Dr. Naista Zhand

Naista Zhand obtained her Medical Degree in 2010 from Tehran University of Medical Science and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Ottawa (2013-2018). She joined the Schizophrenia Program at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre as an academic Psychiatrist in 2019. In addition to her commitment to providing clinical care to patients with schizophrenia, she has demonstrated a passion and commitment to research, education and leadership. She was awarded a University of Ottawa Junior Clinical Research Chair in Schizophrenia in 2020. Her research interests focus on treatment of schizophrenia including its associated cognitive deficits. Dr. Zhand has been fostering research opportunities among medical students and provided mentorship to many of the students at The Royal’s Schizophrenia Program. 

In 2021, she established a fellowship program in schizophrenia with the University of Ottawa, and has been designated as the Fellowship Program Director for Schizophrenia. She contributed to the enrichment of educational curriculum for the residents rotating through the Schizophrenia Program. She has been elected as the President of the Medical Staff Association since 2021 and was awarded the CPA Early Career Achievement Award in 2022.