Sam Mandel, co-founder and CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, shares his inspiring journey in pioneering ketamine infusion therapy for mental health. He discusses the evolution of KCLA from a storage closet to a leading clinic, overcoming stigma and emphasizing patient-centric care. Sam critiques the current mental health system while advocating for individualized treatment approaches. He also highlights the challenges of integrating new therapies and the importance of creating a supportive environment for healing.
52:02
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Humble Beginnings to Leading Clinic
Sam Mandel and his father started KCLA in 2014 in a tiny storage closet with minimal equipment.
They grew it into a leading ketamine clinic with a team of 15 in a 5,000 sq ft purpose-built space.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Paying Funeral to Family Vacation
A patient saved money for her funeral after planned suicide but instead used it for ketamine treatment.
She improved so much she took her kids on vacation, illustrating treatment's life-saving impact.
insights INSIGHT
Personalized Ketamine Protocols Succeed
Individualized treatment and detailed care create an 83% success rate at KCLA.
They tailor ketamine dosing and infusion time beyond standard protocols for better patient outcomes.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Sam Mandel, co-founder and CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles (KCLA). Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-301-sam-mandel/?ref=278 Sam shares his journey co-founding KCLA with his father in 2014, pioneering ketamine infusion therapy when few were exploring its potential for mental health. From humble beginnings in a storage closet to becoming a leading mental health center with over 30,000 infusions administered, Sam discusses the challenges and triumphs of building a patient-centric practice. He explains the science behind ketamine's effectiveness compared to alternatives like Spravato, highlights the importance of individualized treatment, and offers a passionate critique of the current mental healthcare system while envisioning what meaningful reform could look like.
Co-founder & CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles (KCLA), Sam Mandel has channeled his lifelong passion for healthcare advocacy into transforming mental health care. From volunteering at a teen-to-teen suicide prevention hotline at twelve to pioneering one of the foremost Ketamine Infusion Therapy clinics in 2014 alongside his father, Dr. Steven L. Mandel, Sam has been featured in Entrepreneur's Top 10 Inspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurs (2023) and earned two 2024 Stevie Awards. Under his leadership, KCLA has provided over 30,000 infusions to more than 6,000 patients with an 83% success rate, establishing gold-standard treatment protocols while expanding services to include General Psychiatry and TMS therapy. Highlights:
The founding story of KCLA and early skepticism from the medical community
Why IV ketamine outperforms nasal Spravato in efficacy and cost-efficiency
Creating individualized ketamine protocols for optimal patient outcomes
How insurance companies create barriers to effective mental healthcare
KCLA's 83% success rate compared to 50-70% in controlled research settings
Expanding from ketamine to TMS and general psychiatry
Preparing for future psychedelic medicines like MDMA and psilocybin
The critical flaws in America's mental healthcare system
The Psychedelic Podcast