Meet Dr. Ruchir P. Patel: Working at the Intersection of Sleep and Mental Health
Dr. Ruchir P. Patel is the founder and medical director of the TMS Institute of Arizona in Scottsdale, where he and his team provide Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy — a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that helps restore healthy brain activity for conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and insomnia. Unlike medications, TMS has minimal side effects and requires no downtime, offering hope to patients who haven’t found relief through traditional treatments.
While not yet FDA-approved for traumatic brain injury (TBI), Dr. Patel and his team have seen encouraging results in their clinic and are following promising new research showing TMS’s potential to improve cognitive function and mood in TBI patients.
Dr. Patel undergoing TMS treatment himself
“When someone’s mental health suffers, their sleep does too, and vice versa. To truly help people heal, you have to treat both.”
Meet Dr. Ruchir P. Patel: Working at the Intersection of Sleep and Mental Health
Dr. Ruchir P. Patel is the founder and medical director of the TMS Institute of Arizona in Scottsdale, where he and his team provide Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy — a non-invasive, FDA-approved treatment that helps restore healthy brain activity for conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and insomnia. Unlike medications, TMS has minimal side effects and requires no downtime, offering hope to patients who haven’t found relief through traditional treatments.
While not yet FDA-approved for traumatic brain injury (TBI), Dr. Patel and his team have seen encouraging results in their clinic and are following promising new research showing TMS’s potential to improve cognitive function and mood in TBI patients.
Dr. Patel undergoing TMS treatment himself
“When someone’s mental health suffers, their sleep does too, and vice versa. To truly help people heal, you have to treat both.”
Known throughout Arizona and internationally for his expertise in sleep medicine, Dr. Patel has helped thousands of patients with insomnia, sleep apnea, and other disorders. Over time, his focus shifted toward mental health, inspired by the strong connection he observed between sleep and emotional well-being.
“You can’t really separate sleep and mental health,” he says. “When someone’s mental health suffers, their sleep does too, and vice versa. To truly help people heal, you have to treat both.”
Dr. Patel’s journey into neuromodulation therapies began with a clinical trial at his Scottsdale sleep clinic using transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS). Seeing patients experience real improvements in both mood and sleep was a revelation. From there, he dove deeper into TMS, completing a visiting fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, and eventually opening Arizona’s first stand-alone TMS therapy clinic, focused on innovative, stigma-free care.
“Many people hesitate to get help with mental health because of the associated stigma of seeking out a psychiatrist or other mental health provider,” he explains. “At the TMS Institute, we focus on wellness and innovation. Our mission is to help people feel whole again and we provide a safe space for people to seek help with their mental health challenges.”
When he’s not helping patients reclaim their sleep and mental health, Dr. Patel travels the world with his wife and 6-year-old son, exploring new cultures, hiking mountains, and savoring the little moments that bring balance and joy. Earlier this year, he and his wife embraced Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing,” on a retreat in the Dolomites. Over twelve days, they hiked high-altitude trails, savored local foods, and disconnected from the world’s noise to reconnect with each other and nature.
“That journey reminded me how important it is to pause, cherish loved ones, and savor life’s present moments,” he reflects. “Family, adventure, and balance are what keep me grounded and inspired — both in life and in my work.”
Through his professional expertise and personal philosophy, Dr. Patel embodies a holistic approach to wellness: helping patients achieve restorative sleep, emotional balance, and mental resilience, while never forgetting the power of adventure, mindfulness, and connection.
ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA
The Brain Injury Association of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.
What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.