Dr. Nicholas FabianoEmerging researcher and psychiatry resident Dr. Nicholas Fabiano was profiled as a “rising star” in the new journal Brain Medicine. In this Q&A with the journal, he describes his commitment to bridging the historical divide between physical and mental health. 

After sustaining a broken bone from arm wrestling during medical school that required surgical repair and led to nerve damage, he discovered firsthand how physical trauma impacts mental wellbeing – and how exercise can aid recovery of both body and mind. This sparked his research into lifestyle interventions for mental health, with a focus on the therapeutic potential of exercise for depression. 

His recent work includes meta-analyses on exercise and suicide risk alongside practical frameworks helping clinicians “prescribe” exercise for patients with depression. Through active science communication and interdisciplinary collaborations spanning nephrology, cardiology, and ophthalmology, Dr. Fabiano advocates for an integrated approach recognizing the profound interconnection between physical and mental wellness. 

He is also known for his research on eating disorders and electrolyte abnormalities, which won second place in the oral presentation competition at OHRI Research Day in 2024.

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