Mona Mojtahedzadeh, MD
Psychiatrist
Responsibilities
I am deeply grateful for the position I’ve been entrusted with at Simms-Mann/UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology which allows me to continue to perform a work of meaning within a valued population who embrace me into some of their most pivotal moments along their cancer illness trajectory. Such multidisciplinary setting enables me to utilize and further advance my skills in whole person care through working collaboratively with esteemed provider members within the field from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Practicing mindful listening, empathy, respect, and clarity are some of the values I exercise to uphold in communications with peers as well as advocating for within our patient-provider team networks.
Combined with education, providing evidence-based and customized care to our patients that is appreciative of everyone’s unique biopsychosocial attributes are some disciplines I continue to strive for towards optimum flourish here. The psychology of human emotions and behavior is fascinating, and I am particularly touched by potential benefits that spirituality and a belief in higher power can employ on individual’s sense of peace and purpose in life.
The connection between body and soul has long been established and I am one surrounded by many to appraise the importance and the positive impact that well-regulated mental health services (which may or may not always include a medication) can employ on individuals’ illnesses and their suffering.
Trainings and Professional Work
I am board certified in psychiatry as well as in consultation-liaison psychiatry. I obtained my MD from Tehran, Iran’s Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences following which I truly enjoyed my time of service as a general and family practitioner to an underserved health and urgent care clinic in Iran. Inspired about public health and committed to observe those in need, I was equivalently humbled through my subsequent years of service as the primary physician consultant for the resettlement unit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Tehran/Iran as well as caring as a clinician for asylum seekers at the International Organization for Migration.
I am grateful to my psychiatry training through residencies at Texas Tech University Health and Science Center coupled with Loma Linda University Health where I was granted our department’s research award of the year. I then completed a consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry fellowship at the University of Southern California and Los Angeles County (LAC+USC) with an extensive year-long inpatient and outpatient C-L experience plus additional subspecialty opportunities in areas of reproductive psychiatry, palliative medicine, transplant service, collaborative care model, and HIV psychiatry.
Prior to my present position, I had the privilege of service and further inspiration in areas of inpatient and outpatient psycho-oncology and psychiatric care of the bone marrow transplant patients through my full-time contributions as an Assistant Professor in the department of supportive care medicine at the City of Hope National Medical Center where I was also appointed adjunct assistant professor of Psychiatry at the USC.
Over the course of my career, I have engaged in activities and non-profit work that have had profound impacts on me. Raising awareness on psychosocial needs of individuals treated for cancer, empowering women, education, and facilitating support groups for a non-governmental organization (NGO) that helps mothers and children impacted by HIV, advocating for refugees’ wellness through past engagements plus as a present member of the physicians for human rights, collaborating to establish support network for kidney donors in Iran, and later on distributing awareness and caring for the LGBTQ+ community are to name a few.
My scholarly work includes numerous academic teaching experiences, engagements in interviews and journal reviews, plus over 40 peer-reviewed publications, posters, and book chapters all together in areas of medicine, mental health, and their overlap with emphasis on clinician well-being as well as on the awareness, advocacy, and health equity in marginalized populations within the field of psycho-oncology and beyond including within women’s mental health, refugees and global health, and transgender populations.
Personal Interests and Perspectives
As a third-generation physician, Medicine is a path I have respected for long. While fluent in English, I am originally Persian, and Farsi is my native tongue. By the same token, I greatly value learning about other languages and cultural backgrounds, articulating passionately in conversational Spanish and basic level French.
Nature, art, and poetry are both a passion for me and therapy. I enjoy playing variety of sports and am heavily invested in family time and friendships.
Selected Professional Publications
Interviews and Features
UCLA Newsfeed - February 2023
“Family legacy led Simms-Mann psychiatrist to where she is today- Providing compassionate support.”
