Description of Research Expertise

Dr. Kim's fields of expertise are perinatal psychiatry, transcranial magnetic stimulation and the clinical use of intravenous ketamine for treatment resistant mood and anxiety disorders. She has and continues to publish research from grants for which she was the PI. She has contributed over 30 research publications, including several papers in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

One of Dr. Kim's intervention studies investigated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for perinatal depression. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health. This was the first study randomized controlled trial of a biologic intervention in depressed, pregnant women.

Another intervention study examined whether computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT), in which one-on-one therapist time is decreased and is instead supplemented with an interactive computer program, improved the symptoms of depression in pregnant women.

Dr. Kim was also highly involved in two translational/pathophysiology studies. One examined how difficult life events experienced during a mother's childhood may impact her child's stress response. The other translational study evaluates the correlation between varying levels of maternal BDNF and birth outcomes. She continues to publish papers on data collected.

Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr. Kim specializes in the treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and is internationally recognized as a master clinician in her field. She regularly provides consultation and treatment for psychiatric disorders during the perinatal and postnatal period as a psychiatrist.

She is boarded in both Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine.

Although her clinical focus is on treating pregnant and postpartum women with mental illness, Dr. Kim has extensive experience with treating women with major medical co-morbidities, PMS/PMDD and menopausal issues. She utilizes several treatment modalities including psychopharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, neuromodulation and intravenous ketamine. During her career, she has worked in multiple settings including gained significant experience in consultation psychiatry, psychiatric ER, and medical-psychiatry settings.

After 15 years in academics at the University of Pennsylvania, in 2016, Dr. Kim began private practices in PA and NJ. She continues to practice full time treating patients with interventions such as medications, TMS and IV ketamine. As of 2023, Dr. Kim has treated over 450 patients with IV ketamine.

Description of Other Expertise

Dr. Kim is involved in the supervision, teaching, and mentoring of college students, medical students and residents and fellows in women's mental health.

She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and she speak about her work both locally and nationally.