Biography
Dr. Amen is a physician, psychiatrist, educator, and multiple New York Times best-selling author. He is recognized as a leading expert in applying brain imaging science to clinical psychiatric practice. Board certified in child and adult psychiatry, he is also a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Amen serves as the medical director of Amen Clinics, Inc., with locations in Newport Beach and San Francisco, California; Bellevue, Washington; Reston, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and New York, New York. Amen Clinics houses the world's largest database of functional brain scans, containing nearly 90,000 scans from patients across 93 countries.
Known for his ability to simplify complex neuropsychiatry, neuroimaging, and brain health concepts, Dr. Amen effectively educates both professionals and the general public. He leads the largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on professional football players, revealing significant brain damage in many retired athletes, as well as the potential for recovery using principles central to his work. Under Pastor Rick Warren’s guidance, Dr. Amen, alongside Drs. Mark Hyman and Mehmet Oz, helped develop the "Daniel Plan," a 52-week program aimed at improving physical, emotional, and spiritual health within churches.
Dr. Amen has authored 55 professional articles and co-authored the chapter on Functional Imaging in Clinical Practice in the Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. He has written 30 books, including Change Your Brain, Change Your Life; Magnificent Mind At Any Age; Change Your Brain, Change Your Body; Use Your Brain to Change Your Age; and Unleash the Power of the Female Brain. Additional titles include Making A Good Brain Great, Healing the Hardware of the Soul, and co-authored works such as Unchain Your Brain, Healing Anxiety and Depression, and Preventing Alzheimer's.
He has produced eight widely acclaimed brain-related television programs, which have raised over $50 million for public television.
Dr. Amen has spoken for numerous prestigious organizations, including the National Security Agency (NSA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Harvard's Learning and the Brain Conference, Franklin Covey, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Supreme Courts of Delaware, Ohio, and Wyoming. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Newsweek, Parade Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Time, Washington Post, Men's Health, and Cosmopolitan.
He is married to Tana Amen, father to four children, and grandfather to Elias, Julian, Angelina, Emmy, and Liam. Dr. Amen is also an enthusiastic table tennis player.
