Dr. Shanda Priest, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Psychiatrist Dr. Shanda Priest, who serves patients in Rockville, Maryland.

Dr. Priest is a warm and caring adult psychiatrist who specializes in women’s and young adult mental health treatment. She commonly works with patients to treat anxiety disorders, mood disorders including bipolar illness and depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, trauma disorders, adjustment disorders, and a host of other challenges. 

At Potomac Psychiatry in Rockville, Maryland, she uses evidence-based treatments including traditional and integrative approaches to evaluate, diagnose, and treat psychiatric conditions. She often works with a treatment team composed of a nutritionist, psychotherapists, and other health specialists to provide a holistic care model. Ongoing care may include psychotherapy, medication management, skill building, and a number of other interventions.

Back in the early days of her academic career, Dr. Priest graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from North Carolina State University in 1996. She then went on to earn her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2002. 

Furthering her training, she performed her internship in psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 2003. She followed this up with a residency in psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2006, where she served as Chief Resident during her final year.

Following residency, Dr. Priest served as an active-duty psychiatrist in the US Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base from 2006-2011. There, she had the privilege of serving both active-duty service members and their families. In 2008, she deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan for 6 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing direct care for soldiers, sailors, and airmen and command support. She was awarded the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Golden Border, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and the 5 NATO Medal and the Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short.

After her military service, Dr. Priest worked in several settings including community based, traditional outpatient care, inpatient care, and as a consultant for Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP). 

Licensed to practice medicine in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, she is affiliated with Holy Cross Hospital-Silver Spring. She enjoys meeting patients where they are, listening to their needs, and working with them to develop an optimal individualized treatment plan.

A member of the American Psychiatric Association, she is board-certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). The ABPN is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to serving the professions of psychiatry and neurology.

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behavior, cognition, and perceptions. Psychiatrists evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations, develop treatment plans, prescribe medication, and evaluate treatment results.

Having partnered with patients on their journey to wellness, Dr. Priest has been named a Top Doctor by The Washingtonian in 2018 & a Top Doctor by Find a Top Doc in 2022.

Recommended Articles

• Is Eczema Genetic?

  Eczema is the collective name of a number of skin diseases. In general, it manifests as spots on the skin that can swell with a clear liquid. It is often confused with an allergic reaction, although it is, in fact, a skin irritation. Many people are well aware that eczema cannot be transmitted from...

• Health Benefits of Magnesium Supplements

  Magnesium plays a very important role in the smooth functioning of body processes. It has been observed that a deficiency in magnesium is considered to be one of the leading nutrient deficiencies among adults. In such cases, it is often a good idea to take magnesium supplements along with eating...

• What To Expect After Carpal Tunnel Surgery

  What is carpal tunnel surgery?Carpal tunnel surgery is a surgery that is performed on the hand to correct any problems that you may have with your carpal tunnels. The surgery can be performed as an open surgery or the doctor can use a less invasive approach.There are so many things and changes that...

• How Effective is a Master Cleanse Diet?

  The master cleanse diet, also known as the maple syrup diet or lemonade diet, is claimed to be a quick plan for weight loss. Originally developed as a detoxification program and weight loss plan, it became very popular a few years ago. In this plan, a person is kept on lemon juice concoction diet...

• What Causes Hair Loss?

  Normally one loses up to 100 strands of hair per day, which is completely normal. Many people lose their hair as they grow older, which is not meant to be alarming. In most cases, losing a few strands here and there may not make a noticeable difference in the scalp.There are different types of hair...

• The Latest Advancements in Treatment and Research for Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Patients and providers alike are often faced with unique challenges when it comes to treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The disease is not well understood, there is no cure, and treatments often require a trial and error process.Luckily, technology and research are constantly advancing...