Paula Bu, MD

Paula Bu, MD, is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who treats a wide range of psychiatric conditions with a personalized, evidence-informed approach that integrates medication management and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Specialties & Focus Areas

• Depression and anxiety
• Panic disorder and OCD
• ADHD and PTSD
• Work-life balance, life transitions, and interpersonal challenges

Who They Help

Dr. Bu works with adults navigating mood, anxiety, and attention disorders, as well as those managing the stress of major life changes. She has significant experience serving college students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people of color.

Treatment Approach

Dr. Bu offers an individualized blend of medication management and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She is happy to collaborate with your existing therapist if your primary need is medication management.

Professional Background

Dr. Bu graduated with High Honors from Harvard College and earned her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and received advanced psychotherapy training through the Preparatory Program in Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychotherapy at the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she supervises psychiatry residents, and has published research in multiple peer-reviewed journals.

Certifications & Affiliations

• Board Certified, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
• Clinical Assistant Professor and Resident Supervisor, University of Pennsylvania
• “Rising Star” Physician, Castle Connolly Top Doctors: 2023, 2024, 2025
• “Top Doc,” Main Line Today Magazine, Adult Psychiatry: 2024, 2025
• “Top Doc,” Philadelphia Magazine, Adult Psychiatry: 2024
• Top AAPI Doctors, Castle Connolly: 2024

Locations & Availability

Paula Bu sees patients in-person in Philadelphia, PA. Paula Bu is licensed to practice and prescribe in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania via telehealth.