A practicing physician for over 30 years, Dr. Ahmad has dedicated his professional life to helping individuals find balance in their mental and physical well-being. He is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and serves as the Unit Chief of the Inpatient Unit at Bellevue Hospital. He was recognized for his distinguished service at Bellevue in 2014 and was named Bellevue’s Physician of the Year in Psychiatry for his continued pursuit of clinical excellence, leadership, and dedication at the institution. Dr. Ahmad is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; an Associate member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, U.K; and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds licenses in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Massachusetts, and Maine.
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Dr. Ahmad has been a consultant to the Federal Occupational Health Services, the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies, and is a frequent lecturer on topics such as the treatment of mood disorders, schizophrenia, metabolic disorders, cannabis, and coping with the medical, mental, and societal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has co-authored and served as contributing and consulting editor for various textbooks in psychiatry. His most recent book is Medical Marijuana: A Clinical Handbook, and he regularly speaks about the benefits and risks of cannabis use, as well as its history and role in shaping U.S. drug policies.
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Dr. Ahmad's research has examined psychopharmacological treatments for psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders with a particular focus on metabolic disorders and medical comorbidities in the mentally ill. He was the principal investigator of an inpatient study about the association of psychiatric medications, diet, physical activity, and obesity in the chronically mentally ill. Additional research has focused on understanding the role of faith, religion and resilience in disasters. His documentary, “The Wrath of God: A Faith Based Survival Paradigm,” examined the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, and he was awarded “The Frank Ochberg Award for Media and Trauma” by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
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Dr. Ahmad is also the founder of the Integrative Center for Wellness, where he specializes in treating patients with anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD, and mood disorders with special emphasis on bipolar disorder. He focuses on a holistic approach to integrate psycho-pharmacological, diet, and lifestyle modifications in a manner that optimizes all treatment modalities.
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He lives in New York City with his wife Kimberly and their son Daniel. Dr. Ahmad enjoys photography, traveling, driving, and collecting and listening to vinyl.
Select Publications
Selected Books:
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Medical Marijuana: A Clinical Guidebook. Ahmad S, Hill K (2020).
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Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Ruiz, P., Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; Tenth Edition (2017). Contributing Author, Anticholinergics and Amantadine (Volume II, Chapter 34, Section 34.6), Ahmad, S.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Ruiz, P., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Fourth Edition (2017). Contributing Editor* and Consulting Editor**.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Pocket Handbook of Psychiatric Drug Treatment, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Sussman, N., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Sixth Edition (2013). Consulting Editor**.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Fifth Edition (2010). Contributing Editor*.
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Clinical Addiction Psychiatry, Brizer, D., Castaneda, R., Cambridge University Press, First Edition (2010). Contributing Author, Suicide and Substance Abuse, Chapter 4, Pages 37-44, Ahmad, S.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Ruiz, P., Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 9th Revised edition (2009). Contributing Author, Anticholinergics and Amantadine, Ahmad, S.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Pocket Handbook of Psychiatric Drug Treatment, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Sussman, N., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Fifth Edition (2008). Consulting Editor**.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Third Edition (2008). Consulting Editor**.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Concise Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; First Edition (2008). Contributing Editor*.
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Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Tenth Edition (2007). Consulting Editor**.
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Kaplan and Sadock's Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Fourth Edition (2005). Contributing Editor*.
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Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry, Sadock, B., Sadock, V., Lippincot Williams & Wilkins; Ninth Edition (2003). Assistant to the Editor.
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On Call Psychiatry, Bernstein, C., Ladds, B., Maloney, A., Weiner, E., W.B. Saunders Co.; First Edition (1997). Contributing Author, Anxiety Disorder, Ahmad, S.
Selected Articles:
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Sun, L., Getz, M., Daboul, S., Jay, M., Sherman, S., Aujero N., Rosedale, M., Goetz, R., Weissman, J., Malaspina, D., Ahmad, S. Independence of Diabetes and Obesity in Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Findings from a Large Urban Public Hospital. Journal of Psychiatric Research, January 2018, Volume 99, Pages 159-166.
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Joe, P., Getz, M., Redman, S. Petrilli, M., Kranz, T., Malaspina, D., Ahmad, S. Serum Zinc Levels in Acute Psychiatric Patients: A Case Series. Journal of Psychiatry Research, March 2018, Volume 261, Pages 344-350.
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Feder, A., Ahmad, S., Lee, E. J., Morgan, J. E., Singh, R., Smith, B. W., Southwick, S. M., Charney, D. S. (2013). Coping and PTSD symptoms in Pakistani earthquake survivors: Purpose in life, religious coping and social support. Journal of Affective Disorders, May 2013, Volume 147, Issue 1-3, Pages 156-163.June 2010, Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 408-412.
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Ahmad, S., Feder, A. (2010). Earthquake Impact in a Remote South Asian Population: Psychosocial Factors and Posttraumatic Symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, June 2010, Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 408-412.