Leslie Tarver, MD

Leslie Tarver, MD, is a board-certified adult and child psychiatrist who specializes in treating adolescents, transitional age youth (TAY) and young adults. As a part of UC San Diego Health's College Mental Health Program (CMHP), she is committed to ensuring students receive access to comprehensive mental health care to promote their mental wellness. She strives to provide a holistic, patient-centered approach to care combining psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

As an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, she is involved in the training of medical students, residents and fellows. Her research interests include innovative mental health care delivery, mobile mental health apps, digital therapeutic interventions and the integration of mental health and primary care.

Dr. Tarver is currently the principal investigator of the iWellness Study in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and Harvard University Health Services. The iWellness Study is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile mental health app to improve depression and anxiety for students. She also spearheaded a Global Mental Health Hackathon to catalyze momentum through cross-disciplinary collaboration and find solutions to the global mental health crisis.

She completed her fellowship and residency in the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Program at Harvard Medical School and earned her medical degree from George Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Tarver also holds a master's degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

She is a San Diego native and enjoys spending time with her family at the beautiful San Diego parks and beaches after many years on the East Coast.

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For more information, see Behavioral and Mental Health.