Dr. Camellia Pratt Clark, MD

Expert Publications

• Polysomnography and criteria for the antidepressant response to sleep deprivation.
• Antidepressant response to partial sleep deprivation in unipolar depression is not related to state anxiety.

Media Releases

Transforming Lives Through Compassionate Care and Over 40 Years of Professional Excellence

Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) proudly recognizes Dr. Camellia Pratt Clark for her outstanding contributions as an Attending Psychiatrist since July 2012. With a commitment to providing high-quality diagnostic assessments and compassionate treatment planning, Dr. Clark plays a pivotal role in delivering mental health care to medically disadvantaged patients in the San Diego community.

Dr. Clark’s expertise lies in her ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with colleagues to develop effective treatment plans and patient care guidelines. Her role extends beyond clinical practice; she serves as a vital liaison between primary care and behavioral health specialties. Through her efforts in refining the organization’s Electronic Health Record system, Dr. Clark has significantly reduced operational costs by identifying and correcting coding errors, thereby enhancing the efficiency of patient care delivery.

For more than 50 years, FHCSD has been dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, particularly focusing on uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved individuals. Dr. Clark’s work aligns perfectly with this mission, as she tirelessly advocates for improved mental health access and outcomes for the most vulnerable populations.

With an impressive academic journey, Dr. Clark earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Bioengineering from Texas A&M University in 1981 and her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1985. Her extensive training includes a rotating internship at Ravenswood Hospital/University of Illinois, a psychiatry residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Westchester Division, and surgical training at both the University of Illinois and Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.

As a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Clark actively participates in several professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association Caucus on Complementary and Integrative Psychiatry, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Neuropsychiatric Association. Her dedication to the field has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sleep Research Society Foundation J. Christian Gillin, M.D. Research Award, Sleep Research Society Young Investigator Award, West Coast College of Biological Psychiatry Junior Faculty Research Award, and NARSAD Young Investigator Award. 

A firm believer in psychiatry as a calling, Dr. Clark is committed to helping individuals achieve mental wellness through personalized treatment plans, often incorporating therapeutic approaches to aid recovery. Her unwavering dedication continues to inspire both her colleagues and patients alike.

Recommended Articles

• Symptoms of Atypical Depression

  Depression is usually signified by extended moods of sadness and a generally low mood even when events occur that should normally lift someone’s spirits. Patients generally ignore all positive stimuli, preferring to remain in a cocoon irrespective of external circumstances. At one stage, the loss...

• What Is Vistaril Used For?

  What is Vistaril (hydroxyzine)?Vistaril is a medication used to reduce central nervous system activity. It is an antihistamine drug that can help reduce the effects of histamine in the body and relieve symptoms of allergy, such as histamine-induced itch, hives, and contact dermatitis.Vistaril is...

• Treatment Options for Depression and Anxiety

  Anxiety and depression are similar conditions that develop when neurotransmitters, like serotonin, are not as effective. Low serotonin levels, as well as dopamine and epinephrine levels, play an important role in the development of both anxiety and depression. Since both conditions affect the same...

• What Is a Psychosomatic Disorder?

  What is a psychosomatic disorder?It is a disorder wherein physical symptoms develop due to mental factors. The term "psyche" refers to the word "mind" and "somatic" means the observed physical signs and symptoms of the disease. Every disease has physical and mental components, so most diseases are...

• Pseudoseizures

  OverviewA seizure is a sudden event caused by an uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. When a seizure happens, you lose control of your body, possibly lose consciousness, and convulse. Seizures can also cause behavioral changes and changes in the levels of your consciousness, including...

• What Are the Factors that Contribute to Autism?

  The causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are still unclear. Even though research shows that genetic factors are predominate, they are not the one and only cause. In fact, it’s much more likely that there are multiple causes rather than just one.1. Genetic FactorsThere are multiple studies...