Dr. Sukanya Pillai Venkatachalam is a psychiatrist in Pleasanton, California with training in general psychiatry and a clinical focus that includes advanced psychopharmacology and the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and resistant depression. She holds a California medical license (A112695, Feb 2010) and is ABPN certified in general psychiatry (Sept 2012). She also maintains a Buprenorphine Waiver on her DEA license (XV2417714, 2015).

Dr. Venkatachalam completed her psychiatry residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois (2007–2011), with a graduation date of August 21, 2011, and received a certificate of appreciation for excellence in clinical skills. During residency training (Sept 2007–Sept 2011), her clinical experience included rotations at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Hines, Illinois, and Madden State Psychiatric Facility, Illinois. She earned her medical degree from Kilpauk Medical College, MGR University in Chennai, India (2000–2006), graduating in March 2006, with honors in Otolaryngology and General Surgery. She also completed an internship in general medicine and surgery at Kilpauk Medical College (Aug 2005–March 2006) and served as a Medical Officer at Bill Roth Hospital in Chennai, India (April 2006–Nov 2006).

Professionally, Dr. Venkatachalam has worked at Comprehensive Psychiatric Services in Pleasanton, California (Jan 2015–present). Prior to this, she practiced in a community psychiatry group practice with outpatient experience in Manteca and Tracy, California (Sept 2011–Jan 2015) and worked at Sausal Creek Crisis Centre (Nov 2013–Dec 2014).

Her scholarly activities include research on the effects of quetiapine and Lexapro on biomarkers, including lipid and blood glucose abnormalities (July 2010), and a public health project on tetanus awareness in middle school children (March 2006). She has also contributed to teaching and lectures in anxiety disorders, neuropsychiatry, suicide assessment, and substance abuse education. Dr. Venkatachalam is a member of the Northern California Psychiatric Association (since Sept 2011) and speaks English, Hindi, and Tamil.