Maithri F. Ameresekere, MD, MSc, PMH-C

Clinical Associate Professor , Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Maithri Ameresekere is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Director of Women’s Mental Health at Boston Medical Center. She is a board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in trauma, reproductive psychiatry, and perinatal mental health. Dr. Ameresekere leads the Integrated Behavioral Health Program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston Medical Center, where she works to expand access to mental health services for pregnant and postpartum patients. She provides clinical care and training opportunities in several interdisciplinary programs, including the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic and Project RESPECT, which supports perinatal individuals with substance use disorders. Her scholarly work focuses on reducing barriers to mental health care for parents and families, with a particular emphasis on immigrant and underserved communities. She is active in medical education, curriculum development, and clinical research, and has led efforts to address systemic and structural barriers to care in both local and global settings.

Publications

  • Published 11/29/2024

    Taknint JT, Thomas FC, Gellatly R, Ameresekere M. Responding to Trauma: A Critical Review of Mental Health and Psychosocial Interventions for Refugee Women. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2024 Dec; 26(12):866-876. PMID: 39612155.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/12/2024

    Hasser C, Ameresekere M, Girgis C, Knapp J, Shah R. Striking the Balance: Bipolar Disorder in the Perinatal Period. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2024 Jan; 22(1):3-15. PMID: 38694148.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/13/2021

    Ng LC, Solomon JS, Ameresekere M, Bass J, Henderson DC, Chakravarty S. Development of the South Sudan Mental Health Assessment Scale. Transcult Psychiatry. 2022 Jun; 59(3):274-291. PMID: 34898333.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/1/2012

    Ameresekere M, Henderson DC. Post-conflict mental health in South Sudan: Overview of common psychiatric disorders. Part 1: Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. South Sudan Medical Journal. 2012; 5(1):4-8.

  • Published 2/1/2012

    Ameresekere M, Henderson DC. Post-conflict mental health in South Sudan: Overview of common psychiatric disorders. Part 2: Anxiety and Substance Abuse. South Sudan Medical Journal. 2012; 5(2):32-36.

Education

  • Tufts University School of Medicine, MD
  • Harvard School of Public Health, MSc
  • Stanford University, BA