Hi! My name is Dr. Andrea Nelsen and I am an aviation psychiatrist. Since 2013 I have been working with aviators, student pilots, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, airplane mechanics and astronauts. I perform FAA-approved psychiatric evaluations and guide aviators through the medical certification process. I also work with anyone who wonders how past or current mental health issues could impact their medical fitness for certification. My philosophy centers on both the aviator and safety, meaning that I work with aviators to help them achieve their goals in the mental health realm while ensuring airspace safety. I also emphasize efficiency, and work to minimize delays in dealing with the FAA. (If you’re here, you may already have some experience with that!)

I have offices in Hawaii and Minnesota where aviators can see me in person. I also offer virtual appointments throughout most of the nation. Most pilots can see me through telehealth – this is especially true if you are in the early stages of attaining aviation clearance, or if you are choosing to address a situation proactively, knowing that otherwise, the FAA might raise flags. When things are further along, if the FAA mandates an exam, they will usually require it be in person, be performed by one of a tiny number of approved providers who are clustered in a few major cities and have limited availability (I’m one of them, which is how I know this), and they may require additional testing. So being seen early and proactively by someone who knows the field is usually in an aviator’s interest, and also promotes our airspace safety.

I know the ins and outs of airman medical certification from a mental health perspective, and in almost all cases I can tell a pilot, ATC, student, or parent how things look at present, and what steps, if any, will help them reach clearance standards. That is not a skill that is found among general psychiatrists, as many aviators unfortunately learn after spending time and money on exams that do not help them or meet FAA standards.

I also provide ongoing mental health and wellness services to members of the aviation community, including management of regulated medications such as antidepressants, and specialized psychotherapy for women aviators. I am also available to help passengers with flight anxiety and phobias.

I’m also a student pilot myself! My interests in aviation focus around vintage planes and aerobatics.