Chitra Bhakta, MD, is a skilled and compassionate physician who treats patients at OC Integrative Medical Center in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Bhakta has been in practice for over 25 years. She offers care for patients living with PANDAS, CFIDS, Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Bhakta earned her medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. She went on to further her training through residencies at the University of Las Vegas, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and the University of Southern California. Her areas of study included Family Practice, respiratory therapy, and anesthesiology.
While at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, Dr. Bhakta ran the Urgent Care Clinic, and she saw a vast number of children with autistic symptoms. This experience sparked her interest in the causes of autism and led her to join the Defeat Autism Now organization. Dr. Bhakta is curious about the causes of autism and underlying inflammatory triggers. Her research led her to study Lyme Disease with Dr. Charles Ray Jones, the “Pope of Pediatric Lyme,” in Connecticut.
Dr. Bhakta is currently working with the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at UC Irvine, researching PANDAS, autoimmune disorders, and the genetic, environmental, and pathogenic impact on these chronic conditions. Her involvement with the clinical studies of both the XMRV at UC Irvine and the new Lyme culture test from Dr. Burrascano makes her one of the most cutting edge physicians in the nation on these conditions.