Today we’d like to introduce you to Prisa Zachariah.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a first-generation Indian American, I grew up acutely aware of the cultural stigma and quiet misunderstandings that often surround mental health. That awareness planted the seeds for a lifelong commitment to creating spaces where emotional well-being can be discussed openly, without shame, and with compassion. My path into psychiatry was deeply personal, shaped by a desire to support young people and families in their most vulnerable moments—support I often wished for myself while growing up with a father who struggled with his own mental health.
I began my academic journey at Penn State University, earning my undergraduate degree in Psychology, before pursuing my medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine on the island of Dominica. My clinical training carried me across the country, with rotations in Atlanta, Bakersfield, and Miami, each experience broadening my understanding of the diverse ways communities experience and access mental health care.
My residency brought me to New York, where I completed my general psychiatry training at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. During those four formative years, I also became a mother to my three beautiful daughters—an experience that further shaped my perspective on development, resilience, and the importance of family in healing.
Drawn to the intersection of mental health, childhood development, and family systems, I returned to Miami—my husband’s hometown—to complete my fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Citrus Health Network. Today, I serve as the Associate Program Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship there, mentoring and training the next generation of child psychiatrists while continuing my clinical work.
I also provide specialized care for the Autistic community at the Citrus FIU Embrace Medical Center, focusing on creating environments where patients and families feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported.
These experiences and guiding philosophies ultimately led me to co-found my own practice, Spectrum Psychiatry, PA, alongside one of my closest colleagues and dearest friends. Together, we strive to provide care “across the spectrum, for every mind,” grounded in connection, inclusivity, and a belief in the inherent strength within every individual and family we serve.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Practicing medicine in New York at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was unlike anything I had ever imagined—especially as a young mother still in training, married to another physician, both of us walking into uncertainty every day. There was a constant, quiet fear that followed us home: not just of what we were seeing in the hospital, but of what we might carry back to our infant daughter. We watched colleagues and patients fall ill, and in those early days, when so little was known, every shift felt heavy with both purpose and dread.
During my final year of residency, I learned I was pregnant with twins. What began as joyful shock quickly turned into a high-risk journey when I was diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. At 18 weeks, I underwent urgent surgery, and by 24 weeks, I found myself on prolonged bed rest in the hospital, where I would remain until delivery at 32 weeks. To keep myself grounded, I continued my residency work remotely from my hospital bed, determined to graduate on time. The hardest part wasn’t the physical toll—it was the separation from my eldest daughter, who I couldn’t see because of strict COVID restrictions.
After weeks in the NICU, the twins “graduated” and came home, and almost immediately, we packed up our lives and drove to Florida for the next chapter of my training. Life didn’t slow down. Not long after, my father’s health declined, and he returned to India to spend his final months there before passing away.
Looking back, I still don’t quite know how I managed to move through that season—passing my board exams, serving as Chief Fellow, stepping into an academic track, and raising three toddlers all at once. What I do know is that those moments shaped me, not just as a physician, but as a person. They deepened my empathy, strengthened my resilience, and reminded me every day why connection, presence, and compassion matter just as much as any diagnosis or treatment plan.
As you know, we’re big fans of Spectrum Psychiatry, PA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Spectrum Psychiatry, we believe every mind deserves compassionate, individualized, and high-quality care through our mental health services. Our practice is dedicated to supporting people of all ages—from children and adolescents to adults—through every stage of life, including specialized child psychiatry.
With specialized training in working with the neurodivergent community, we understand and honor the unique strengths and challenges of conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and learning differences. We also have extensive experience collaborating with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), partnering with schools, and navigating complex systems to ensure our patients receive the mental health support they need both in and out of the office.
Whether addressing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, or any psychiatric condition, our approach is tailored to the individual. We prioritize building trust, fostering resilience, and empowering each person to thrive—because our psychiatry services meet you where you are and grow with you along the way.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I believe in choosing quality over quantity when it comes to care. So much of modern medicine is shaped by time limits, insurance constraints, and systems that can make the experience feel rushed and impersonal. This is why we don’t accept insurance at this time. I strive to slow that process down—to sit with my patients, truly listen, and build relationships that last beyond a single appointment. For me, the greatest privilege is watching my patients grow and transition through different seasons of their lives. At Spectrum Psychiatry, that level of presence, connection, and continuity is the heart of what we offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spectrum-psychiatry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Spectrum.Psychiatry
