Steve Chennankara, DO

Looking back over the years for a pivotal moment that has pointed the way towards a career in psychiatry, an early memory that sticks out is one from ninth grade English class: for the final project, we were assigned to write an essay on Hamlet. The title of my essay read, "The Madness of Hamlet." To help research this topic, my mother (who is a psychiatry nurse) handed me a copy of the "Pocket Handbook of Clinical Psychiatry." Reading every page in the book, looking to see if Hamlet's symptoms met the DSM-3R criteria for various disorders, I was in awe at the complexity of the human mind. This started my journey in exploring the cognitive sciences.

After high school, I pursued a career in computer science. Although my work was challenging, and even rewarding, there remained a longing for more personal interaction and community service. I resigned, moved to Texas and started attending the University of Houston. It was at this time I decided to pursue psychiatry after taking a psychology course which rekindled the excitement that I had lost since ninth grade English class.

After completing residency in adult psychiatry and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent psychiatry, I practiced at McLane Children's Hospital in Temple, TX, along with being directly involved in training, medical students, residents and fellows.

I joined the Cook Children's system in June of 2016, after moving to the DFW area to be closer to family. Working here has been a blessing as I have been encouraged to pursue my interest, psychosomatic medicine, in a large pediatric center. I currently see children and adolescents in the Partial Hospitalization Program and manage psychiatric consultations at the medical center.

My philosophy of treatment centers on providing a space where children and families understand their intrinsic worth, as they build resilience together as a system. I see my role as helping to remove barriers and providing tools that help families in their journey of healing and wellness and then getting out of the way.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy traveling, writing and playing music as well as spending time with my family. I also stay involved and serve in my local church.