Vasudev N. Makhija, MD
Dr. Makhija, a psychiatrist in New Jersey, is a Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association. He is the Founder and President of SAMHIN, South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network, a non-profit organization. He continues to be involved in the operations and development and implementation of SAMHIN’s programs. In 2023, under Dr. Makhija’s leadership, SAMHIN was the recipient of American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s award for Advancement of the Minority Mental Health.
Dr. Makhija is the Past-President of New Jersey Psychiatric Association, Chair of Council on Member Services (2013-2017), and served as Chair of the Program and Awards Committee of NJPA (2006 – 2010). Dr. Makhija served on the Union County Mental Health Board for six years until March 2013 (Chair 2011 – 2013). He is a recipient of Golden Merit Award for his contributions to NJPA. In 2010 Dr. Makhija received an Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Dr. Makhija serves as Clinical Supervisor of Jana Raksha Community Care Program, a volunteer-run program of Arsha Bodha Center in Somerset, NJ. Arsha Bodha Center is an ashram dedicated to the traditional teaching of Sanskrit, meditation, Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, and spiritual practices. Jana Raksha Community Care Program is a spiritually-based free support program for the community.
Satishkumar H. Patel, MD
Dr. Patel has been in private practice of psychiatry for more than ten years in New Jersey. He is board certified in the Child & Adolescent psychiatry. He has served as a volunteer for SAMHIN for several years. Through his involvement Dr. Patel has become acutely aware of the barriers and challenges to help seeking in the South Asians. As an immigrant from South Asia, he has a vested interest in addressing the mental health needs including stigma of the South Asian community. He was previously an Assistant Professor/Clinical Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Patel brings his valuable experiences to serve SAMHIN.
Minoo Christian, MSW
Ms. Christian has been working in the HIV field since 2003. She started as a community-based medical case manager at an AIDS service organization, assisting marginalized clients to navigate the healthcare system in Detroit. Many of her clients were minorities with complex psychosocial issues including homelessness, incarceration as well as histories of mental illness, substance abuse and/or trauma. This work developed her passion for public health and mental health, especially with minority populations.
Trained as a social worker, Ms. Christian has experience outreaching in the field, facilitating treatment groups, developing programs, coordinating public health operations, conducting trainings, writing/managing grants, and leading planning councils/committees. She works at Rutgers University-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Eric B. Chandler Health Center, where she provides programmatic and fiscal oversight of the Infectious Disease Department grants.
Ms. Christian has volunteered with SAMHIN since 2018 on multiple projects including editing blog posts and marketing materials, creating video content for Coming Out Day, implementing a workshop for suicide prevention, and writing grants to help SAMHIN initiatives. As a Board Member, she hopes to serve her community by continuing this meaningful work and helping SAMHIN grow.