Carmen Lopez-Arvizu

Dr. López-Arvizu is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the director of Outpatient Psychiatric Services at Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Center for Developmental Behavioral Health. Dr. López-Arvizu is also an assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, as well as a member of the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. López-Arvizu received her medical degree from the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in 1995. She served as an intern in internal medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, a resident in psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Hospital, where she was chief resident where she got the Award for Clinical Excellence as a resident. She then completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where she spent time at Kennedy Krieger Institute as part of her training to later stay on as faculty.

As a clinician, Dr. López-Arvizu treats individuals with psychiatric illness in the context of Neurodevelopmental disorders where she has developed an expertise in psychopharmacological management of children with developmental disabilities and severe behavioral presentations by developing a collaboration with the other disciplines involved in their care. She has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine. She has also been recognized by her peers by being awarded the Arabella Leet Award in Clinical Excellence at Kennedy Krieger.

As an educator, teaching physicians-in-training is a priority and a personal mission. Future child psychiatrists learn how to evaluate and treat the dually diagnosed child and the complex-care patients which are the Kennedy Krieger Institute specialty. Honored with James C. Harris Award for Excellence on Teaching awarded by the Child Psychiatry fellows.

Her clinical interests are always focused on improving the psychiatric diagnosis and treatment outcome of children and adolescents with complex and severe Neurodevelopmental disorders.

Advocacy and improving services to families coping with a dually diagnosed child, adolescent or adult with education to the public including schools, parents as well as other medical professionals and the barriers to access systems of care.

Focus on education of culturally competent care involving underrepresented populations including individuals of Hispanic descent and individuals with Neurodevelopmental disorders.