Biography
Dr. Monica Parmar graduated from and completed her medical degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway, followed by residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. During post-graduate residency training, she held the position of Chief Resident along with other leadership roles supporting international medical graduates transitioning into the Canadian healthcare system. She also represented the Ottawa Region on the Canadian Psychiatric Association鈥檚 Member-in-Training (CPA-MIT) Committee.
Dr. Parmar has a strong interest in treating older adults and understanding the complex convergence of medical illnesses, cognitive changes, and mental health disorders.
After completing general psychiatry training, she pursued advanced training in Geriatric Psychiatry and completed the Geriatric Psychiatry subspecialty training program at the University of Ottawa. Her clinical practice will primarily focus on hospital-based care and outreach care.
Her main areas of clinical interest include neuropsychiatry (with a focus on delirium and catatonia) and mood disorders in late life. She has a recent interest in learning about the utility of neuroimaging and biomarkers in the assessment of complex neuropsychiatric conditions.
Dr. Parmar's academic plan focuses on enhancing geriatric psychiatry education through curriculum development, and formal teaching of residents and fellows. In collaboration with the current program director Dr. Sarah Russell, she intends to establish a structured orientation program to support international trainees transitioning into the Canadian healthcare system, helping them successfully integrate into the geriatric psychiatry subspecialty training environment.
She also serves as a physician examiner with the Undergraduate Medical Education program. Dr Parmar is also currently working with Dr. Saumil Dholakia to develop a new educational module for residents and fellows on a key topic in geriatric psychiatry. The module is designed to address an important area of clinical training and is intended for national dissemination once completed. She recently joined the Geriatric Psychiatry Residency Program Committee and serves as the program鈥檚 Wellness Lead.