Born from a belief that every mind deserves care
Founded in Gurgaon
Athena Behavioral Health opens its first centre in Sector 47, Gurgaon - an inpatient psychiatric and de-addiction facility built on evidence-based protocols.
Athena OKAS - India's first exclusive women's facility
Launched India's first exclusively female residential mental health centre in Gurgaon, addressing a critical gap in gender-sensitive care.
Athena Luxus - Executive Care, Delhi
Launched Athena Luxus in New Delhi - a private inpatient facility for professionals and executives requiring complete discretion.
NABH Accreditation Achieved
Received NABH accreditation - validating clinical quality, patient safety and governance standards.
Expansion - Noida (NCR)
Extended Athena's presence to Noida, strengthening access to structured, evidence-based psychiatric and addiction care across the National Capital Region.
Expansion - Guwahati (Assam)
Expanded into Guwahati, bringing structured, evidence-based psychiatric and addiction care to patients across Northeast India.
Our mission, values and promise
Accessible, compassionate care
To make evidence-based mental health and addiction care accessible to every individual in India - regardless of background or stigma.
50,000+ lives changed
- Compassion over protocol.
- Evidence before opinion.
- Confidentiality without exception.
- Family as partners.
- Recovery as a lifelong commitment.
5 core values
We never give up on recovery
Every patient will be seen, heard and treated with dignity. We will never compromise on clinical quality or give up on a patient's recovery.
94% improvement rate
The people driving Athena forward
From admissions to treatment outcomes and expansion, every decision is driven by a commitment to patient dignity, measurable recovery, and long-term impact.
Founder & CEO
Founder & Chief Executive
Dr. Shradha Malik
Dr. Shradha Malik is the Founder and CEO of Athena Behavioral Health, leading the organization with a clear vision to redefine mental health and addiction treatment in India. With a strong clinical background and deep understanding of psychiatric care, she has been instrumental in building Athena from a single center in 2021 to a rapidly expanding network of treatment facilities across multiple cities.Her leadership focuses on evidence-based treatment, patient-centric care, and breaking stigma around mental health, while continuously innovating to improve recovery outcomes.
Co-Founder & COO
Co-Founder & Operations
Rohit Malik
Rohit Malik, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Athena Behavioral Health, oversees operations, occupancy management, and strategic expansion across all centers. He plays a key role in driving growth, developing new facilities, and ensuring every center meets Athena’s clinical and operational standards. Rohit also works closely with patients' families, addressing concerns with transparency and care while maintaining excellence in service delivery and organizational performance.
Strategic Advisor & Investor
Strategic Advisor & Investor
Darius Pandole
Darius Pandole is a seasoned private equity and investment leader with over three decades of experience in investment management, corporate governance, and strategic business growth. He most recently served as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer - Private Equity and Equity AIFs at JM Financial Limited, leading the firm's private equity platform and overseeing investments for institutional, corporate, and high-net-worth investors. Prior to JM Financial, he was a Partner at New Silk Route Advisors and held senior leadership positions at IDFC Asset Management, where he helped build one of India's pioneering infrastructure-focused private equity funds. He has served on the boards of leading Indian companies, including Mahindra Logistics, Fairchem Organics, and Tata Global Beverages, contributing deep expertise in governance, strategy, risk management, and long-term value creation. A graduate of Harvard University in Economics and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Darius brings invaluable strategic insight to Athena Behavioral Health, supporting its vision of building India's most trusted and clinically driven mental healthcare platform.
Senior Directors
The team behind the mission
Operational, financial and people leaders ensuring Athena's care reaches every patient with the consistency and dignity they deserve.
Dushyant Kumar
Head - Outreach & Admissions
Dushyant Kumar is the Director – Admissions at Athena Behavioral Health, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare, retail, e-commerce, business operations, and strategic growth. He holds an MBA in Business Administration from La Trobe University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial & Production from the Manipal Institute of Technology. Before joining Athena, Dushyant held leadership positions with organizations including Sirca Paints India Ltd., ExpertServ Solutions, JM Retail Chain, SOLVEDA, Reliance Retail, and Noble Group, where he led business expansion, operations, supply chain, and digital transformation initiatives. At Athena, he leads the admissions function, driving patient acquisition, operational excellence, and service quality while ensuring a seamless experience for patients and their families.
Himadri Bajaj
Director - Human Resources
Himadri Bajaj is the Head of Human Resources at Athena Behavioral Health, bringing over a decade of experience in human resources, talent strategy, and organizational development. He holds an MBA in Human Resources & Marketing from Manav Rachna University and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Before joining Athena, Himadri spent over eight years with Cogtest Services Pvt. Ltd. (Sovereign Health India Pvt. Ltd.), where he advanced through multiple HR leadership roles. At Athena, he has been instrumental in building the HR function from the ground up, scaling the organization, strengthening people processes, and fostering a high-performance culture that supports the organization's growth and mission.
Gaurav Jain
Chief Financial Officer
Gaurav brings over 15 years of leadership experience in finance, strategy, and business transformation across healthcare, technology, education, infrastructure, and diversified business groups. He is a Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost & Works Accountant (CMA), and holds an MBA in Operations & Strategy Management. He has previously served as CFO at organizations including Dalmia Health Care Limited, DKM Group, and most recently the Foundation for Innovation & Technology Transfer. Throughout his career, he has successfully led financial planning, treasury, fundraising, investor relations, IPO readiness, due diligence, ERP implementation, governance, and strategic business growth initiatives. His experience in building strong financial systems and partnering with leadership teams will be instrumental as Athena enters its next phase of expansion.
Ritu
Business Unit Head
Ritu is the Business Unit Head at Athena Behavioral Health, bringing a strong blend of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and business acumen. She is currently completed her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode and holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Prior to joining Athena, Ritu worked with ICICI Bank as a Deputy Manager – Wealth Management, where she played a key role in driving business growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening customer relationships. Her experience also spans strategic consulting, digital transformation, business strategy, and project management across leading organizations, equipping her with a well-rounded perspective on business leadership. At Athena, she is committed to building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and delivering exceptional patient experiences
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