Steven G. Sugden

Steven G. Sugden, MD, MPH, MSS, is Associate Professor (Clinical) of Psychiatry at the University of Utah, based at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. He is board-certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine, and serves as Associate Training Director for the Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Fellowships.

Education:

• MD – University of Utah School of Medicine
• MPH – University of California, Berkeley
• MSS (Strategic Studies) – U.S. Army War College
• Residency in Psychiatry – University of California, Davis Medical Center
• BA in Spanish (minor Chemistry) – University of Utah

Research Focus: Dr. Sugden’s scholarly work centers on integrating lifestyle interventions into psychiatric practice, with emphases on addiction medicine, disaster psychiatry, military/veteran mental health, and neuroplasticity in recovery. His publications explore connections between nutrition, the gut microbiome, and PTSD; lifestyle psychiatry pillars; and evidence-based strategies to enhance resilience and global mental health.

Clinical & Academic Leadership: Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Sugden directs training programs for the next generation of addiction specialists, translates research into frontline care, and applies military medical insights to civilian disaster response.

Board Certifications:

• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry)
• American Board of Addiction Medicine
• American Board of Disaster Medicine
• American Board of Lifestyle Medicine
• American Board of Preventive Medicine (Addiction Medicine)

Professional Affiliations & Service: Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, with over a decade of experience in military and veteran healthcare systems. He has worked in residential, inpatient, private practice, and VA settings across Texas, North Carolina, and California before returning to Utah.

Current Labs & Teams: Dr. Sugden is embedded within the Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s education and clinical teams, where he mentors fellows and residents in addiction and lifestyle psychiatry.