We are thrilled to highlight one of our esteemed program leaders, Dr. José Calderón-Abbo. Dr. Calderón is board-certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine, with an additional certification in mind-body medicine. As the Medical Director at Imagine Recovery, he oversees the medical care of patients undergoing Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient treatment for co-occurring addictions and mental health issues. He also conducts mind-body medicine skills groups and collaborates on clinical programs and quality initiatives.
In addition to his role at Imagine Recovery, Dr. Calderón serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health at Optum/United Health Care, Louisiana. In this position, he helps design the behavioral health strategy for the health plan, aligning with the state’s priorities and public health indicators. His work focuses on integrating behavioral health with primary care, expanding behavioral health services, improving the quality of care, addressing the substance use epidemic, promoting health equity, considering social determinants of health, and enhancing crisis response.
Dr. Calderón is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU School of Medicine and a teaching clinical faculty member at Tulane University. He is also senior faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C., where he conducts national and international training and supervision in mind-body medicine skills for healthcare providers, patients, and the Department of Defense.
His current interests include the behavioral health impact of climate change on healthcare systems, mind-body medicine approaches for addiction recovery, and healthcare disparities. Dr. Calderón is a member of the advisory board for the Anti-Defamation League South Central chapter and has testified at the US Congress hearings on gun-violence reduction in support of mind-body medicine and mental health initiatives. He teaches meditation and mind-body medicine skills at various institutions, including hospitals and corporations.
Dr. Calderón graduated with honors from the National Autonomous University of México and completed his residency in psychiatry at Sinai Hospital of Detroit/Wayne State University. Born in México City, he currently lives in New Orleans with his family.
It is an honor to have Dr. Calderón not only as our Medical Director but playing such an integral role in the new Evening IOP.
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