Dr. Nadkarni grew up in central New Jersey, in a community rich with cultural diversity. Her early exposure to various populations sparked an interest in medicine, particularly through her volunteering in medical settings. She quickly learned that adapting her communication style to suit the individual she was speaking with made her more effective and helpful. This experience guided her toward a career where she could continue to tailor her approach to meet each person’s unique needs.
It was during her third year of medical school, while completing rotations, that she realized psychiatry was her true calling. She came to appreciate the importance of patient-centered, individualized care, seeing firsthand how it led to better outcomes and improved quality of life for the communities served. She believes in understanding a person’s life story—how their childhood, relationships, and experiences have shaped their worldview. Once she gains insight into their motivations, goals, fears, and hardships, she can develop a treatment plan uniquely suited to them, avoiding approaches that would be ineffective.
Her philosophy on treatment is deeply influenced by her osteopathic training, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. She takes a holistic, personalized approach to care, aiming to improve her patients’ health across all three domains. As a psychiatrist, her role is to guide patients toward better quality of life outcomes, prioritizing their goals while also considering the needs of those around them, such as caregivers or dependents.
Her aim is for her patients to achieve mental wellness in all aspects of their lives, and she strives to work collaboratively with them to find their path to healing. She uses her osteopathic training to heal the mind, body, and spirit, integrating techniques and managing medications in a way that supports all three pillars of health.
Her personal interests enhance her ability to provide holistic care. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring both local and international destinations, trying different cuisines, and playing board games. These hobbies help her continuously hone her interpersonal and interviewing skills, which in turn improve her ability to offer high-quality care to her patients. Maintaining a balance between personal life and professional commitments is key to her well-being, and it enables her to give her best to her patients.
As a mother of a young child, she is deeply committed to her family, both immediate and extended. Her family-centric life keeps her grounded and mindful of how patients navigate their roles within their own families and social circles. This perspective helps her better understand her patients’ needs and the support systems they rely on.
Her goal is to improve the lives of her patients holistically, one person at a time. By helping individuals reflect on their mental health journey, she hopes to empower them to lead healthier, more fulfilled lives. In doing so, she aims to strengthen not only her patients but also the community as a whole. She wants her patients to leave feeling heard, knowing they received comprehensive, personalized care that addressed their unique needs, wishes, and goals. Her hope is that they walk away feeling emboldened, confident in her ability to support their mental health journey.
