Abhilash Desai, M.D. Associate Professor Department of Neurology and Psychiatry Director of the Center for Healthy Brain Aging 1438 S. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63104 adesai@slu.edu CV

After years of trying, I finally joined this great department on August 1^st, 2008. My official title is Associate Professor, Director, Center for Healthy Brain Aging. The title I give myself is “Brain Coach.” I completed my medical school in K.E.M. Hospital, Bombay, India. I completed my psychiatry residency at Hahnemann University School of Medicine, in Philadelphia. I was very fortunate to complete my geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Saint Louis University under the mentorship of Dr. George Grossberg, in 1999. Prior to joining SLU, I was the medical director of the Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence (ACE), at ThedaCare Behavioral Health, in Appleton, Wisconsin where I have had a delightful time, thanx to the superb ACE team, fantastic patients, excellent employer and an extremely supportive community. Brilliant and hard work of the ACE team members lead to the Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence receiving the Outstanding Organization Award from the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Association chapters in 2007. I have been awarded volunteer of the year award by the Alzheimer’s Association St. Louis Chapter in 2003 and have been awarded “Best performance by a community member” award by the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Inc. in 2007.

Dr. Grossberg and I have been conducting the only course on long-term care psychiatry at the Annual American Psychiatry Association meeting for the last 5 years. I believe in a holistic approach to improving brain health. Besides using traditional medical - psychiatric approach to evaluate and treat memory and emotional problems in older adults (e.g., tests, prescription drugs, interpersonal psychotherapy), I also recommend my patients to tap in to the magical healing powers of exercise, brain healthy nutrition, mindfulness training, stress management, music, laughter, nature, touch, spirituality and creative expression to improve brain health and emotional wellbeing. I credit all my success to the ever-present support and encouragement from my beautiful wife Faith Galliano Desai (my muse) and my “lets play 24/7” son, Alexander Galliano Desai (my antidepressant). I love hanging out with my wife and son. I am also passionate about music, nature, reading and traveling.