About Dr. Shayna Popkin

Dr. Shayna Popkin is a board-certified General and Forensic Psychiatrist (ABPN) whose work resides at the intersection of clinical medicine, ethics, and human experience. Raised in a first responder family in Montgomery County, Maryland, she developed an early appreciation for teamwork, leadership, and the complexity of human behavior — experiences that shaped her enduring commitment to understanding not only the biology of the brain, but the people and systems surrounding it.

Dr. Popkin earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular Cell Physiology from Monmouth University and her medical degree from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at The George Washington University, where she served as Chief Resident, before going on to complete a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Brown University. Growing up in a family connected to law enforcement and public service cultivated a lasting appreciation for the ethical dimensions of medicine — particularly where clinical care intersects with trauma, justice, and systems of authority — ultimately drawing her to forensic psychiatry.

Through her work serving Military personnel, First Responders, and their families, Dr. Popkin has developed specialized expertise in the unique challenges these communities face. Her approach is patient-centered and integrative — combining individualized psychotherapy, medication management, and lifestyle interventions tailored to each person.

Above all, Dr. Popkin is guided by a deep respect for individual lived experience and the belief that exceptional medicine is built not only on data and diagnosis, but on empathy, reflection, ethical responsibility, and the enduring power of human connection. She finds purpose in helping each of her patients reach their fullest potential.