About
Dr. Adhia is a triple Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist based in Houston, TX. He testifies nationally. He is uniquely Board-Certified in Forensic Psychiatry and Brain Injury Medicine in civil, criminal, and military jurisdictions.
Adhia & Associates includes Kerry Mendes, M.D., a Child & Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatrist. Dr. Mendes joined Adhia & Associates in 2022 and serves as forensic evaluator of adults, children & adolescents and expert witness. His CV is attached to this profile.
Dr. Adhia has been retained in a range of cases for plaintiff and defense. Examples include Mass Tort and Toxic Tort (psychiatric damages associated with oil spill, chemical exposure), brain injury (competitive sports, personal injury), criminal competency (homicide, criminal and military courts), medical malpractice (clinic, hospital, and treaters), violence assessment (armed security personnel), sexual assault and the use of drugs (DFSA), psychiatric factors in capital crime (homicide), and in all cases, damages.
He has additional unique experience in cases that bridge psychiatry and brain injuries and diseases in clinical and forensic settings. Dr. Adhia is qualified to evaluate Traumatic Brain Injury, concussions, and Neurocognitive Disorders like Dementia.
Dr. Adhia and Dr. Mendes have active clinical practices as well as their forensic/expert witness work. They serve as Medical-Legal Consultants in case assessment They are qualified to evaluate cases as non-disclosed Experts and serve as disclosed Expert Witnesses.
They conduct psychiatric medical assessments, IMEs including a thorough review of medical and legal records to form well-reasoned findings and opinions.
Dr. Adhia serves as an appointed member of the Texas Governor’s Advisory Committee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments.
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health and Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX (2019-Present)
Associate Program Director, Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship, University of Texas Health and Science Center, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) (2016-2018)
Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Medical Branch (2012-2015)
In clinical practice, Dr. Adhia treats patients at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation and Research hospital working with those with psychiatric, brain injury, brain disease, and spinal cord injuries (TIRR Memorial Hermann is a national leader in medical rehabilitation.) He is also a former Medical Director of a Mental Health Clinic and a Psychiatrist in a maximum-security Correction Hospital. In his clinical work, he draws on significant expertise in psychopharmacology and proper medication management to treat mental illness. Dr. Adhia has treated hundreds of patients with complex and disabling psychiatric conditions intertwined with other health issues.
Dr. Adhia has conducted dozens of civil and fitness for duty assessments, and competency evaluations: probate, testamentary capacity, competency to stand trial, and NGRI cases.
Before turning to the private sector, Dr. Adhia treated mentally ill men in the correctional system including psychiatric hospital, the Jester IV prison, Supermax facility Polunsky Unit, and death row inmates, treating some of the most violent and mentally ill offenders. He has significant experience in evaluating competency to stand trial, and claims of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI.) In private practice and corrections, he is experienced in treating addiction to alcohol, prescription and over the counter drugs, and opioids. He has also treated patients with Intellectual Development Disorders (IDD), Autism and psychotic conditions in correctional settings and at the State Supporting Living Center in Texas.
Dr. Adhia is experienced in the standard of care in psychiatric treatment, private care, and correctional facilities and correctional psychiatric hospitals.
In his free time, Dr. Adhia volunteers with Physicians for Human Rights, conducting forensic assessment of victims of Human Trafficking, sexual assault, and kidnapping or false imprisonment. Not surprisingly, he has found PTSD, Depression and/or Anxiety Disorders are often present.
Dr. Adhia's professional commitments include acting as a contributing editor to StatPearls, a Brain Injury Medicine publisher of peer-reviewed e-books; he is committed to medical education (formerly Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UTMB). He serves on the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law (AAPL) Committees on Forensic Neuropsychiatry and Human Rights & National Security.
Dr. Adhia is a certified Medical Review Officer with expertise in Drug and Alcohol testing and toxicology.