Associate Psychiatrist, MGH
Director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry: MGH
Director of Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry: MGH Academy
Professional Chef & Culinary Instructor: Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
Nutrition Specialist

Dr. Uma Naidoo is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist who also trained as a Professional Chef, and studied Nutrition. Upon graduating from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, she won the school’s most coveted award, the MFK Fisher Award for Innovation in Cooking. She is the author of the first book in Nutritional Psychiatry called: ”This if Your Brain on Food” based on her clinical research. She founded and directs the first clinic in Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry at an academic teaching hospital. Dr.Naidoo also leads a elective in Food as Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She teaches both Harvard medical students and the MGH/McLean Psychiatry residents, and is a culinary instructor. She was also commissioned by the American Psychiatric Association to write the textbook in Nutritional Psychiatry

Dr. Naidoo has spent her life exploring the connection between food and mental health stemming from her Hindu roots where the mind body connection was always emphasized. In her work she aims to offer individuals more tools to improve their mental well-being through the use of nutrition and healthy whole foods.