Contact and Affiliation

Name: Aminadav Zakai, MD
Current Employer: UMass Memorial Health - Harrington / Harrington HealthCare System
Locations: Webster, Massachusetts; Massachusetts, United States
LinkedIn Profile: [linkedin.com/in/aminadavzakai](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aminadavzakai)
Professional Language Proficiency: Hebrew (native or bilingual), English (native or bilingual)

Current Roles and Responsibilities

Medical Director, Addiction Immediate Care

UMass Memorial Health - Harrington | Since January 2023 (2 years 9 months)
Oversees clinical and operational management of addiction immediate care services, emphasizing urgent psychiatric care for addiction patients in the region.

Director of Outpatient Services, Behavioral Health

Harrington HealthCare System | Since July 2020 (5 years 3 months)
Responsible for directing all outpatient behavioral health programs, focusing on mental health services expansion, program development, and integration across outpatient care units.

Medical Director

Harrington HealthCare System | Since September 2019 (6 years 1 month)
Provides medical oversight across the healthcare system including quality management, clinical leadership, and administrative direction within psychiatric and behavioral health services.

Medical Director, Taunton State Hospital

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (via Hospital Practice Psychiatry PC) | Since September 2014 (11 years 1 month)
Managed the comprehensive restructuring of Taunton State Hospital, reducing capacity from 169 beds to 45 beds, optimizing psychiatric service delivery, and overseeing state mental health regulatory compliance.

Medical Director, Department of Mental Health, Massachusetts

Taunton State Hospital & Cape Cod and the Islands | Since March 2012 (over 13 years)
Strategic leadership and clinical oversight across multiple sites, ensuring adherence to mental health standards, advancing treatment models, and managing interdepartmental collaborations within the Commonwealth’s mental health system.

Professional Background and Experience

Education and Training:

MD from Technion-Machon Technologi Le' Israel (Medical School in Haifa, Israel) | 1981 – 1987

Residency at Brown University

Post-doctoral training in psychological trauma at Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, RI, and Harvard Psychological Trauma Program at Erich Lindemann Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

Certifications:

Board Certified by American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Active through 1995–2025)

Significant Previous Roles:

Medical Director, Addiction Immediate Care at UMass Memorial Health - Harrington (current)

Chief of Psychiatry, High Point Hospital (June 2018 – August 2019), a non-profit specializing in public sector mentally ill and dual diagnosis populations

Medical Director, Arbour Fuller Hospital (Mar 2010 – Mar 2012) and Arbour HRI Hospital (Oct 2009 – Jun 2010) under Universal Health Services

Chief Psychiatrist, Massachusetts Department of Corrections (Sept 2007 – Oct 2009), with focus on inmate mental health including gender identity disorder treatment and suicide prevention

Medical Director, PTSD Program at Veterans Administration Medical Center (1994 – 2007), with hands-on involvement in PTSD-focused clinical research projects and treatment methodologies

Assistant Professor and Physician Leader roles during early to mid-career period at Brown University and affiliated VA Medical Center

Areas of Expertise and Clinical Focus

Addiction psychiatry and immediate care intervention

Behavioral health program development and outpatient services management

Trauma and PTSD treatment, with significant research involvement at VA Medical Center

Correctional psychiatry including gender identity disorder and suicide prevention

Psychiatric hospital restructuring and operational optimization

Dual diagnosis and public sector mental health management

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – introduced TMS therapies to approximately 40 individuals at Harrington, indicating active involvement in emerging psychiatric treatment modalities

Professional Reputation and Community Engagement

Recognized for 25+ years of leadership in psychiatry, teaching, and clinical care across public and private sectors

Frequently contributes insights on depression subtypes, treatment impacts across age groups, and innovative treatment protocols in professional and community health forums

Featured in community educational programs and local health initiatives, including organized talks and outreach efforts, exemplifying leadership in mental health education and public awareness

Follows/connected on professional platforms with nearly 300 connections, indicating a well-established network in psychiatry and healthcare administration

Organizational Context

UMass Memorial Health - Harrington is part of a comprehensive healthcare system serving Massachusetts, focused on expanding behavioral health services including addiction care and outpatient behavioral health. Dr. Zakai’s extended tenure and multiple leadership roles within this system reflect his central role in service strategy and clinical direction, particularly as addiction and behavioral health services remain critical healthcare priorities. His prior experience overseeing mental health system restructuring and implementation of trauma-informed care supports strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and patient care outcomes.

Summary

Dr. Aminadav Zakai is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 35 years of progressive leadership experience, currently engaged in multiple medical director roles at UMass Memorial Health - Harrington. His expertise bridges clinical psychiatry, trauma-focused research, addiction immediate care, behavioral health outpatient services, and state mental health system administration. His deep involvement in both clinical innovation (e.g., Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and institutional restructuring (notably at Taunton State Hospital) positions him as a pivotal figure in shaping behavioral health service delivery in the Massachusetts region. His bilingual proficiency in Hebrew and English and extensive academic background provide additional leverage for diverse patient and professional engagements.

Aminadav Zakai