Skip to main content
Find a DoctorGet Care Now
Skip to main content
Search icon magnifying glass

Contrast

Contact

Share

Donate

MyChart

Help

Greenwich Hospital appoints new chair for Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

Thursday, November 18, 2021

 

Amir Garakani
Amir Garakani, MD, has been appointed chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Greenwich Hospital.

 

Greenwich, CT (Nov. 18, 2021) – Greenwich Hospital has appointed Yale Medicine physician Amir Garakani, MD, to chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health as the hospital seeks to expand its mental health services to help meet growing demand within the communities it serves.

“Dr. Garakani’s leadership, experience and vision will enhance our ability to make a significant impact on the patients we care for, and propel our short- and long-term plans for behavioral health at Greenwich Hospital,” said Diane Kelly, DNP, RN, president.

Board-certified in psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and addiction medicine, Dr. Garakani’s experience spans both research and clinical. Prior to joining Yale Medicine and Greenwich Hospital last spring, Dr. Garakani was director of Education and an attending staff psychiatrist in the Transitional Living Program at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT.

Following medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, Dr. Garakani completed a psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY, and a research fellowship at Mount Sinai’s Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program. He completed a fellowship in forensic psychiatry at New York University Medical Center, and is the recipient of many awards and distinctions. Dr. Garakani has participated in National Institute of Mental Health-funded research and is first or co-author on over 70 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.

In partnership with Yale Psychiatry, the largest provider of psychiatric services in Connecticut, Greenwich Hospital’s behavioral health team of psychiatrists and psychologists evaluate and treat individuals who experience depression, anxiety and other psychological and psychiatric conditions. In addition to emergency services, Greenwich Hospital has a Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic and an Addiction Recovery Center.

“Expanding Greenwich Hospital’s Behavioral Health program has been an important initiative for us, magnified by the mental health crisis that has grown exponentially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are moving swiftly to address the needs of our society,” said Kelly.

“The pandemic has negatively affected many people’s mental health in all age groups and unfortunately created new barriers for individuals seeking treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders,” said Kelly, adding that Greenwich Hospital is exploring opportunities to work collaboratively with Greenwich United Way to increase outreach and collectively help meet the behavioral health needs of the community.

Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org

Similar Articles

5/1/2025

Greenwich Hospital earns an 'A' Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Greenwich, CT (May 1, 2025) – Greenwich Hospital has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, achieving a top score for the Spring 2025 report.

5/1/2025

Westerly Hospital earns an 'A' Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

New grade for Spring 2025 is a national recognition for commitment to patient safety

5/1/2025

More than 850 Yale New Haven Health physicians are ‘Top Doctors’

New Haven, CT (May 1, 2025) – A total of 870 Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS)-affiliated physicians have earned a spot on Connecticut Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctors list. The list includes physicians from Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial and Yale New Haven hospitals, as well as Northeast Medical Group and Yale Medicine and surpasses the more than 700 providers achieving “Top Doc” status last year. The list will appear in the May issue of Connecticut Magazine.

Media Contact

Tyler Landis
Media Coordinator
Public Relations
203-863-3463
Email