Director:Muhammad Sajid, M.D

We offer outpatient services at the Shands Medical Plaza, site of many College of Medicine outpatient clinics, and Shands Vista.

Medical Plaza Outpatient Psychiatry Clinics
2000 S.W. Archer Road
Fourth Floor
Gainesville, FL  32610
Phone (352) 265-7041
Fax  (352) 265-7053
Hours: 8:00-5:00  Monday - Friday

Contact Dustyn for ALL New Patient Referrals at 352-265-8500.

The Shands Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at Medical Plaza offers comprehensive outpatient mental health services for youth from birth through 17 years of age and their families. Individualized treatment recommendations are developed for each child based upon results of the diagnostic assessment and needs of the child and his or her family. The Clinic is staffed by board certified child psychiatrists, child fellows, psychiatric residents, psychologists, psychiatric nurses and professional trainees. In addition to the specialty clinics listed below our services include diagnostic evaluations, parent guidance (in combination with child's therapy), family therapy, psychopharmacological evaluation and treatment for ALL psychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents.

Specialty Clinics:

Autism and Related Disorders Clinic
Tanya Murphy, M.D.

Description: Meeting every Friday, this specialty clinic focuses on diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with autism and related developmental disorders, who also have significant behavioral and medical problems. A multi-systems approach is used in the treatment of these complex disorders. Treatment approaches involve a functional analysis of each patient and an individualized treatment plan using behavior modification and pharmacological interventions. Comprehensive assessments often include neurological consultation, hearing and speech assessment, laboratory testing, imaging studies, genetic consultation and psychological testing. Interventions include psychotropic medications, functional behavioral analysis as well as parent education and support, referral for services and support via the CARD program.

Pediatric Complex Medication Clinic
Muhammad Sajid, M.D.
Regina Bussing, M.D.
Ayesha Lall, M.D.

Description: This clinic serves children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity or a related disorder, or are starting on any psychotropic medication such as an antidepressant that requires careful monitoring, or whose physician or parents are requesting a 2nd opinion on medication. A child psychiatric resident and a faculty physician see children.

Child Anxiety and Tic Disorder Clinic
Tanya Murphy, M.D.

Description: Meeting every Friday, this specialty clinic focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, other tic disorders, Trichotillomania, Separation Anxiety, Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome. This clinic provides evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of children and adolescents with a variety of anxiety and tic disorders. Psychology services are available to address testing needs or assess appropriateness for CBT interventions.

Thought Disorders Clinic
Michael Bengtson, M.D.

Description: This clinic focuses on children and adolescents who have symptoms of psychosis either alone or co-existing with other psychiatric conditions. The Thought Disorders Clinic offers a referral resource for children and adolescents who have symptoms of psychosis. Patients may suffer Mood disorders, Anxiety disorders, or one of the Psychotic disorders; the primary focus will be the differential evaluation of the psychotic symptoms as a component of the illness that may co-exist with many psychiatric conditions. Evaluations may include psychological, and/or neuropsychological testing and possibly imaging studies and other studies as indicated; and the interpretation of the test results in light of the diagnosis.

Behavioral Health Unit
Gary Geffken, Ph.D.

The Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) is a psychology program in the Department of Psychiatry. The BHU has longstanding collaborative relationships with faculty and programs in psychiatry, pediatric endocrinology, and clinical and health psychology. The evolution of these collaborative relationships has led to the focus of the BHU on clinical problems inherent to pediatric type 1 diabetes, obsessive compulsive disorder, pediatric obesity, and psychological evaluation. The training and research objectives of the BHU focus primarily on psychological learning and family factors involved in these clinical problems. Patients and advanced students come from Gainesville, as well as around the United States, and in some cases Europe, to benefit from the unique cognitive behavioral expertise of the Behavioral Health Unit.

Shands Vista Behavioral Health

4101 NW 89th Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32606
Phone: (352) 265-5497 or (888) 391-7181
Fax: 265-5425

Contact Jessica at 352-265-5424.

Directions From I-75

1. Exit number 390 (39th Avenue)
2. East (right from South/left from North) for approximately one mile
3. Left at the entrance to Health Park

Dual Diagnoses Clinic
Kimberly White, M.D.

Description: This clinic is located at our Vista campus and focuses on outpatient evaluation and treatment for adolescents and young adults with substance abuse disorders and dual psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.