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
Punam Nagpal is a mindfulness educator, leadership facilitator, author, and passionate advocate for well-being. Her professional journey spans engineering, customer advocacy, and leadership in the technology industry, where she championed customer outcomes, data security, and privacy while fostering collaboration and innovation.
A dedicated supporter of women’s empowerment, Punam served as Chair of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) employee resource group, expanding its reach across regions and inspiring countless women through mentorship, community initiatives, and her autobiography published in 2015.
A long-time mindfulness practitioner and a Potential Project certified mindfulness facilitator, Punam has led mindfulness and resilience programs for thousands of participants, creating safe spaces for reflection, connection, and personal growth. She believes that mindfulness is a practical life skill that helps individuals navigate challenges with greater awareness, compassion, and resilience.
As the Mindful, Beautiful, and Thriving podcast parent series host, Punam is committed to supporting parents, caregivers, and educators through meaningful conversations with experts on children’s mental health, mindful parenting, emotional intelligence, and family well-being. Drawing from both professional experience and her own parenting journey, she is passionate about helping families build stronger connections and raise resilient, emotionally healthy children.
Taarika Foundation 