Meet Esther Kim, M.D.

Esther Kim, MD, is a board-eligible adult psychiatrist practicing at Adelpha Psychiatric Group in Pasadena, California. She has a diverse background in both music and psychiatry. 

Dr. Kim earned her BA in Music with a minor in Biology and Chemistry. She continued on to earn her MD from Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she conducted pivotal research on depression and anxiety management in patients with epilepsy, studying innovative mental health care models and screening tools for epilepsy patients. In addition, she also founded the Wake Forest Musical Outreach Program, organizing musical events and concerts for individuals in the community.

Dr. Kim completed her psychiatry residency at the UCLA-Resnick Neuropsychiatric Institute, where she also served as chief resident of the UCLA Consult-Liaison and Psychiatric Emergency Room Services. She is highly active and passionate about the intersection of music and psychiatry, participating in the Mindful Music series at UCLA and in musical storytelling research projects that highlight resilience and help reduce the stigma of mental illness.

Dr. Kim specializes in the treatment of mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders and has interests in women's mental health and reproductive psychiatry as well. She adopts an integrative approach to care, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, exercise, diet, and lifestyle. In addition to her expertise in psychopharmacology, Dr. Kim is well-versed in several evidence-based psychotherapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She also has experience in neuromodulation, specifically transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Outside of her professional life, and as a classically trained violinist, Dr. Kim regularly enjoys playing and performing music with friends. Additionally, she is an avid yogi, enjoys cooking and baking, and is a dedicated dog mom, raising her spunky Pomeranian, Schumann (named after the composer Robert Schumann).