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Medical Director, Connecticut

Mirela Loftus MD, PhD

Clinical Perspective

Dr. Mirela Loftus views child and adolescent psychiatry as a nexus where neuroscience, psychology, and pediatrics converge—an area of endless fascination for her. She began her career in a lab, researching a small area of the brain (the hippocampus), specifically its connection to abnormalities seen in schizophrenia. Her desire to make an impact on young people during this critical stage of development led her into direct care, working with children, teens, and families. Dr. Loftus also became an advocate for children’s mental health, testifying at the Capitol on numerous occasions and lobbying in Washington DC in her role as the president of the Connecticut Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. She is currently on the Advisory Board for the Women in Leadership Program at the University of New Haven.

A Background in Research and Direct Care

With more than 30 years in the healthcare field, Dr. Loftus specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. She earned her medical degree at one of the oldest and most acclaimed medical schools in Romania, and received her PhD from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the Newport Academy team, Dr. Loftus spent 15 years as an attending and consulting psychiatrist at Hartford HealthCare’s Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut, coordinating and delivering care for children and teens. From 2017 to 2019, she was Medical Director of the Institute’s Clinical Trials Unit, researching the efficacy of experimental depression and suicidal ideation treatments. Dr. Loftus also served as an assistant professor in the University of Connecticut School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry.

In the Press

Dr. Loftus has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, such as Huffington Post, Verywell Health and PureWow. As a media contributor, she provides advice and guidance on a variety of mental health related issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress management within the adolescent and teen mental health space; providing actionable methods and tips on how to identify mental health imbalances in young people.

Newport Academy…in her own words

“Newport is like no other place. It is the epitome of ‘best care’ in an ever-changing world of competing interests. Once I learned about Newport’s philosophy of care, I knew this was where I belonged. Treatment that seeks to heal the body, mind, and soul at the same time is what all young people deserve.”

Contact

For press inquiries, please contact:
media@newportacademy.com

Credentials

  • PhD in Neuroscience from the University of California, Davis
  • Medical degree from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • Fellowships at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living and the US International Agency’s Department of Physiology and Biophysics State University of New York at Stony Brook

Select Achievements

  • Past president, Connecticut Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, representing 300+ psychiatrists in the state
  • Author or co-author on six studies included in peer-reviewed journals, most recently “Pharmacogenomics: An Update for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,” published in Current Psychiatry Reports in May 2020
  • Member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Adolescent Psychiatry Committee

Newport Academy Featured Press