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 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.

Professionally, Dr. Venkatachalam works in a community based outpatient setting at Comprehensive Psychiatric Services in Pleasanton, California (Jan 2015–present). 

In addition, she also works as a consultant Psychiatrist with the Early Access and Stabilization Services (EASS) team at the San Mateo County Sheriff’s office, providing early psychiatric care and competency restoration services for all inmates newly found incompetent to stand trial. Prior to this, she practiced in outpatient clinics in Manteca and Tracy, California (Sept 2011–Jan 2015) and at Sausal Creek Outpatient Stabilization 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).Dr. Venkatachalam is a member of the Northern California Psychiatric Association (since Sept 2011) and speaks English, Hindi, and Tamil.