Sidarth Wakhlu

Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. He serves as Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Associate Director of the Addiction Division. His clinical focus is on substance abuse disorders, including chemical dependencies and behavioral addictions like gambling and gaming. He joined UT Southwestern’s faculty in 2003 after completing a psychiatry residency at the University of Tennessee and an addiction psychiatry fellowship at UT Southwestern.

Education: MBBS from University of Delhi/Maulana Azad Medical College (India), Psychiatry Residency at University of Tennessee, and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at UT Southwestern.

Research interests include opioid addiction pathways, stigma reduction, and behavioral health interventions. His 2018 article highlighted the transition from prescription opioids to heroin, emphasizing prevention strategies. He holds certifications from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in addiction psychiatry.

Awards: Inducted into the Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) in 2017 for teaching excellence. Active in committees such as the Texas Medical Association’s Physician Health & Wellness Committee and UT Southwestern’s Student Assistance Committee.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program and collaborates with UT Southwestern’s multidisciplinary teams addressing behavioral health crises.