Dr. Rania Awaad stands as a distinguished figure in the field of psychiatry and an integral part of the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency. As a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the esteemed Stanford University School of Medicine, she not only shapes the future of psychiatric professionals but also significantly contributes to public mental health and cultural psychiatry. Her multifaceted roles, including Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab and Affiliate Chaplain at Stanford University, highlight her commitment to comprehensive and culturally sensitive mental health care. Dr. Awaad’s leadership extends to her position as Associate Division Chief for Public Mental Health and Population Sciences and Section Co-Chief of Diversity and Cultural Mental Health, further embedding her influence within the Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency. Her affiliation with the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University underscores her unique interdisciplinary approach to mental health. Dr. Awaad’s journey in psychiatry is deeply rooted in Stanford, where she completed her psychiatric residency training and a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), setting a strong foundation for her impactful career within the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency and beyond.
Recognized nationally for her pioneering work in Muslim mental health, Dr. Awaad’s expertise has been sought after by national leaders, including Presidents Obama and Biden, as well as institutions like the CDC, HHS, and SAMHSA. She has presented her groundbreaking work at national convenings in Washington, D.C., solidifying her position as a thought leader in the field. Dr. Awaad’s innovative spirit is evident in her establishment of the first Muslim Mental Health Community Advisory Board (BAMMH CAB) in the United States. This initiative reflects her dedication to community-engaged research and culturally tailored mental health solutions, principles highly valued within the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency. Furthermore, she has been instrumental in creating multiple Muslim mental health clinics and developing specialized clinical and educational training programs. These programs are designed to equip clinicians, religious leaders, and community leaders with the necessary tools to address the unique mental health needs of Muslim communities, showcasing her commitment to bridging cultural gaps in mental healthcare, a crucial aspect of training within the Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency.
Through strategic community partnerships fostered by the Stanford Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Awaad currently serves as the Psychiatric Director of the El Camino Women’s Medical Group. In this role, she actively pursues her passion for women’s mental health, contributing her expertise to a critical area within psychiatry. Adding to her extensive portfolio, she is the Executive Director of Maristan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing holistic mental health services to Muslim communities. Her previous role as the founding Clinical Director of the Bay Area branch of the Khalil Center further illustrates her dedication to establishing and leading impactful mental health organizations. These experiences enrich her perspective and contribute to her guidance of residents in the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency, offering valuable insights into diverse clinical settings and patient populations.
Dr. Awaad’s commitment to education is profound and multifaceted at Stanford. Her courses range from a pioneering exploration of Islamic Psychology (PSYC 144/244) to instructing medical students, psychiatry residents within the Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency, and clinical psychology trainees on critical topics such as implicit bias and the integration of culture and religion into medical care (PAU’s CLDV 700 and Stanford’s PGY-3 “Culture and Religion in Psychiatry”). She also teaches undergraduate and graduate students about the psychology of xenophobia (PSYC 86Q), demonstrating her broad engagement with pressing social issues. Her scholarly contributions are substantial, including edited volumes like “Islamophobia and Psychiatry” (Springer, 2019), “Applying Islamic Principles to Clinical Mental Health” (Routledge, 2020), and a forthcoming clinical textbook on Muslim Mental Health for the American Psychiatric Association. Moreover, she has developed practical resources for professionals, such as a toolkit, fact sheet, and CME course on Muslim mental health for the APA. These academic and practical contributions highlight her deep expertise and commitment to advancing the field, qualities that she imparts to residents within the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency.
Dr. Awaad’s scholarly passions extend to the historical roots of mental health care within the Islamic intellectual tradition. She is currently working on two books exploring this rich history, further demonstrating her dedication to bridging historical knowledge with contemporary practice. Her expertise is recognized internationally through her affiliate faculty positions in Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College and The Islamic Seminary of America. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Yaqeen Institute and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, contributing to broader intellectual and social discourse. Her interest in refugee mental health has led her to Amman, Jordan, where she collaborated with the Care Program for Refugees (CPR) sponsored by the Al-Alusi Foundation. In this capacity, she developed and presented a “train the trainers” curriculum to support aid workers and therapists assisting Syrian and Iraqi refugees, showcasing her global impact and commitment to vulnerable populations, experiences that inform her mentorship within the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency.
Before her medical career, Dr. Awaad pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, earning certifications (ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other Islamic sciences. This unique background enriches her approach to psychiatry and cultural mental health. She has also served as the first female Professor of Islamic Law at Zaytuna College, a Muslim Liberal Arts College in Berkeley, CA, and is the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. Dr. Awaad’s numerous awards and grants are a testament to her impactful work. As a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning teacher, researcher, and author in both Islamic and medical sciences, Dr. Awaad embodies a rare breadth and depth of expertise. Her leadership and vision are invaluable assets to the Stanford Health Care-sponsored Stanford University Program Psychiatry Residency, inspiring future generations of psychiatrists to pursue excellence in culturally sensitive and comprehensive patient care. You can follow her work and insights on Twitter @Dr.RaniaAwaad.
