Jorge Zapatel, MD

After graduating from medical school at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Dr. Zapatel completed his training in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry through Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry in 2001.

Dr. Zapatel is currently the medical director of Behavioral Medicine Safety at Scripps Mercy Hospital and treats adults and adolescents at both Scripps Mercy Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

He works with 39 high-risk adolescents at a community residential treatment program and has a private practice in Carmel Valley. In addition, Dr. Zapatel is an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at UCSD, supervising adult and child psychiatry residents. His main interests are mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Dr. Zapatel’s patient philosophy is to complete a thorough evaluation, getting to know each individual and family member well, and recommending parenting, behavioral, and other non-medication options before considering medication treatment. He has a comprehensive treatment plan and believes that relying on medication solely for treatment will not ultimately solve the issues at hand. Dr. Zapatel works closely with other psychologists, in-home coaches, nutritionists and alternative clinicians to obtain the most complete and permanent results.

He believes that making the diagnosis and continued, ongoing communication is key in an effective treatment plan, including multi-sensory teaching methods, behavioral modification, school support, parent guidance and medication.