Rukhsar Machiwalla, PA-C

Rukhsar (“Ruku”) Machiwalla, PA-C, is a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant at Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists (PNS) specializing in psychiatry and mental health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Before pursuing her graduate studies, she worked as an EMT for two years, gaining valuable experience in emergency medicine. She then earned her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, AL.

After graduating, she spent several years working in critical care in the neonatal ICU. While she found this work immensely rewarding, Ruku has always had a deep interest in mental health. In her role at PNS, Ruku takes a compassionate inquiry approach, as she believes that healing requires a holistic understanding of the mind, body, and past experiences. She believes that medications are just one of many tools to help foster self-awareness and meaningful growth. Her faith and perspective as a woman of color strongly inform her practice and she hopes to support and empower patients as they navigate their own unique journeys.

Ruku’s clinical interests include depression, anxiety, and trauma disorders. She is particularly passionate about pediatric and women’s mental health.