(https://www.uclahealth.org/news/family-legacy-led-simmsmann-psychiatrist-where-she-today)
Interview with City of Hope Breakthroughs blog - July 2020 - “Cancer Patients Often ‘Retraumatized’ by Coronavirus: How to Cope”
(https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/cancer-patients-retraumatized-by-coronavirus)
Podcasts
“What is Psycho-oncology and how can it benefit those living with NET”
Hosted by Lisa Yen, the LACNETS Podcasts - October 2022
(https://www.lacnets.org/podcast15)
“Cancer: Depression, Anxiety, and Hypoactive Delirium- A dive into Psycho-Oncology” - February 2020
Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Hosted by Dr. David Puder,
Loma Linda University, Department of Psychiatry
Loma Linda, CA
(https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/cancer-depression-anxiety-hypoactive-delirium-dive/id1335892956?i=1000467582815)
“Hormonal Contraceptives and Mental Health” - May 2018
Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast
Hosted by Dr. David Puder,
Loma Linda University, Department of Psychiatry
Loma Linda, CA
Poster Presentations
Mojtahedzadeh M, Cynthia G, Flores R, Weisman H, TonarelliS, Luis A. Alvarado, Alok Kumar Dwivedi , Ph.D., (2017, May), Psychiatry Consultation Referrals and Suicide Over One Year in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital on the US/Mexico Border. Poster presented at: 170th Annual Meeting, APA, San Diego.
Cynthia G, Mojtahedzadeh M, Flores R, Weisman H, Leony-CarreteA, Kumar Dwivedi A, TonarelliS (2016, November), Psychiatry Consultation Referrals and Suicide Attempts Over One Year in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital on the US/Mexico Border. Poster presented at: 63rdAnnual Meeting, Austin, TX.
Cynthia G, Mojtahedzadeh M, Flores R, Weisman H, Leony-CarreteA, Kumar Dwivedi A, TonarelliS (2016, April), Psychiatry Consultation Referrals andSuicide Attempts Over One Year in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital on the US/Mexico Border. Poster presented at: 10th Annual Research Colloquium, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX.
Bazargan-Hejazi, S., Ahmadi, A., Rahmani, E., Mojtahedzadeh, M., & Pan, D. (2016). 450 - Profile of self-inflicted harm in los angeles by race/ethnicity, 2001–2010.
Mojtahedzadeh M, Otoukesh S, Poorabdollah M, Sajadi M (2015, March), Case Report: Portal Hypertension Secondary to Isolated Liver Tuberculosis. Poster presented at: 9th Annual ResearchColloquium, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX.
Bazargan-Hejazi Sh, Ahmadi A, Mojtahedzadeh M. (2012, December).Profile of self-inflected harm in Los Angeles by Race/Ethnicity. Poster presented at: 13th Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI), International Symposium for Health Disparities; San Juan, PR.
Huber EA, Bazargan M, Orum G, Yazdanshenas H, Smith J, Mojtahedzadeh M, Bazargan M. (2012, December). Use of Psychotropic Medications Among Under Served African American Seniors. Poster presented at: 13th Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI), International Symposium onHealth Disparities; San Juan, PR.
Khodadad K, Haghighi SH, Otukesh S, Esfahanimonfared Z, MojtahedzadehM, Masjedi M. R, Maraghi M, Emami H. (2008, June). Differences in epidemiology, history and survival between smoker and never-smoker with non-small cell lung cancer treated with platinum-basedchemotherapy. Poster presented at: Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); Chicago, IL.
Nagrampa D, Bazargan SH H, Neelakanta G, Mojtahedzadeh M, Law A, Miller M. (2012, May). Knowledge, Trust and Fears among Patients from an Inner-city County Pre-operative Anesthesia Clinic. Poster presented at: Western Anesthesia Resident Conference (WARC), UCLA 15th Annual Science Poster Day;Los Angeles, CA.
Neelakanta G, Nagrampa D, Bazargan SH B, MojtahedzadehM, Miller M, Law A.(2012, October). Anesthesiologists role, Trust in anesthesiology, Knowledge and Fears about anesthesia among patients from an Inner-City country pre-operative Anesthesia clinic. Poster presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA); Washington D.C., WA.
Perez W, Friedman Th C, MojtahedzadehM. (2012, July). Acots Vs discuntinuing Actos HbA1C outcomes in a minority population. Poster presented at: UCLA short term training program studnets abstracts; Los Angeles, CA.
Peer-reviewed Publications
Robbins-Welty, G, Tuck A, Marchant D, Gleason A, Key G, Ciccone B, Chopra D, Mojtahedzadeh M, Foneseca F, Amonoo H, Simone A, McFarland D. (2023) Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and Bleeding Risk: A Practical Review for the Consultation Psychiatrist. Part 2 of 2: Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding, Malignancy, Pregnancy and Surgical Considerations. Psychiatric Times.
