Dr. Amy Swift, MD

Media Releases

Committed to Improving the Lives of Individuals Struggling with Addiction

Dr. Swift, the esteemed Medical Director of Addiction Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, has made significant contributions to the field of psychiatry through her dedication to patient care, research endeavors, and leadership within the hospital.

In her role, she oversees all addiction services within the hospital, including inpatient and outpatient rehab/detox programs, outpatient dual diagnosis services, and admissions. She also plays a pivotal role in teaching courses on motivational interviewing to medical trainees.

When asked about her journey into psychiatry, Dr. Swift shared, “I started as a psych major in college and applied to a PhD program in forensic psychology. I was working on a Forensic Unit and realized that the MD role was more suited to me.” Her passion for helping individuals struggling with addiction led her to pursue a career in addiction psychiatry, where she has made a lasting impact on countless lives.

Pertaining to her educational pursuits, she earned her medical degree from the New York Medical College, and completed both her residency and fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Her decision to join Mount Sinai Beth Israel was driven by the supportive and collaborative environment she found within the institution. “I walked into MSBI as a med student and I never left,” she noted. “The residents liked each other and had relationships outside of work. The mentors were invested in trainees, and everyone enjoyed coming to work.”

As a leader in the field of addiction psychiatry, Dr. Swift’s research interests focus on the clinical implications of interventions for addicted patients. She is currently mentoring residents on various projects, including exploring the treatment of psychosis in methamphetamine users, addressing disparities in access to dual diagnosis care based on race, and examining the judicious use of benzodiazepines in the outpatient setting.

Outside of her demanding career, she finds solace in spending time with her three children and engaging in activities such as cooking, hiking, and socializing with family and friends. Her compassion extends beyond the hospital walls, as evidenced by her past involvement in fostering over 50 rescue dogs during her residency.

Recommended Articles

• What are the Causes and Symptoms of Bulimia?

  Bulimia is an eating disorder that causes an individual to consume large amounts of food within a small period of time. After the binge is over, the individual purges to get rid of the unhealthy amount of food he or she consumed. Some methods that an individual may opt for to compensate for the...

• Drugs for Autism Symptoms: Repetitive and Self-Injurious Behaviors

  Autism disordersPatients who are diagnosed with autism have certain challenges, such as having difficulty in learning language, as well as communication, and an incapability of understanding body language and expressions. They are uncomfortable in new social surroundings and with social behavior, in...

• How Rumination Is Linked to Anxiety and Depression

  What is rumination?According to various research studies, one of the important factors or causes of depression and anxiety is rumination.When people ruminate, they continually contemplate about certain problems or thoughts without end. Most of the time, individuals who are depressed have episodes of...

• How Is Autism Diagnosed?

  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes a specific set of developmental and behavioral problems that affect an individual's behavior, as well as an individual's social and communication skills. A diagnosis of ASD means that your child’s social and communication skills, as well as play skills, are...

• What Is Celexa and Is It Safe During Pregnancy?

  Anxiety and depression are medical conditions associated with the brain. While the complexities of these conditions are highly intense, in simple language, they are referred to as chemical imbalances in the brain. The most common medications used when it comes to the treatment of depression and...

• What Is Vistaril Used For?

  What is Vistaril (hydroxyzine)?Vistaril is a medication used to reduce central nervous system activity. It is an antihistamine drug that can help reduce the effects of histamine in the body and relieve symptoms of allergy, such as histamine-induced itch, hives, and contact dermatitis.Vistaril is...