Erika Olander, MD, MS

Practice Philosophy:

Dr. Erika Olander is a board-certified psychiatrist, licensed in Virginia and Washington D.C., with over 12 years of experience in treating adults with a wide array of mental disorders.  An attentive listener, she is known for her comprehensive and thorough “bottom up” approach to understanding a patient’s mental and emotional life from all angles. Likewise, she is holistic in her treatment design, knowing that a host of interventions such as psychotherapy and lifestyle changes, not only medication, may be considered as directed by an accurate diagnosis. When medication is warranted, she carefully reviews the options and potential side effects so that together she and the patient can determine the appropriate course of treatment. Dr. Olander is committed to working collaboratively with a patient’s other providers in fostering integrative care.  She aims to not only reduce suffering but to champion patients in achieving optimal mental and physical well-being.  Patients and colleagues have described Dr. Olander as heartfelt in her care, dedicated and detail-oriented.

Areas of Expertise:

While having diverse expertise in treating a wide variety of mental disorders, Dr. Olander has a special passion in caring for patients with mood disorders, including severe depression and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders.  She is not only adept at accurately diagnosing and offering evidence-based treatments for these disorders, but enjoys educating patients about the nature of these conditions, which she has found to be empowering to them in their recovery.  She has worked with patients in different stages of illness, including in outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient settings, endowing her with the know-how of tackling the most severe mental health challenges.  Most recently, she has also commenced subspecialty training in forensic psychiatry, which involves application of her clinical knowledge and practice in matters of the law.

Experience and Training:

Dr. Olander graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2009.  She has worked at multiple premier institutions including the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and the INOVA Health System.  She has served the community psychiatry population locally in Fairfax County and abroad in Canberra, Australia.  In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Olander has fostered an interest in quality improvement as the Quality Assurance Adviser for Behavioral Health at Walter Reed and in working groups with the Health Care Improvement Division at The Canberra Hospital.  She has served as Faculty at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, teaching medical students and residents at these institutions as well as at the Australian National University and Howard University.  She is currently doing a Fellowship year in Forensic Psychiatry at Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington D.C.