Abishek Bala
MD, MPH
Central Michigan University
bala1a@cmich.edu
Saginaw, MI, USA

Area of expertise: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Abishek “Abi” Bala is a 5th year psychiatry resident from Central Michigan University and graduate of its Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. He completed his BSc. at McMaster University and received his MD and MPH degrees from St. George’s University.

Outside of training, Abi serves as a Leadership Fellow at the Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture. He is an active member of the Global Mental Health Committee at AACAP. As a volunteer consultant for the NGO, Reach Within, he seeks to improve health outcomes for children exposed to trauma and psychosocial stress. He also volunteers with the non-profit, Supporting Child Caregivers, which facilitates healthy infant-parent relationships in various cultural contexts. Due to his passion for asylum medicine, Abi works with the University of Michigan’s Asylum Collaborative through Physicians for Human Rights to perform asylum evaluations.

With rich global experience in countries like India, UAE, Canada, UK, Grenada and the US, Abi is keen on dedicating his career to improving the quality of life for infants, children, and adolescents around the world through culturally cognizant, community-based health interventions. He hopes to expand his advocacy efforts and work towards creating a diverse and united global mental health community.