Professor of Psychiatry
Western Psychiatric Hospital - UPMC
Dr. Chengappa was educated at the Lawrence School, Lovedale, and graduated in medicine from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, in India. His world-wide training in psychiatry began at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India, then Edinburgh University, Scotland, followed by Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, culminating in a NIH/NIMH clinical research fellowship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Chengappa joined WPH/Pitt as a faculty member, and for over 30 years, he has conducted clinical trials as a Principal, Co-Principal or Co-Investigator on 43 grant awards. While much of this team-driven scholarly work is disseminated in the medical literature, it has also significantly influenced psychiatric practice (e.g., use of newer antipsychotic and anti-convulsant medicines). He served as Co-Editor in Chief of the Bipolar Disorders Journal for 18 years completing his tenure in 2021. He works as a front-line attending psychiatrist, and as a clinician-educator and mentor to psychiatric residents, junior and mid-level psychiatric faculty and to pharmacy and nursing staff. Current and past administrative roles include Director of the Special Studies Center at the former Mayview State Hospital, Consultant to OMHSAS, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Co-Chair of the WPH P &T committee, Director of the Annual Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference, and Service Chief, Comprehensive Recovery Services of WPH and Senior Medical Director of Clinical Innovations and Quality Improvement.
