Ulunma Natalie Umesi

Ulunma Natalie Umesi, MD, MBA, completed her General Adult Psychiatry training in Brooklyn, New York, with the One Brooklyn Health system. She obtained her doctor of medicine degree from Medical University of the Americas and obtained her master's in business administration from Davenport University. She currently presides over the Board of Directors for SMART Recovery NYC (R), a non-profit organization that offers peer support and cognitive behavioral therapy based techniques for those living with addictive and maladaptive behaviors. In addition, she founded SMART Recovery NYC's first women-only meeting to address the unique needs of this population. Dr. Umesi was a REACH (Recognizing and Eliminating Disparities in Addiction through Culturally Informed Healthcare) fellow and grant recipient, funded by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) from July 2024 - August 2025. Dr. Umesi hopes to better understand family dynamics as they relate to substance use through research and community mental health education. She very much enjoys teaching and is excited to create more opportunities for both medical professionals and the general public to explore the intersection of gender, race, and socioeconomic status as they relate to a multitude of maladaptive behaviors and substance use. Dr. Umesi is a regular contributing author to the 5-Minute Clinical Consult textbook series.

In her free time, Dr. Umesi enjoys spending time with her parents and friends, playing with anyone's dog who is open to extra cuddles, trivia nights, practicing mindfulness, and watching wildlife documentaries.