Robbins-Welty, G, Tuck A, Marchant D, Gleason A, Key G, Ciccone B, Chopra D, Mojtahedzadeh M, Foneseca F, Amonoo H, Simone A, McFarland D. (2023) Bleeding Risk with SSRIs, Part 1 of 2: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Considerations. Psychiatric Times.
McFarland, D., Merchant, D., Khandai, A., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Ghosn, O., Hirst, J., ... & di Ciccone, B. L. (2023). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Bleeding Risk: Considerations for the Consult-Liaison Psychiatrist. Current Psychiatry Reports, 1-12.
Aldoss, I., Otoukesh, S., Zhang, J., Mokhtari, S., Ngo, D., Mojtahedzadeh, M., ... & Pullarkat, V. (2022). Extramedullary disease relapse and progression after blinatumomab therapy for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer.
Otoukesh, S., Song, J. Y., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Mokhtari, S., Marcucci, G., Pullarkat, V., & Ali, H. (2021). Refractory primary autoimmune myelofibrosis treated with ruxolitinib. American Journal of Hematology.
Mojtahedzadeh, M., Shaesteh, N., Haykani, M., Tran, J. L., Mangubat, M., Shahinian, H. K., ... & Lee, M. L. (2018). Low-Dose and Standard Overnight and Low Dose-Two Day Dexamethasone Suppression Tests in Patients with Mild and/or Episodic Hypercortisolism. Hormone and Metabolic Research
Bazargan-Hejazi, S., De Lucia, V., Pan, D., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Rahmani, E., Jabori, S., ... & Bazargan, M. (2016). Gender Comparison in Referrals andTreatment Completion to Residential and Outpatient Alcohol Treatment. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 10, 109.
Otoukesh, S., Mojtahedzadeh,M., Figlin, R. A., Rosenfelt, F. P., Behazin, A., Sherzai, D.,& Nahleh, Z. A. (2015). Literature Review and Profile of Cancer Diseases Among Afghan Refugees in Iran: Referrals in SixYears of Displacement.Medical Science Monitor, 21, 3622-3628.PMID: 26592372
Mojtahedzadeh,M., Lee, M. L., & Friedman, T. C. (2015). Continuation or discontinuation of pioglitazone when starting bedtime insulin in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in an inner-city population. Journal of diabetes and its complications, 29(8), 1248-1252.PMID: 26215435
Nagrampa, D., Bazargan-Hejazi, S., Neelakanta, G., Mojtahedzadeh,M., Law, A., & Miller, M. (2015). A survey of anesthesiologists’ role, trust in anesthesiologists, and knowledge and fears about anesthesia among predominantly Hispanic patients from an inner-city county preoperative anesthesia clinic. Journal of clinical anesthesia, 27(2), 97-104.PMID: 25605048
Ortega, L., Cooper,C. J., Otoukesh,S., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Didia, C. S., Torabi, A., & Nahleh, Z. (2014). Multicentric Castleman’s disease and Kaposi’s sarcoma in a HIV-positive patient on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Rare Tumors, 6(3). PMID: 25276327
Otoukesh, S., Mojtahedzadeh,M., Cooper, C. J., Tolouian, R., Said, S., Ortega, L., ... &Blandon, P. (2014).Lessons from the Profile of Kidney Diseases Among Afghan Refugees. Annals of Transplantation, 20, 1621-1627.PMID: 25208585
Otoukesh S, Cooper J Chad, Lou W, Mojtahedzadeh M, Nasrazadani A, Wampler M, Nahleh Z. Combination chemotherapy regimen in a patient with metastatic malignant pheochromocytoma and neurofibromatosis type 1. Am J Case Rep, 2014; 15: 123-127.PMID 24711885
Teruya, S. A., Bazargan-Hejazi, S., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Doshi, M., Russell, K., Parker-Kelly, D., & Friedman, T. C. (2013). A Review of Programs, Components and Outcomes in Biomedical Research Faculty Development. International journal of university teaching and faculty development, 4(4), 223. PMID 26120379
Otoukesh S, MojtahedzadehM, Sherzai A, Behazin A, Hejazi Sh B. International Journal of Epidemiology. A retrospective study of Demographic Parameters and Major Health Referrals among Afghan Refugees in Iran. Int J Equity Health. 2012; 20;11:82. PMID 23256618
