Title: Full-Time Inpatient Psychiatrist
Company: Warren State Hospital
Location: Chantilly, Virginia, United States
Mercedes Engracia Agudo, MD, Full-Time Inpatient Psychiatrist at Warren State Hospital, has been recognized by Top Doctors for dedication, achievements and leadership in Psychiatry.
Dr. Agudo’s distinguished career spans more than three decades, during which she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the field of psychiatry. Currently serving as a full-time inpatient psychiatrist at Warren State Hospital (WSH) since 2025, she provides specialized care to patients with complex psychiatric needs. Located in Northwestern Pennsylvania, WSH is a public psychiatric hospital whose mission is to provide individuals with serious mental illness, including those with co-occurring disorders, with evidence-based psychiatric treatment and substance abuse services.
Notably, Dr. Agudo’s professional expertise encompasses the entire lifespan in psychiatry, treating children as young as six through seniors throughout her career. She is especially recognized for her work with culturally diverse populations, including Native Americans, and for her ability to provide compassionate care across various settings.
Before joining WSH, Dr. Agudo was a full-time outpatient psychiatrist at Ephrata Behavioral Health Clinic with WellSpan Health Philhaven from 2024 to 2025. Her expertise previously included part-time outpatient work at Intercessory Counseling & Wellness PLLC, a counseling services organization with several locations throughout Arizona between 2023 and 2024.
From 2017 to 2023, Dr. Agudo contributed significantly as a full-time outpatient child and general psychiatrist in the behavioral department at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Earlier in 2017, she served as a full-time outpatient community child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Arizona Children Association. Dr. Agudo’s experience also included work as a staff inpatient psychiatrist at Arizona State Hospital between 2015 and 2016.
Among several other progressive roles, Dr. Agudo was a staff inpatient psychiatrist for children and adults at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center from 2007 to 2015. She also excelled as a full-time child and adolescent psychiatrist at Philhaven Behavioral Health Services in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, for five years, starting in 2002. Before relocating to the U.S., Dr. Agudo worked in the Philippines, where she maintained a private solo practice as a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist between 1998 and 2002. Throughout her career journey, spanning roles as both a clinician and educator, she has remained steadfast in her commitment to patient-centered care.
In addition to her full-time clinical work, Dr. Agudo has spent several years in the classroom, beginning as a faculty member in the college of medicine at Mindanao State University in her hometown of Iligan City, Philippines, from 1999 to 2022. She was also an adjunct faculty member in the college of nursing at Arizona State University in Tempe between 2011 and 2015.
Dr. Agudo’s academic foundation has been instrumental in shaping her distinguished career. Her foundational education included a diploma from Philippine Science High School in 1981, followed by a Bachelor of Science in biology accelerated in 1984 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1989 from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Dr. Agudo’s advanced training included a residency in psychiatry at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., completed in 1996, where she was the named Psychiatry Resident of the Year, and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, completed in 1998. From there, she acquired a Master of Science in healthcare leadership from the school of professional studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2024. Further underscoring her expertise, Dr. Agudo holds board certification through the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the Philippine Board of Psychiatry.
Dr. Agudo’s dedication is further reflected by her fellowship status in the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American College of Ethical Physicians. She is also affiliated with several other leading organizations within the medical industry, such as the American Medical Association, the Catholic Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the Philippine Psychiatric Association.
Apart from her work-related endeavors, Dr. Agudo’s civic engagement has included serving as an auxiliary member with Legion of Mary in Chandler, Arizona, since 2007 and previously in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from 2003 to 2007. Earlier, she was an extraordinary eucharistic minister at St. Joan of Arc Church in Hershey and an officer with Rotary Club Maria Cristina in Iligan City.
As an expert in her field, Dr. Agudo’s scholarly contributions began by co-authoring ‘Panic Disorder Diagnosed as Schizophrenia: A Transcultural Issue,’ which was presented at the National Medical Association’s centennial scientific assembly in 1995. More recently, she authored ‘Psychiatry: The Relevance of Improving Access to Acutely Mentally Ill and Those with Longstanding Mental Illness’ in the American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience in 2025 and ‘The Relevance of Striking a Balance Between Research Sociocentric Social Milieu and Egocentric Individual Competence’ in the International Journal of Forensic Science and Research in 2026.
Throughout her extensive career, Dr. Agudo has witnessed significant advancements within healthcare, such as psychotropic medications, evolving psychotherapy techniques, and rapid information exchange brought about by globalization and digital technology. She values both traditional approaches and modern innovations while remaining grounded by core principles that include always being attentive to cultural differences.
Gratitude, humility and sacrifice have marked Dr. Agudo’s career path. She attributes her success first to her faith, then to her parents, alongside siblings, extended family members, friends, colleagues, students and patients whose support has been invaluable throughout her journey. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in criminal justice at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. Looking ahead, Dr. Agudo remains committed to continuing her service as a clinician, guided by perseverance, faith, hope and love, and encourages those entering healthcare professions to embrace these virtues for lasting impact on individuals’ lives worldwide.
For more information, please visit:
Intercessory Counseling & Wellness PLLC
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