About Dr Sukhera

Dr. Javeed Sukhera is an internationally renowned clinician, educator, and researcher dedicated to advancing health and healing for all. He serves as Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living (IOL) and Chief of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital. He is also the Founding Director of Hartford Hospital's Center for Research on Racial Trauma and Community Healing. His academic appointments include Professor of Psychiatry at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, Associate Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine, and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.  

At the IOL—one of the nation’s oldest psychiatric institutions—Dr. Sukhera leads efforts to advance clinical care, research, and education, overseeing training programs in psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing, as well as several endowed research centers. Since joining the IOL, he has championed the vision of “Radical Recovery,” which integrates patient perspectives into care by valuing lived experiences as expertise, embedding patient voices in institutional work, and encouraging staff to bring their full humanity to their roles. Under his leadership, the IOL has improved patient experience scores and quality indicators while enhancing educational programs and expanding research initiatives.  

In April 2024, he established the Center for Research on Racial Trauma and Community Healing to examine the psychological and behavioral effects of discrimination and promote community-based healing. The center has since launched key initiatives, including a culturally affirming support group for Black and African American parents and research utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze biased language in electronic health records in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  

Dr. Sukhera’s academic background spans multiple disciplines and international institutions. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and his medical degree from the Medical School for International Health, a partnership between Columbia University and Ben-Gurion University. He completed his psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Rochester and later earned a PhD in Health Professions Education from Maastricht University. He holds board certifications in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in both the United States and Canada.  

Before joining Hartford Healthcare, Dr. Sukhera was an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Western University in Canada, where he held key clinical, educational, and research roles. He is an accomplished leader, mentor, educator, and scientist. His pioneering research on bias and stigma in health professions education has had a tangible and cross-sectoral impact. He has authored over 75 peer-reviewed publications, secured more than $2 million in research funding, and received numerous awards and honors.