Jasleen Chhatwal

Jasleen Chhatwal, MD, has been an integral part of the medical staff at Sierra Tucson since 2018, serving as Director of the Mood Program and Associate Medical Director before being named Chief Medical Officer in January 2020. Dr. Chhatwal came to Sierra Tucson by way of the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry where she continues to serve as an Assistant Professor. She believes each individual has a unique, authentic story, and is grateful to all those who have entrusted her with their stories.

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Chhatwal is responsible for managing the medical department, which includes psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, as well as overseeing the integrative care team and applied neuroscience department. She strives to ensure consistent, high-quality patient care through the optimization of internal processes that help increase provider face-time with patients. In addition, Dr. Chhatwal leads the facility’s mental health education outreach efforts at national and international conferences and seminars to promote the importance of integrated and integrative care for successful, sustainable recovery.

Dr. Chhatwal completed her residency training in psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, also serving as Chief Resident. Here she trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, psychopharmacology, neuromodulation and various emerging modalities. She further completed fellowship training in Integrative Medicine from the renowned Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Post residency, Dr. Chhatwal stayed on at her alma mater working in a combined community and academic setting. Here she provided inpatient and outpatient services, while also serving as associate and then interim medical director of inpatient psychiatry services at Banner University Medical Center – South Campus.

Active in medical student & resident physician education, Dr. Chhatwal aims to enhance understanding of psychiatric disorders for varied medical personnel. She is also active in the mental health community, advocating for her patients’, colleagues and profession through elected positions in regional and national organizations. This year, she serves on the executive council of the Arizona Psychiatric Society in the role of President-Elect. Concurrently, she is also serving as the Early Career Psychiatrist representative for western US and Canada (Area7) to the American Psychiatric Association Assembly. She also holds membership in the American Association of Physician Leadership and the World Psychiatric Association. Dr. Chhatwal’s dedication and contribution to the mental health field have been recognized in the form of a Presidential Award for Leadership from the Arizona Psychiatric Society, and Fellowship in the American Psychiatric Association.

Echoing naturalistic healing disciplines, Dr. Chhatwal believes that the human body has the inherent capacity to heal itself when provided with a nurturing environment for the mind, body and spirit. In her practice, in collaboration with colleagues from various disciplines, she attempts to recreate that nurturing environment so residents can start their journey towards a healthier, more wholesome life. As a firm believer that staff care is important to providing optimal patient care, she aims to also assist the Sierra Tucson medical staff to prioritize their own self-care.

Dr. Chhatwal’s treatment philosophy includes intervening early, providing holistic, culturally competent, gender-affirming and evidence-based care. She envisions Sierra Tucson as a healing sanctuary where intensive biological, psychological and integrative therapies help restore the vital essence of each person’s unique and authentic story.