Patricia (Oby) Ekwueme, MD

Dr. Patricia (Oby) Ekwueme was born and raised in the Midwest, where she studied Psychology at the University of Notre Dame before getting her dual medical degree and Master's in Public Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It was in medical school that her passion for mental health, and working with diverse patient populations, was nurtured. She then went on to complete adult psychiatry training at Yale before finally making her way out to the West Coast to complete her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UCLA. 

She is a board-certified adult psychiatrist and board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist with a deep commitment to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people. Her clinical interests include providing collaborative, comprehensive, and compassionate care to patients with a diverse range of diagnoses, including mood and anxiety disorders, trauma disorders, psychosis, and neurodivergence (e.g., autism, ADHD). She is especially passionate about working with marginalized populations of color, understanding how complex environmental and societal factors can impact mental health. With a person-centered approach, Dr. Ekwueme strives to create a safe and supportive environment where her patients feel understood, respected, and empowered. She remains committed to lifelong learning and integrates evidence-based treatments, including therapy and medication management, tailored to each individual’s unique needs.

Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Ekwueme enjoys participating in community mental health advocacy, mentorship, and finding ways to engage in public service. In her free time, Dr. Ekwueme also enjoys attending fine arts events, traveling, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She believes that a large component of taking care of your mental health involves finding balance and engaging in things that bring you joy, and hopes to emulate this for her patients as well.