Currently Accepting New Patients — Book an Appointment today!
Currently Accepting New Patients — Book an Appointment today!
Hi, I’m Dr. Sudhakar Shenoy. I’m a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in Chicago who believes in meeting people where they are—with warmth, curiosity, and honesty. At Downtown Psychiatry Chicago, I offer personalized mental health care that blends science, empathy, and lived experience.
My path to medicine began with a deeply personal story. As a child in India, I survived a life-threatening accident and underwent multiple surgeries. At a time when resources were limited, the compassion and skill of the physicians who treated me left a lasting impression. Their care inspired me to become a doctor—not just to heal, but to help people feel truly seen and supported on their mental health journey.
That early experience continues to guide how I connect with patients today.
I graduated as valedictorian from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and received advanced research training at Harvard Medical School, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and NIMHANS, India’s premier mental health institute. I completed my psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Southern Illinois University (SIU) and I am board certified in both adult and child/adolescent psychiatry.
Today, I bring this global training and lived experience into every patient interaction. I specialize in treating a wide range of concerns—including anxiety, ADHD, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities—through a developmentally informed and culturally sensitive lens.
I serve as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where I teach and mentor psychiatry residents and medical students. Teaching allows me to stay closely connected to academic medicine and to the next generation of physicians.
I am also an invited Guest Lecturer at Loyola University Medical Center’s Psychiatry Residency Program and the University of Illinois College of Medicine – Peoria (UICOM Peoria Campus), where I provide didactic instruction to psychiatry residents in their general psychiatry training programs.
In addition to clinical care, I serve in multiple leadership roles—both statewide and nationally—through the American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS), Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ICCAP), and the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). I’m also the President-Elect of the Indo-American Psychiatric Association (IAPA) – Illinois Chapter and have served as a member of the APA Scientific Program Committee. I’m passionate about advocacy, patient safety, equity, and improving access to mental health care for all.
As a former international medical graduate who trained and served in medically underserved areas (MUAs), I remain deeply committed to supporting communities that are too often overlooked.
Outside of work, I enjoy photography (one of my TV interviews even featured that side of me!), traveling, tennis, and—most recently—trying my hand at pickleball.
At the heart of everything I do is this belief: healing happens through connection. I look forward to meeting you and walking alongside you on your path to wellness.
Let’s Talk First—See if We’re the Right Fit for Your Care
