09/01/2026

Meet KPMA Membership Chair, Dr. Audrey Summers Farooqui

1. Tell us about yourself.

I'm a native Louisvillian, having grown up in Kentucky and completed most of my education here. I'm a reproductive and consultation-liaison psychiatrist and serve as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Louisville, where I direct the Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Service and the Women's Mental Health Clinic. I'm also the Medical Director of KyCOMPASS, Kentucky's statewide perinatal mental health access program. Most of my work sits at the intersection of medicine and psychiatry, especially around pregnancy and the postpartum period. I currently live in Louisville with my husband, Ali, and our corgi, Safris (yes, named after the psych med Saphris). In my free time I enjoy traveling, reading, and cooking. 

2. What inspired you to choose psychiatry as a career and what continues to motivate you in the field of psychiatry today?

I've always been passionate about women's health, and reproductive psychiatry ended up fitting all my interests in one place. What drew me to psychiatry more broadly is that I love hearing other people's stories and being someone others can trust with sensitive information. There's nothing quite like improving a patient's quality of life, which in turn improves the whole family’s quality of life. There is still so much unmet need in this space, and it's genuinely satisfying to help patients through difficult transitions. 

3. What do you find most fulfilling about working as a psychiatrist, both professionally and personally?

Professionally, I love the range of what I do in a given week. One day I'm at the bedside on a complex medical case, the next I'm teaching or working to build a statewide program. Personally, the most rewarding part is watching a patient go from barely holding on to enjoying her life and her baby. Helping medical students and residents find their passion and learn runs a close second. It's a career that keeps me learning every single day. 

4. What are some common misconceptions people have about psychiatry and how do you address them in your work?

In perinatal psychiatry, one of the biggest misconceptions is that psychiatric treatment and a healthy pregnancy can't coexist. Women are often afraid to receive treatment while pregnant out of concern for their unborn child, which is completely understandable. That's why evidence-based medicine and honest risk-benefit discussions are essential during pregnancy and the postpartum period. I like to walk patients through the treatment options and reassure them so they can make an informed decision that feels right for them and their family.

5. What challenges have you faced in your psychiatric career and how have these challenges shaped your perspective or clinical practice?

In medicine we are often pressured to make the right decision quickly, but in psychiatry a rushed decision can end poorly. Some of the hardest cases have taught me that patience and observation are sometimes the best answers for a complicated situation. Learning to sit with that uncertainty, rather than forcing a resolution, has made me a more thoughtful clinician. It has also reinforced how important it is to collaborate with physicians and staff across other specialties, since the best care almost always comes from working together.

6. What advice would you give to medical students or aspiring psychiatrists considering this field?

Stay curious and follow the parts of medicine that genuinely interest you, even if they don't fit a tidy career path. Learn to be comfortable with ambiguity, because a lot of the best work in psychiatry happens in the gray areas. Find mentors who will be honest with you and eventually be that person for someone else. And take care of yourself along the way because this work is hard to do well when you're burned out.