Dr. Yazeed AlSanad is the Head of the Mental Health and Wellness Center and a Specialist Psychiatrist, with a focus on treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders and collaborative care, and over 15 years of psychiatric training and clinical practice. He is known for a calm, thoughtful, and empathetic approach that blends diagnostic rigour with genuine respect for each patient’s lived experience and long-term wellbeing.

He earned his MBBS from the University of Sharjah, where he served as Chief Intern, and completed his psychiatry residency and subspecialty fellowship at the University of Toronto. His training spanned the city’s principal teaching hospitals, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the University Health Network (Toronto General and Toronto Western), Mount Sinai Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and Youthdale Treatment Centre. He served as Chief Clinical Fellow and completed his fellowship in adult & geriatric psychiatry under the supervision of Professor Benoit H. Mulsant (Labatt Family Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto), focusing on mood disorders and collaborative care. He is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC) and holds a medical license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). He is a long-standing member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the Ontario Psychiatric Association, the Ontario Medical Association, and the International Academy of Law in Mental Health. 

His clinical focus includes treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, psychotic disorders, dementia, delirium, addictions, trauma, and psychiatric care in complex medical contexts such as bariatric, transplant, and psychosocial oncology. He has particular depth in advanced psychopharmacology and interventional psychiatry, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression in clinical research and academic settings. He is experienced across all care settings: inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and community psychiatry.

At CAMH, Dr. AlSanad practised as a psychiatrist across the adult lifespan and served as the Most Responsible Physician for his patients and Lead of the Late Life Anxiety and Mood Disorders Clinic. He led a multidisciplinary team, working alongside nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, psychotherapists, occupational and physical therapists, and support workers to deliver integrated, collaborative care. He also supervised and taught residents, fellows, and medical students across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency psychiatry.

His academic work spans treatment-resistant depression, neurostimulation outcomes, collaborative care, and the responsible use of AI in psychiatry, with national and international presentations and contributions to major research programs including the OPTIMUM-D and PARTNERS study at CAMH. He completed formal leadership training through the PARO Leadership Program and holds a certificate in System Leadership and Innovation from the University of Toronto. His work has been recognized with several awards and commendations, including recognition from the CEO of CAMH for excellence in patient care.

Dr. AlSanad brings this clinical and academic depth to a patient-centred practice that prioritizes trust, dignity, and individualized care in even the most complex presentations.

Adult and geriatric psychiatry:

• Treatment-resistant mood and anxiety disorders
• Collaborative and integrated care
• Treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Psychotic disorders
• Dementia
• Addictions
• Trauma
• Psychiatric care in complex medical contexts (bariatric, transplant, psychosocial oncology)
• Interventional and neurostimulation psychiatry (ECT, rTMS)
• Ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression
• Advanced psychopharmacology
• Psychotherapy
• Artificial intelligence in psychiatry.

Clinical Competencies & Skills:

• Advanced and complex psychopharmacology, including augmentation strategies for treatment-resistant conditions
• Interventional and neurostimulation psychiatry: ECT and rTMS
• Ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (clinical research and academic settings)
• Comprehensive psychiatric assessment and diagnosis across the adult lifespan
• Capacity assessment, mental health legislation, and involuntary treatment
• Multidisciplinary team leadership and collaborative, integrated care

Psychotherapy:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and sleep hygiene
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
• Supportive Psychotherapy
• Group Therapy