Mojtahedzadeh M, Otoukesh S, Shahsafi M R, Tahbaz M O, Rahvari S K, Poorabdollah M, Sajadi M M. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.Portal Hypertension Secondary to Isolated Liver Tuberculosis. 2012 Jul; 87(1): 162-164. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 22764308
Otukesh, H., Hoseini, R., Behzadi, A. H., Fereshtehnejad, S. M., Mehrazma, M., Parvin, M., ...&Pourfakharan, M. (2011) Renal amyloidosis in a child with neutropenia.Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation, 22(5), 1019. PMID: 21912038
Otukesh, H., Otukesh, S., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Hoseini, R., Fereshtehnejad, S. M., Riahi Fard, A., ... & Hooman, N. (2009).Management and outcome of steroid-resistant nephroticsyndrome in children. Iran J Kidney Dis, 3(4), 210-217.PMID: 19841524
Otukesh, H., Sharifiaghdas, F., Hoseini, R., Fereshtehnejad, S. M., Rabiee, N., Kiaiee, M. F., ...& Farhood, P. (2010). Long-term upper and lower urinary tract functions in children with posterior urethral valves. Journal of pediatric urology, 6(2), 143-147.PMID: 19679514
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles/Abstracts (Published other than Pubmed)
Robbins-Welty, G, Tuck A, Marchant D, Gleason A, Key G, Ciccone B, Chopra D, Mojtahedzadeh M, Foneseca F, Amonoo H, Simone A, McFarland D. Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and Bleeding Risk: A Practical Review for the Consultation Psychiatrist. Part 1 of 2: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Considerations. Psychiatric Times.
Al-Bayati, Ihsan, Salman Otoukesh, Francisco T. Fernandez, Mona Mojtahedzadeh, Sarah Al-Obaidi, Mohamad Nawar Hakim, and Harry E. Davis. "Diabetic Muscle Infarction: A Missed Diagnosis and Complication of a Common Disease." American Journalof Case Reports1 (2014): 50-53
Otoukesh, S., Arenas,J., Mojtahedzadeh, M., Popp, M., Bright, T., Nahleh, Z., .. & Didia, C. S. (2014). Graves’ Disease and Pancytopenia: An Unusual Presentation.American Journal of CaseReports, 1 (2014), 25-28.
Chad J. Cooper, Salman Otoukesh, Mona Mojtahedzadehb, Juan M. Galvisa, Richard W. McCalluma . Subtotal Gastrectomy as “Last Resort” Consideration in the Managementof Refractory Rumination Syndrome. Gastroenterology Research, Volume 7, Number 3-4, August 2014, pages 98-101.
Khodadad K, Daneshvar Khaki A D, Mojtahedzadeh M, Otoukesh S, Taheri Z M, Monfared Z E. Tanaffos Journal.Solitary fibrous tumor of the Pleura- a case report and review of literature. 2009 Feb; 8(3): 69-76.
Mousavi A F, Zahirifard S, Marashian M, Otoukesh S, MojtahedzadehM. Tanaffos Journal.Radiographic Patterns in Patients Diagnosed with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.2008 Nov; 7(4): 19-23.
Safi M, Mohammadpour M, Mojtahedzadeh M, Otoukesh S, Vakili H. Pajoohandeh Journal.Comparison between Primary PCI and Thrombolytic Therapy Results in Patients with Acute St-Elevation MI. 2010 Jan; 14(6): 332-336.P
Peer Reviewed Book Chapter
Mojtahedzadeh M, Qureshi H. (2023) CTAR, Understanding End of Life Practices: Perspectives on Communication, Religion, and Culture- Chapter: Islam. Springer
Murri, M. B., Gancitano, M., Antenora, F., Mojtahedzadeh, M., & Salman, J. (2022). Depression and Substance Use Disorders in Physicians. In Depression, Burnout and Suicide in Physicians (pp. 37-53). Springer, Cham.
Drazen J M, Solomon C G. (2006).Chapters 1-4: Subclinical hyperthyroidism, Treatment for tobacco and addiction, Aortic stenosis, COPD exacerbation. In As Translator: Otoukesh S, MojtahedzadehM (Ed.), Clinical Practice (The New England Journal of Medicine) (pp. 1-24). Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of. Teimourzadeh.
Teaching Publications
Section: Psycho-Oncology 1 & 2 - August 2023
Consultation Liaison Board Review Lecture Series
AmericanPhysicianInstitute
“The Ninja’s Guide to PRITE” (Question Book) - August 2017
Loma Linda University, Department of Psychiatry
Loma Linda, CA