About the Medical Advisory Board
The Legal Services Center Pro Bono Medical Advisory Board provides staff and students with expert advice on complex medical issues that arise in the course of representing individuals with a wide range of disabilities. The Board was conceptualized and created in 2020 by Linda Park, a clinical student in the Safety Net Project, who proposed it as an innovative solution to an area of need for LSC’s client community. The Board, created in partnership with physicians working in the Veterans Administration healthcare system, serves as a model for collaboration between medical and legal professionals.
Medical Advisory Board Members
Dr. Chang is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Head of Harvard Psychiatry at VA Boston Healthcare System. She is also the first female Chair of the Harvard Executive Committee of Harvard Chairs of Psychiatry. Dr. Chang’s clinical interests focus on the substance use disorders and consultation-liaison Psychiatry.
Dr. Aydinian received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Arizona State University. She graduated from medical school at Rocky Vista University in Denver, Colorado. During her graduate education, she worked actively in the policy sector of the American Medical Association and engaged in patient advocacy on the state level. Dr. Aydinian is currently a resident at the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program. She is especially interested in consult-liaison psychiatry, perinatal psychiatry, and medical education.
Dr. Chen was born and raised in Changsha, China. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from State University of New York Upstate University. She is currently a resident in general adult psychiatry at the Harvard South Shore program with interests in inpatient, addiction, and forensic psychiatry.
Dr. Daly grew up in “The City of Champions,” Brockton, Massachusetts and was overjoyed to return to his hometown for residency training. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst for undergraduate and graduate studies as well as University of Massachusetts Worcester School of Medicine. He is currently a PGY-3 resident in general adult psychiatry at the Harvard South Shore Program. His interests include residential treatment, consult-liaison psychiatry, medical education, and he looks forward to pursuing further training in child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship.
Dr. Mekdessi grew up in a multicultural household in Houston, TX before pursuing a degree in Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences at the University of Houston. While at University of Texas Medical Branch SOM, Dr. Mekdessi directed a large student-run free clinic serving 2 counties, where his love for caring for the underserved grew. He is currently a resident in general adult psychiatry at the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Program. His areas of interest include geriatric psychiatry, cultural psychiatry, and integrated care.