Uma Naidoo

Uma Naidoo is recognized in the field of nutritional psychiatry, combining her background as a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutrition specialist. Naidoo is the founder and director of the first hospital-based Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry Service in the United States at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she also serves as director of nutritional psychiatry at the MGH Academy. In addition to her clinical leadership, Naidoo is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Department of Nutrition, and she teaches courses on neuronutrition and brain health at Harvard and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

Naidoo is known for her work connecting food and mental health. She is the author of "This Is Your Brain on Food," published internationally, and "Calm Your Mind with Food," which explores the science behind nutrition as a tool for managing anxiety. Her research and clinical insights have been featured in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, ABC, and CNBC, and she is a regular contributor to Harvard Health, Psychology Today, and other platforms. Naidoo developed the first CME-based nutritional psychiatry educational program to train clinicians globally.

Naidoo has delivered keynote addresses and presentations at international conferences, including for the World Economic Forum and the UK College of Medicine, where she serves as the US ambassador for nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. She is known for translating scientific concepts into practical strategies for brain health, often incorporating culinary demonstrations and evidence-based recipes into her talks. Naidoo's approach and commitment to advancing mental health through nutrition have positioned her as a leading voice in medicine and public health.