award for Leadership and Professionalism.
Neuroscience, Neuropsychiatry and Psychopharmacology Expertise:
Dr. Bajestan has received her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. She spent her training during her PhD and post-doctoral course in learning the molecular genetics and biology of neurological and psychiatric disorders. She later trained in Psychiatry at Stanford University and became a board certified General Psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Bajestan was the first neuropsychiatry fellow at Stanford University and established this fellowship with Dr. John Barry. She is also board certified in Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology by United Council of Neurological Subspecialties. Dr. Bajestan is an expert in complex neuro-psychopharmacology. She is also is trained in interventional neuropsychiatry such as ECT and TMS.
Dr. Bajestan is a nationally known expert in Functional Neurological Disorders (FND). She is the chair of Awards Committee, and co-leads the FND section of Committee of Research in American Neuropsychiatric Association. She is one of the editors of the popular Concise Guide to Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology Book.
Psychotherapy Expertise:
Dr. Bajestan has undergone training in different psychotherapy orientations including Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Hypnosis and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Dr. Bajestan is the director of Individual Psychotherapy Clinic at Stanford University. She also serves on the board of WellConnect Clinic where she provides mental health treatment and burnout prevention coaching to resident and fellows of Stanford Hospital and Clinics.