08/03/2026

Meet KPMA Secretary/Treasurer & Legislative Chair, Dr. Art Oliva

Hello, I am Arthur Oliva, a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, and a psychiatrist. I am a second generation American of both Hispanic and Incan descent. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, I did my medical school at Ohio University in Columbus Ohio and my residency in psychiatry at University of Louisville. I am currently an Assistant Professor at UofL Department of Psychiatry, my main role is serving as a Consult-Liaison Psychiatrist with our partner hospital Norton Downtown while also having at small outpatient clinic at the University. I teach both with the residency program and at the medical school. I am also current the Legislative Chari at the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association, where I work closely with our Executive Director advocating for psychiatric priorities legislatively both in the Commonwealth and Nationally.

I fell in love with psychiatry starting on college. I always had a strong interest both in human behavior and neurophysiology. I always wanted to understand why people do what they do, and I find psychiatry fits perfectly with that interest. I also see how there is a growing mental health crisis in America and in Kentucky, and I know every day I go to work I make a difference in multiple peoples’ lives. I also have really grown to love C/L work, as it is a perfect combination of psychiatric complexity while keeping my general medical knowledge sharp. There is not a day in my job where I’m not intellectually challenged in some way.

I think one common misconception about the psychiatric field is that we are just “pill pushers” or think everything can be fixed with a pill. I feel true effective psychiatry comes from truly getting to understand a person, who they are and what is going on in their lives. Effective psychopharmacology is very important, but in my opinion, it needs to be paired with a strong patient-doctor relationship and brief therapeutic interventions. Unfortunately, I also know that the modern healthcare system values efficiency and throughput over quality of care at times. It can be hard to take time with patients, and I think that is the leading cause of burnout and moral injury in our field. It is important that I am always present for my patients and advocating for them to get the care and attention they need.

For any students interested in psychiatry, I always tell them if you find the field enjoyable and interesting, it can be a good fit for you. I remember in my third year of medical school psychiatry was the only rotation where I was excited and energized to go home and read more about. That interest and passion is what helps keeps someone engaged even on the toughest workdays. Along with that, a very wise psychiatrist told me once that we must be healthy to help others be healthy. For anyone interested in the field its important to also prioritize your mental health and wellness.