Dr. Dennis Brian Alters, MD, DLFAPA

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Get to know Psychiatrist Dr. Dennis Brian Alters, who serves patients in Riverside, California.

A dedicated psychiatrist, Dr. Alters is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UC Riverside School of Medicine as well as a staff psychiatrist for the Riverside County Department of Mental Health.

He worked in private practice in the San Diego area for nearly 30 years before coming to Riverside, California. During that time, he also served as a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, as well as worked as an active, consulting or honorary staff member at a variety of San Diego area hospitals.

Upon graduating with his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 1976, Dr. Alters went on to further his training. He performed his residency in surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida, his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Louisville, his residency in psychiatry at the UC San Diego Medical Center, and his fellowship in child psychiatry at the UC San Diego Medical Center.

A Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (DLFAPA), he is board-certified in psychiatry & child and adolescent 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.

His memberships include the California Psychiatric Association, the San Diego Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Medical Association. 

A leader in the field of psychiatry, Dr. Alters is the Founder of Wizard’s Way Publications, a full-therapy management program for children ages 4 to 14. It combines cognitive, behavioral, and psychodynamic treatments into a playful game like adult and child friendly format.

The doctor’s areas of research include: psychodynamic, cognitive, behavior, and family systems; play and art psychopharmacology & inpatient, residential, and outpatient psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and families.

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.

Among Dr. Alter’s most notable achievements include: Gold Medal from The Fourth International Seminar on Learning Disabilities: Wizard’s Way® Community Mental Health Interventions, April 1998; Psychiatrist of the Year, San Diego Psychiatric Society, 1992-1993; Certificate of Appreciation for Exemplary Work, National Association of Social Workers, San Diego Health Council, 1987; On-Time Doctor Award (2009); and Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2009, 2010, 2011).

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