Professional Titles and Roles
Dr. Tichianaa Armah serves as the Chief Psychiatry Officer and Vice President of Behavioral Health at Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC Inc.), recognized as one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States. She holds multiple key leadership roles within the organization, including:
- Medical Director of Psychiatry for CHC Inc.
- Senior Faculty Member at the Weitzman Institute (Moses Weitzman Healthcare System)
- Medical Advisor for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post Graduate Residency Program
- Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on the HRSA-funded Optimizing Virtual Care grant focused on telehealth innovation and expansion
Additionally, Dr. Armah holds an academic appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, where she remains actively involved in resident education, supervision, and curriculum development.
Educational Background
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Swarthmore College (1999)
- Medical Degree, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (2008)
- Psychiatry Residency, Yale University (2012)
- Served as co-president of the Psychiatric Residents Association
- Chief Resident of the Hispanic Clinic, Connecticut Mental Health Center
Career Overview and Expertise
Dr. Armah has over 15 years of professional experience specializing in integrated care models that address disparities in mental health access. She is the first Chief Psychiatry Officer at CHC Inc., where she champions access to high-quality, culturally humble psychiatric care for underserved and vulnerable populations, including both adults and children.
Her professional focus is on expanding equity in behavioral health services through:
- Development and implementation of telepsychiatry programs
- Training and mentoring the next generation of mental health providers
- Advocacy for underrepresented minorities in psychiatry
- Integrated behavioral and primary care models
Her efforts drive CHC’s mission to serve over 130,000 patients in Connecticut with comprehensive primary care, dentistry, and behavioral health.
Recognitions and Awards
- U.S. Government Distinguished 400 Awardee (2021)
- American Psychiatric Association Excellence in Teaching Residents Award (2022-2023 academic year)
- Laurel House Champion for Recovery Award (2022) for dedication to patient care supporting people with severe mental illness
- Roger Coleman Memorial Award, Connecticut Psychiatric Society, honoring advocacy and commitment to quality patient care
- American Orthopsychiatric Association Vera Paster Award (2012)
- American Psychiatric Association Minority Fellowship (2011)
- Benjamin S. Bunny Award by the Yale Psychiatry Residents Association for advocacy and clinical care
Research, Publications, and Academic Contributions
Dr. Armah is an active contributor to psychiatric education and research, particularly in cultural psychiatry and mental health equity. Key publications include:
- The Next Black America: Obstacles Amidst Opportunities for Black Families (American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2015)
- Development and implementation of cultural psychiatry curricula for resident education
- Research focused on social networks and culturally informed psychiatric care
She co-founded and remains a key organizer of the Yale Department of Psychiatry Social Justice and Health Equity Curriculum, emphasizing her dedication to addressing systemic disparities in mental health care.
Advocacy and Community Engagement
Dr. Armah is a noted advocate for increasing mental health access among under-resourced communities and addressing systemic racial disparities impacting care delivery. She has authored opinion editorials on the psychological impact of racism in schools and actively participates in public forums advancing mental health awareness, especially for Black women and minority populations.
She emphasizes telehealth adoption and maintenance as critical in overcoming geographic and socio-economic barriers to psychiatric care, particularly in rural and underserved settings. Dr. Armah also advises on psychiatric electronic consultations supporting these efforts.
Recent Initiatives and Public Engagement
- Leadership in the HRSA Optimizing Virtual Care grant to expand equitable telepsychiatry
- Featured panelist and speaker in forums discussing Black Women’s Mental Health and mental health stigma reduction
- Media contributor including Op-Eds addressing psychological trauma related to racial inequities in education
- Recognized by Connecticut Psychiatric Society as a past president and influential society member
Contact Information
- Email: armaht@chc1.com
- Office Address:
Hispanic Clinic
Community Mental Health Center
34 Park Street
New Haven, CT 06508, USA
This profile reflects Dr. Tichianaa Armah’s comprehensive leadership in behavioral health administration, clinical psychiatry, education, and advocacy at Community Health Center, Inc., positioning her as a pivotal figure in advancing equitable and culturally competent mental health services within a large federally qualified healthcare network.
