Amanda Downey

Dr. Amanda Downey is an Associate Professor in Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She serves as Assistant Medical Director of the UCSF Eating Disorders Program and contributes to the Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR).

• Education: B.A. in Spanish Literature (The Ohio State University, 2011), M.D. (Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 2015), Residency in Pediatrics (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2020), Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2020).

Her research focuses on eating disorders in adolescents and young adults, emphasizing disparities in mental health treatment, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and medical complications arising in inpatient care. She also advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare systems.

Recent publications highlight trends in psychedelic therapy for eating disorders, refeeding syndrome in pediatric populations, and gender-specific treatment disparities. Her work spans journals in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, and Medicine.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2019 Anne E. Dyson Child Advocacy Award (American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • 2024 Pilot Research Award for Early Career Faculty
  • 2025 Society of Hellman Fellows Award
  • 2025 Gabrielle and Harold Carlson Psychopharmacology Research Award
  • 2026 CTSI KL2 Scholars Award

Dr. Downey collaborates with researchers across UCSF and other institutions, particularly in the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains (StRONG). She has received grants from the UCSF Nutrition Obesity Research Core and Hellman Fellows Program.