Bio
Dr. Julie Holland is a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, with a private practice in New York City established in 1996.
As an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Holland majored in the “Biological Basis of Behavior,” a series of courses combining the study of psychology and neural sciences, with a concentration in psychopharmacology, or drugs and the brain. After receiving her medical degree from Temple University, Dr. Holland completed a residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where her role as principal investigator in a research study examining a new medication for schizophrenia earned her a National Institute of Health Outstanding Resident Award.
From 1996 to 2005, Dr. Holland ran the psychiatric emergency room of Bellevue Hospital on Saturday and Sunday nights. Her book, Weekends at Bellevue chronicles that time. A liaison to the hospital's medical emergency room and toxicology department, she is considered an expert on street drugs and intoxication states, and lectures widely on these topics. In 1996, she published a paper in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, describing a resurgence of the drug phenomenon smoking marijuana soaked in embalming fluid, and became an expert on PCP. She does forensic consultation for murder trials involving this drug.
During her college years, Dr. Holland grew interested in a “new drug,” and authored an extensive research paper on MDMA (ecstasy), resulting in multiple television appearances, forensic consultations, and a book, Ecstasy: The Complete Guide. A Comprehensive Look at the Risks and Benefits of MDMA, published in 2001 by Inner Traditions. All proceeds from this book fund clinical studies of MDMA.
Most recently, Dr. Holland authored the article Cavewoman’s Guide to Good Health in the July 2010 edition of Glamour magazine, and edited The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to the Risks and Benefits of Cannabis. (2010, Inner Traditions) Dr. Holland is the medical monitor for two therapeutic studies (MDMA and cannabis) examining the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars.
Dr. Holland has appeared on numerous television shows as a drug and behavior expert, including CNN, National Geographic channel, Fox, VH1, MTV, Dr. Oz, Joy Behar, and Good Morning America. She appears regularly as a guest on the Today show.
