Dr. Neelma Dhar Bhan

Dr. Neelma Dhar Bhan

Dr. Neelma Dhar Bhan was born in Srinagar  and spent her childhood on three different continents, India, Africa  and Canada. In spite of that, “kashmiriyat” was instilled in her as she heard the wonderful stories and experiences of our culture. This was reinforced when she returned to Srinagar to complete her MBBS and eventually got married into a Kashmiri family. She returned to Canada in 1981 where she completed her residency in psychiatry and worked as a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry (Dalhousie University) for 30 years. 
Her expertise is specifically in mood disorders especially Bipolar Mood disorder. She found it quite rewarding and challenging. Earlier in her career she helped in starting an Eating Disorder Program for her department which is still running. She also initiated Transcultural psychiatry, working with their local immigration services and other community organizations, to help people coming into the country as refugees dealing with losses, emotional upheaval and adjustment to a new life.
Since relocating to Vancouver in 2017, she has been working part time as a consultant psychiatrist, in Fraser health.
On a personal level she has volunteered and been the secretary of  “Indian Women’s auxiliary“ of Nova Scotia where they funded many causes in India, especially, with education of children and with women empowerment programs. Women’s mental health remains a passion of hers and in retirement, she would like to devote some time to this worthy cause.