Prof. Shuliweeh Alenezi

Academic and National Leadership Positions

Shuliweeh Alenezi is a Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at King Saud University and a double-board-certified psychiatrist in Canada and the United States, with extensive experience in clinical practice, academic medicine, healthcare leadership, and national mental health policy.

He currently holds several academic, institutional, and national leadership positions, including:

• Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and King Saud University Medical City.
• Head, Academic Quality and Improvement Unit, College of Medicine, King Saud University.

• Chair, National Clinical Practice Guideline Development Team for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

   

Previously, he served as Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at King Saud University Medical City, Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program, and Chair of several academic quality and research committees. He also was Chairman, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Scientific Council, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and Team Lead, National Clinical Practice Guideline Development Team for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Education and Professional Training

Professor Alenezi graduated from the College of Medicine at King Saud University, where he subsequently joined the Department of Psychiatry as an academic faculty trainee.

Between 2010 and 2018, he completed his postgraduate medical education at the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa in Canada, undertaking accredited residency and subspecialty fellowship training in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

He holds Canadian and American board certifications in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

In 2018, he earned a Master's degree in Medical Education from the University of Ottawa. He also completed foundational training in psychoanalysis through the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis.

During his postgraduate training, he received Young Investigator Research Award in Child Mental Health and six academic excellence awards from the Saudi Cultural Bureau in Canada.

Clinical Expertise and Special Interests

Professor Alenezi has extensive clinical experience in the assessment and management of complex psychiatric, developmental, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. His areas of particular interest include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual developmental disorder, anxiety and mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome and tic disorders, behavioral difficulties, and emotional dysregulation.

His clinical expertise also extends to bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, trauma-related conditions, and adolescent substance use disorders.

He has received advanced training in multiple evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), psychodynamic psychotherapy, and family-based interventions, in addition to pediatric psychopharmacology.

He has contributed to the establishment and development of specialized clinical services in Saudi Arabia, including an early group psychotherapy program for children and dedicated clinics for ADHD and childhood anxiety disorders.

Healthcare Leadership and National Policy Development

Professor Alenezi plays an active role in advancing child and adolescent mental health services across Saudi Arabia through national healthcare initiatives focused on improving accessibility, quality, clinical integration, workforce development, and patient- and family-centered outcomes.

Through his leadership roles within the Saudi Ministry of Health, Saudi Health Council, and Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, he contributes to the development of national clinical practice guidelines, specialized training frameworks, clinical pathways, and evidence-informed mental health policies.

His work emphasizes the integration of mental health services across healthcare, education, and social sectors, alongside the development of sustainable models of care and multidisciplinary clinical services.

Research, Publications, and Medical Education

Professor Alenezi is an active clinician-scientist with research interests spanning child and adolescent mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, medical education, healthcare quality, and clinical leadership.

He has authored and co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals and contributed to specialized academic books.

In addition to his research activities, he has substantial experience in medical education, curriculum development, postgraduate training, academic supervision, and institutional quality improvement.

His academic work focuses on translating scientific evidence into clinical practice, strengthening healthcare workforce capabilities, and developing research-informed approaches to mental health service delivery.

Clinical Philosophy

Professor Alenezi advocates a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and family-centered approach to the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions.

His clinical philosophy recognizes that a child's development and psychological well-being are closely connected to family dynamics, educational environments, developmental abilities, and social circumstances.

He emphasizes meaningful parental involvement, comprehensive diagnostic assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, early intervention, and individualized treatment planning.

His broader professional mission is to bridge clinical practice, academic research, medical education, and national healthcare policy to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life for children, adolescents, and their families.