Arwen Evenstara Podesta MD, ABPN, FASAM, ABIHM

Arwen Podesta, MD is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with sub-specializations in addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry, and integrative & holistic medicine. She has a background in biochemistry, complementary medicine, and massage therapy. She was excited to successfully merge her intellectual and vocational interests by becoming a medical doctor. She graduated from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, and then moved to New Orleans for a psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University. She then pursued a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Tulane University.

After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Podesta was involved with psychiatric care for the neediest and disenfranchised. She was awarded the Gambit’s 40 Under 40 in 2009. She has been actively working in the public sector as Medical Director of ACER and also consults with Orleans Criminal Court Intervention (Drug Court), and Municipal Court Diversion Services. She was also chair and co-creator of the New Orleans Forensic Mental Health Coalition, which is now run by the New Orleans City Health Department.