Dr. Mapendo Karen Safari, DNP, APRN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Mapendo Karen Safari, DNP, APRN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, healthcare leader, and entrepreneur dedicated to transforming mental healthcare through compassionate, evidence-based practice. As the Founder, Owner, and Medical Director of Access Psychiatry, LLC, she provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and telepsychiatry services to individuals across the lifespan. Guided by a patient-centered philosophy, Dr. Safari is committed to expanding access to quality mental healthcare, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations, while working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Dr. Safari's distinguished academic journey reflects her commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Frontier Nursing University after completing her Master of Science in Nursing at Walden University with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from American Sentinel University, an Associate Degree in Nursing from Radians College, and a Licensed Practical Nurse diploma from Comprehensive Health Academy. Her extensive credentials include board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure in Maryland and the District of Columbia, a Compact State Registered Nurse license, and certifications in dementia and Alzheimer's behavior management, case management, and life support.
Throughout her career, Dr. Safari has built an impressive record of clinical expertise across outpatient, residential, and telehealth settings. In addition to leading Access Psychiatry, she serves as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with New Living Healthcare Services, where she provides psychiatric care, medication management, and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to support individuals facing mental health and co-occurring disorders. She previously served as a Ketamine Provider with Mindbloom, delivering innovative telehealth-based mental health treatment and patient education. Her clinical practice emphasizes individualized care that integrates psychopharmacology with psychotherapy to help patients achieve lasting emotional wellness and improved quality of life.
Before transitioning into advanced psychiatric practice, Dr. Safari established herself as an accomplished nursing leader through years of progressive management experience. As Clinical Nurse Manager and Delegating Nurse Case Manager at Riderwood Health Services, she supervised multidisciplinary clinical teams, led quality improvement initiatives, ensured regulatory compliance, and coordinated complex patient care across assisted living and long-term care settings. Her earlier nursing roles as Charge Nurse and Staff Nurse at leading healthcare institutions further strengthened her expertise in patient care, leadership, and clinical operations. Today, she also serves as a preceptor and mentor for nurse practitioner students, helping develop the next generation of advanced practice providers.
Dr. Safari's professional accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors, including the Nurse Leader Award, the NADONA Leadership Award, recognition as a COVID-19 Unsung Hero, and membership in the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society. She remains actively involved in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, the Maryland Nurses Association, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Organization. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Safari is deeply committed to serving her community through volunteer work with the U.S. Army Support Group and as a supporter of Children’s National Hospital cancer initiatives. Her career is defined by a steadfast dedication to clinical excellence, leadership, mentorship, and improving the lives of individuals and families through accessible, holistic mental healthcare.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Frontier Nursing University, Kentucky
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2022)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – American Sentinel University, Denver, Colorado (2016)
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) – Radians College, Washington, DC (2012)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – Comprehensive Health Academy, Washington, DC (2007)
• ANCC Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (APRN-CRNP)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR Certification
• Delegating Nurse/Case Manager
• Assisted Living Manager
• Dementia & Alzheimer's Behavior Management Certificate
• W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society
• Nurse Leader Award
• NADONA Leadership Award
• COVID-19 Unsung Heroes Recognition
• American Psychiatric Nursing Association (APNA)
• American Nursing Association (ANA)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• U.S. Army Support Group Volunteer (2018–Present)
• Children's National Hospital Cancer Supporter
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Medication Management
- Psychiatric evaluations
- Supportive psychotherapy
- Telepsychiatry
- Psychopharmacology
- Mental health care across the lifespan
- Treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders
- Care for underserved and vulnerable populations
- Community mental health
- Dementia and Alzheimer's behavior management
- Integrated behavioral healthcare
- Nurse practitioner student preceptorship and mentorship
- Patient education and counseling
- Care coordination and case management
- Holistic, evidence-based psychiatric care
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most is helping people feel better. It's incredibly rewarding when patients with depression, anxiety, or PTSD come back and they're actually smiling and feeling good. I've seen this especially with innovative treatments like ketamine therapy. When patients who have struggled with treatment-resistant conditions come for their second visit and they're smiling, it's just so rewarding. Sometimes it hurts me to see patients struggling back and forth when traditional medications aren't working for them, and we just keep changing things and nothing is happening. That's why I'm so passionate about finding new treatments and options to help this population feel good and be functional, because that's the whole point of going to the doctor.