Our Physicians

University Behavioral Center strives to set a standard of excellence with the highly skilled medical staff who oversee the care of each of our patients. We believe in an individualized approach to treatment, and tailor our treatment plans to meet each person’s specific needs.

Shaheda B. Akhtar, M.D.
Dr. Akhtar serves as the University Behavioral Center Medical Director and is a Child Psychiatrist who specializes in treating individuals dealing with trauma. Dr. Akhtar provides outpatient psychiatric care for children and adolescents here at University Behavioral Center and has been in practice for 36 years. Dr. Akhtar has been with University Behavioral Center since it opened in 1989. During this time she has watched her patients grow and thrive, bringing her much joy over the years of dedicated service with the hospital. Dr. Akhtar attended medical school in India and worked in several hospitals including Duke University and The Children’s Psychiatric Institute, and completed her residency in North Carolina.

“As psychiatrists we need to do a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation by using the biopsychosocial model and then provide a unique and individualized treatment plan. We have a responsibility to look at a person as a whole and help them achieve their highest potential in personal, social and academic aspects of their lives.”

Sajid Hafeez, M.D.
Sajid Hafeez, M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who serves as Medical Director of the Acute Care Baker Act Unit here at the University Behavioral Center. He has also served as UBC’s Medical Director of the former long-term adolescent residential units. In addition, Dr. Hafeez serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida. Dr Hafeez received his adult psychiatry and residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. He received his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship training at the New York Medical College and at Children’s National Medical Center of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

“Individuals should not be afraid to get help for mental illness.”

Saleh M. Parvez, M.D.
Dr. Parvez provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services to our adult residents here at University Behavioral Center. Dr. Parvez has been in practice for 11 years and specializes in adult psychiatry with a strong interest in schizophrenia diagnoses. Dr. Parvez attended Medical School in Bangladesh where he grew up, and completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma.

“It is important to understand the neuroscience behind mental health disorders. It is not always pure somatic nor Freudian. Natural history, culture and the environment affect the pathology of the disease. My personal philosophy is that one cannot have a total bill of good health without having a sound mental health. There is no health without mental health.”

Syed H. Abbas, M.D.

Dr. Abbas works with the adult patients on our substance abuse unit here at University Behavioral Center. Dr. Abbas specializes in substance abuse, forensic psychiatry and has his fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Abbas went to school in the Dominican Republic and has been in the field for 15 years.

“I see psychiatry as a pure science that is evidence based. What happens inside a patient’s brain and body has science behind it.”

Syed Hashimi, M.D.
Syed Hashimi, M.D. is a board-certified general adult and geriatric psychiatrist. He attended Dow Medical College for his medical studies, completed his residency from Medical University of Ohio and received his sub-specialty training and fellowship in geriatric psychiatry from University of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Hashimi has been practicing psychiatry for over 20 years and has expertise and experience in treating a wide range of psychiatric disorders including mood disorders with depression and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, geriatric disorders, dementia and adult ADHD. He strongly believes in and tries to incorporate the following famous quote into his professional life.

“A good doctor treats the illness and a great doctor is the one who treats the patient with the illness.”

University Behavioral Center offers no-cost, confidential assessments for individuals in need of mental health or substance abuse treatment. Our staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to schedule assessments. Call us any time at 407-281-7000 or complete and submit our online contact form. If you need immediate medical assistance, contact 911 or seek the nearest emergency room.