Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Joshua Stein Champions Mental Health Care for Children in Minnesota

Through his leadership at PrairieCare and community outreach initiatives, Dr. Stein is dedicated to expanding psychiatric care and resources for families in the Twin Cities.

Raised by a therapist and a clinical social worker, University of Minnesota Medical School alumnus Dr. Stein was steeped in the language of mental health, an upbringing that shaped his ongoing passion for psychiatry and human behavior. “I don't think I realized it, but a lot of our dinner table conversations were about the biopsychosocial model, understanding people, how we act, and how we think.”  

Today, Dr. Stein serves as Chief of Medical Staff at PrairieCare and is a former president of the Minnesota Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is also a part of the Psychiatric Assistance Line, where he provides patient care, psychiatric education, and resources to the community that he serves.

Dr. Stein completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology before moving to the Midwest to attend the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He remained at the institution for both his residency in General Psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, a choice he doesn’t regret. “The location was good, the reputation was strong and its focus on strong primary care was really enjoyable. I really enjoyed my interview here, it felt like a good fit for me.” Following the completion of his studies, he continues to provide support in the Twin Cities with mental health resources and education.

Dr. Stein gives credit to mentors, professors, and physicians in the Department of Psychiatry who shaped his training and have continued to be sources of guidance and advice.
As Chief of Medical Staff and a practicing physician, Dr. Stein balances clinical care with administrative leadership and advocacy for expanded mental health resources. He is also involved in school-based education and community outreach, including media engagement focused on mental health awareness. He recently spoke at Como High School on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health, encouraging open discussion among students, parents, and educators.
When asked what he loves about medicine, Dr. Stein says it's the patients. “I enjoy the long-term connections with my patients, and understanding them as more than just their illness, but as human beings and what they're going through, and walking through it with them.” This commitment extends beyond the clinic walls. “I have kids that I care for and I tell them I'll cheer for their robotics team or their school's volleyball team. To see them thrive is such a joy.”

Outside of work Dr. Stein enjoys attending sporting events, boating, and spending time with his three children. He emphasizes the importance of balancing life and work by using time wisely and maintaining one’s own wellbeing.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Dr. Stein offers a parting thought: “In today's 24-7 hectic world, it's very easy to lose track of things, we all need tune-ups, and we all need oil changes. If you're feeling you're at a point that it's out of control, or overwhelming. We have therapies that work, that have been studied intensely, we have supplements, we have medications, we have the ability to just connect and let things off your chest, and it's amazing how valuable that can be."