Kamalakar Surineni, MD, MPH,FAPA

Professional Background

Dr. Kamalakar Surineni is an ABPN (the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology) board-certified psychiatrist. He holds the position of assistant professor and serves as the chief of KU Geriatric Psychiatry Services, as well as chair of the psychiatry section at Ascension Via Christi hospitals. Dr. Surineni provides both inpatient and outpatient geriatric mental health services across a wide area around Wichita and also offers outpatient services for the VC-HOPE PACE® (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program.

He is actively involved in the education of postgraduate psychiatry trainees and medical students, providing essential mentorship that plays a crucial role in shaping the future of psychiatry and healthcare. Dr. Surineni has consistently advocated for mental health outreach, demonstrating a commitment to serving underserved and underprivileged populations. He played a pivotal role in establishing a collaborative clinic at Hunter Health in partnership with the Breakthrough Club, which provides mental health services to ex-prisoners and aims to reduce re-incarceration rates. This initiative was supported by the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG).

Beyond his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Surineni is heavily involved in academic research and serves as an investigator in several clinical trials focused on finding new treatments for dementia and other psychiatric and medical conditions. He is well-published and has presented at a variety of conferences on complex mental health issues.

Dr. Surineni holds important roles within the American Psychiatric Association (APA), including serving as the Area #4 Early Career Psychiatrist Representative, being an expert panel member in reference committee #4 of APA, and member of the Procedures Committee of APA. Additionally, he is the President-Elect of the Kansas Psychiatric Society (KPS), which is a state branch of the APA.

• MBBS, Medicine, Kakatiya Medical College, India
• MPH, Public Health (Epidemiology, Biostatistics), Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
• Residency, Psychiatry , University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas

• Kamalakar Surineni, Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

• American Psychiatric Association, Member, 2017 - Present

Research

Overview

Dr Surineni is conducting multiple clinical trials aimed at finding new treatments for neuro cognitive, medical and mental illnesses. His active studies include,
1) KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical Cohort, A National Institute of Health (NIH) grant-funded study to develop and maintain a well-characterized group of individuals to support further research on memory and aging.
2) Metformin in Alzheimer’s dementia Prevention (MAP)
3) A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, 18-Month Study With an Open-Label Extension Phase to Confirm Safety and Efficacy of BAN2401 in Subjects with Early Alzheimer’s Disease
4) A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Bayesian Adaptive Randomization Design and Dose Regimen-Finding Study with an Open-Label Extension Phase to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of BAN2401 in Subjects With Early Alzheimer’s Disease
5) Ranolazine in ALS: safety, and effects on cramps, function and quality of life.

• Martin, Phillip., K., Surineni, Kamalakar, Schroeder, Ryan., W., Hilsabeck, Robin., C., Ayers, Gayle., Y.. 2024. Diagnostic Interviewing and Cognitive Screening, 13-28. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780197690024.003.0003
• Li, Susan, Surineni, Kamalakar. 2025. Falls in Hospitalized Patients and Preventive Strategies: A Narrative Review. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: Open Science, Education, and Practice, 5, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.osep.2024.10.004
• Pirtle, Jimmie., L., Hickman, Melissa., D., Boinpelly, Varun., C., Surineni, Kamalakar, Thakur, Hemant., K., Grasing, Kenneth., W.. 2019. The serotonin-2C agonist Lorcaserin delays intravenous choice and modifies the subjective and cardiovascular effects of cocaine: A randomized, controlled human laboratory study. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 180, 52-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2019.02.010
• Surineni, Kamalakar, Wells, Emilee, Schrader, Nolan, Costa, Gilmar, Ziegler, Maggie. 2024. Valproate-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.65670
• Surineni, Kamalakar, Armstrong, Austin, Wallace, Sara, Schrader, Nolan. 2024. The Emergence of Mania After Initiating Escitalopram for Anxiety Disorder. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63441
• Sharma, Ram, Oni, OA, Gu, Kamal, Sharma, M, Singh, V, Parashara, D, Surineni, K, B., Dawn, Chen, G, Ambrose, JA, Barua, R. 2017. Normalization of Testosterone Levels After Testosterone Replacement Therapy Is Associated With Decreased Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004880
• Le, Vy, Wollard, Kylee , Kamalakar. 2023. Post-ictal and Inter-ictal Persistent Delirium in A 69-year-old With Resected Bifrontal Olfactory Groove Skull Base Meningioma. Kansas Medical Journal
• Surineni, Kamalakar, Le, Vy, Jones, Danielle. 2024. A Case of Oral-Buccal-Lingual Dyskinesia and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After Prolonged Levetiracetam Exposure. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.62692
• Surineni, Kamalakar, Muhammad, Afzal, Barua, Rajath, Parashara, Deepak. 2016. Epinephrine-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy,. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6373712/
• Sharma, Rishi, Surineni, Kamalakar, McCarthy, Ellen, Fields, Timothy, Gupta, Kamal, Barua, Rajat, Savin, Virginia. 2014. Proteinuria in Hypertensive Nephropathy: A Review. Open Journal of Nephrology. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=47231