Hi, I'm Dr. Ernest Okwuonu,

Expert Psychiatrist & Consultation-Liaison Specialist

Stanford-trained, board-certified adult psychiatrist specializing in complex psychiatric conditions and the intersection of mental health and medicine – telehealth consultations available.

Board Certified
Stanford Trained
Dr. Ernest Okwuonu, MD - Stanford-trained psychiatrist

Dr. Ernest Okwuonu, MD

Dr. Ernest Okwuonu is a Stanford-trained Psychiatrist with a robust background in managing complex psychiatric conditions in diverse medical settings. He completed his Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in New York and served as Chief Resident. Dr. Okwuonu earned his MD from the American University of the Caribbean and holds a BSc Honors in Pharmaceutical & Biological Chemistry from York University in Toronto, which informs his in-depth psychopharmacology knowledge.

Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Dr. Okwuonu has specialized training in managing psychiatric complications in intensive care, surgical, and oncology settings. He has contributed to the field through his quality improvement project on dyspnea in critically ill patients and has presented his work at multiple conferences. His scholarly activities include publications in the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. He is currently an active member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, where he serves on the mentorship committee.

Certifications

American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology

Professional Memberships

  • • American Psychiatric Association
  • • Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Mentorship Committee Member)

Licensure

CA State Medical License2023 - 2027
ND State Medical License2025 - 2027
NV State Medical License2025 - 2027
SD State Medical LicenseActive through 2027
WA State Medical License2024 - 2027

Education & Experience

Jan 2025

Attending Consultation - Liaison Psychiatrist

Amwell

San Francisco, CA • Hybrid

Jul 2024

Consultation - Liaison Psychiatrist

COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES

Walnut Creek, CA • Hybrid

Jul 2024

Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Keck School of Medicine, USC

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Jul 2023 - Jul 2024

Stanford University School of Medicine

Clinical Fellow in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Palo Alto, CA

Jul 2019 - Jul 2023

Psychiatry Resident

St. John's Episcopal Hospital

Queens, NY • On-site

Jul 2019 - Jul 2023

St. John's Episcopal Hospital

Psychiatry Residency - Chief Resident

New York

May 2014 - Oct 2018

American University of the Caribbean

Doctor of Medicine - MD

Sep 2008 - Jul 2012

York University

Bachelor of Science - BS, Chemistry

Toronto, Canada

Research & Specialized Training

Research & Contributions

Quality Improvement Project

Quality improvement project on dyspnea in critically ill patients. Presented at multiple conferences.

Publications

  • American Journal of Psychiatry

    Published research in the Residents' Journal

  • Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

    Published scholarly articles

Specialized Training

Dr. Okwuonu has specialized training in managing psychiatric complications in:

  • Intensive care settings
  • Surgical settings
  • Oncology settings

His unique background in pharmaceutical chemistry provides him with exceptional expertise in psychopharmacology, allowing for informed and effective medication management.

Publications

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Myoclonus, Uremia, and Delirium in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Literature Review

This study presents a case of acute myoclonus in an elderly female liver transplant recipient caused by uremia, which improved after continuous renal replacement therapy. The authors conducted a systematic literature review of 12 manuscripts examining the relationship between myoclonus, delirium, encephalopathy, and uremia in medically complex patients.

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A Case of Pneumocephalus, Neurocognitive Decline, and Psychosis

This case report examines a patient who developed pneumocephalus (air in the cranial cavity) accompanied by neurocognitive decline and psychotic symptoms. The publication explores the neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with this rare neurological condition and its diagnostic and treatment considerations.

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A Ternary Enigma: A Case Report and Literature Review of Myoclonus, Uremia, and Delirium in a Liver Transplant Recipient

This poster presentation detailed the same liver transplant case later published in the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, highlighting the complex interplay between myoclonus, uremic encephalopathy, and delirium in transplant psychiatry.

All publications demonstrate Dr. Okwuonu's expertise in consultation-liaison psychiatry, particularly in managing complex psychiatric presentations in medically ill patients. His work emphasizes the critical role of psychiatrists in identifying and managing neuropsychiatric complications in transplant recipients and patients with complex medical conditions.