Dr. Leena Khanzode
Leena is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist with a private practice in Los Altos.
She is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent division at the Stanford School of Medicine. She has been teaching a course for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellows at Stanford for the past 5 years.
She is certified in teaching mindfulness to children and adolescents and has conducted group sessions for different age groups.
Leena’s goal is to support the whole child through Taarika.
Dr. Smita Thakkar
Smita is a board-certified psychiatrist with over a decade of experience.
She completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Fellowship at the University of Southern California. She received her general psychiatry training at the University of Los Angeles where she served as Chief Resident and was recognized with the Outstanding Resident Award two years in a row.
She was an Attending Psychiatrist in India and is fluent in major Indian sub-continent languages.
Dr. Vidya Krishnan
Vidya is a board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist.
She has trained at UCSF and Stanford University. She is currently employed by Comprehensive Psychiatric Services.
Vidya strongly believes in the values of prevention and early intervention as the founding principles of good child/ adolescent mental health. She is a part of the Taarika team to turn this belief into reality in hopes that, in the near future, we will be so successful that we will vastly reduce the need for child psychiatrists like her.
Anuradha Shanware
Anuradha is a high-tech professional in Silicon Valley, California. She has a Master’s Degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering. She has managed various products and served various positions in the telecom, mobile, and networking industry.
Anuradha is also a proud mother of two daughters and enjoys watching their development through various phases of life. She wholeheartedly supports the concept of the “Whole Child” and joins hands with Taarika in bringing a better tomorrow through today’s children.
In her free time, she enjoys community service and carries a passion for photography and art. She loves traveling and discovering life from various angles.
Punam Nagpal
With a distinguished 24-year career at Cisco, Punam Nagpal has evolved from an engineer to a respected leader, finding fulfillment in her current role by advocating for customer needs and safeguarding data security and privacy. Passionate about women’s empowerment, Punam has played a significant role in the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) employee resource group, rising to the position of chair and broadening its influence across various regions. Her community contributions and her 2015 autobiography have inspired numerous women both within and outside of Cisco.
Punam maintains a healthy work-life balance through Raj Yoga meditation, which helps her keep a clear and focused mind. As a Cisco-certified Mindfulness facilitator, she leads monthly Onboarding & Engagement sessions for a community of over 3,000 members.
Deeply appreciative of the opportunities Cisco has afforded her, Punam is dedicated to giving back through mentoring, mindfulness, and leadership, ensuring Cisco remains a thriving environment for all. On a personal note, she has been happily married for 25 years and is a proud mother to a daughter and son. Her parenting experiences have been profound, and she now aims to share those learnings through the Taarika Foundation.
Taarika Foundation 