Morteza Nadjafi, MD
President of SIPNA
Est. 1982 · North America
Society of Iranian Psychiatrists of North America
A professional, non-profit, non-political community connecting Iranian-origin psychiatrists and mental health professionals across the United States and Canada.
Our Story
Four decades of scholarly connection
Society of Iranian Psychiatrists of North America (SIPNA) was founded in 1982 by Dr. Iraj Siassi. SIPNA aims to connect Iranian psychiatrists of North America and to promote, generate, and disseminate scholarly information and research on psychiatry and related fields among mental health professionals of Iranian origin.
Our Mission
Guiding principles that shape SIPNA’s work in education, community support, research, and cultural exchange.
- Promoting public awareness for mental health and psychiatric disorders
- Supporting our community with referral mechanisms for Iranians in need of professional help, promoting the highest quality care
- Facilitating scholarly research by promoting collaboration between SIPNA members
- Acting as a liaison between international medical and psychiatric associations for educational and cultural exchange
- Maintaining close relationship with Iranian medical and psychiatric societies
- Providing a platform for sharing experiences, knowledge, scholarly works, and publications
- Organizing scientific meetings for physicians and conducting educational conferences for the public
Executive Committee
Responsible for carrying out the policies established by the Board of Trustees and for the day-to-day operation of SIPNA.
Dennis Gelyana, MD
President Elect
Ali M. Shamie, MD
Treasurer
Mona Mojtahedzadeh, MD
Executive Secretary
Sepideh Mortezaei Far, MD
Executive Secretary
Mohamad Reza Eskandari, MD, MACP
Digital Comm. & Media Manager
Latest from SIPNA
Meetings, governance, and community updates from production and staging sources combined.
May 2025
43rd Annual Meeting Report
Los Angeles, Westin Hotel — four decades of academic collaboration, cultural engagement, and organizational leadership.
Governance
Executive Nominations 2026–2028
President: Dr. Dennis Gelyana · President-Elect: Dr. Mehran Motamed · and full slate announced.
Education
Public Education Library
Articles on anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, CBT, and ketamine/esketamine by SIPNA members.
Be part of our community
Membership is free for Iranian-background psychiatrists and mental health professionals in the USA and Canada. Full members and associate members welcome.
Psychology & Life Quotes
“People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be… I watch with awe as it unfolds.”
— Carl R. Rogers
“You can’t make a bean plant grow by jerking on it!”
— Virginia Satir
“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. 8 for maintenance. 12 for growth.”
— Virginia Satir