Bio
Dr. Lahijani is a Clinical Professor of Medical Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and a nationally recognized leader in psycho-oncology. With extensive training and expertise in internal medicine, psychiatry, and consultation-liaison psychiatry, she has made significant contributions to the integration of psychiatric care within oncological settings.
Since her appointment at Stanford in 2015, Dr. Lahijani has served as the lead psychiatric oncologist at the Stanford Cancer Center, where she provides medical psychiatric consultation services and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes. In her capacity as Medical Director of the Stanford Cancer Center Psychosocial Oncology Program, a position she has held since 2019, she is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of comprehensive psychiatric services tailored to the unique needs of patients with cancer.
Additionally, Dr. Lahijani serves as the Section Chief of Psycho-Oncology in the Division of Medical Psychiatry where she oversees psych-onc faculty development and leads the training of medical psychiatry fellows in psycho-oncology. She also supervises advanced practice providers while also working as an attending psychiatric oncologist to provide care for patients with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities across all hematology and oncology units.
Dr. Lahijani's academic credentials include her graduation from Brown Medical School, followed by the completion of a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center. After completing residency, she practiced internal medicine and psychiatry with a focus on triple diagnosis (HIV, addiction medicine, mental health). She then further advanced through a Psychosomatic Medicine Fellowship at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, during which time she received specialized training in psychiatric oncology at the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Her clinical expertise encompasses psychopharmacology and a range of treatment modalities, including Meaning Centered Psychotherapy and Dignity Therapy. Dr. Lahijani is deeply committed to fostering relationship-centered skills and promoting provider wellness. As a faculty member of Advancing Communication Excellence at Stanford, she has led workshops designed to enhance communication competencies among faculty and staff.
Dr. Lahijani's scholarly pursuits are at the intersection of medicine and psychiatry, with a particular emphasis on the neuropsychiatric sequelae of cancer treatment, innovations in care, and medical education. She is dedicated to the education and mentorship of trainees in Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, and Neurology. Through her commitment to academic excellence, Dr. Lahijani plays a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of healthcare providers to adeptly navigate the intricate and multifaceted needs of patients and their caregivers, thereby promoting a comprehensive approach to patient care.
