Dr. Zabina Bhasin, affectionately known as Dr. Zee, is a trailblazer in the world of child and adolescent psychiatry. With over two decades of experience in healthcare leadership and a passion for amplifying children’s voices, Dr. Zee has dedicated her life to creating a future with kids, not just for them. Her journey is one of resilience, advocacy, and a deep commitment to mental health and emotional well-being. In this blog post, we’ll dive into her inspiring story, her work with INKids, and her mission to ensure that every child’s voice is heard and valued.
Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Zee grew up in a Punjabi Sikh household where cultural traditions and values were deeply ingrained. Her father, a prominent leader in the Sikh community, was a vocal advocate for social justice and worked closely with political figures like Mayor Tom Bradley and Governor Jerry Brown. Despite her father’s public role, Dr. Zee’s childhood was marked by personal challenges, particularly her struggle with dyslexia.
“I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class,” she recalls. “South Asian kids are often expected to be straight-A students, but I couldn’t read. My parents thought I just didn’t want to study.” It wasn’t until her seventh-grade teacher sat her down and asked, “Can you read?” that Dr. Zee’s journey toward understanding and overcoming her dyslexia began. This moment of empathy and understanding planted the seeds for her lifelong mission: to listen to children and empower them to thrive.
Dr. Zee’s career path wasn’t always clear. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a journalist, inspired by the legendary news anchor Peter Jennings. However, her mother encouraged her to pursue medicine, a field that seemed more stable and prestigious. Though she initially resisted, Dr. Zee eventually found her calling in psychiatry, particularly in working with children and adolescents.
“I always loved working with kids,” she says. “Whether it was babysitting, spending time with my cousins, or just talking to them, I felt a natural connection.” After completing her medical degree, Dr. Zee specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry, a field that allowed her to combine her love for children with her passion for mental health.
Dr. Zee’s career took an unexpected turn when she transitioned from clinical practice to healthcare administration. In the mid-2000s, she recognized a critical need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the healthcare system. Long before DEI became a mainstream concept, Dr. Zee was already working to create spaces where patients felt seen, heard, and valued.
“I didn’t set out to be a DEI advocate,” she explains. “I just saw a need and acted on it. Patients weren’t connecting with their doctors because they didn’t feel understood. So, I worked to bring in more diverse healthcare providers and create an environment where everyone felt like they belonged.”
Her efforts were groundbreaking, and they laid the foundation for her future work in advocacy and community building.
Dr. Zee’s most significant contribution to the world of mental health and child advocacy is INKids, an organization dedicated to creating a future with kids, not just for them. Through INKids, Dr. Zee has launched initiatives like Listen to the Kids, a movement that empowers children to share their perspectives and shape the world they live in.
“Kids today are dealing with so much,” she says. “Mental health, social-emotional learning, digital literacy, financial well-being—these are the pillars of their lives. But they don’t feel heard. My mission is to change that.”
INKids focuses on providing resources, programming, and advocacy to ensure that children’s voices are not only heard but also acted upon. Dr. Zee believes that by listening to children, we can create a more inclusive and empathetic world.
As a South Asian woman, Dr. Zee is acutely aware of the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in her community. “We’re a community of show-offs,” she says with a laugh. “We love to talk about our kids’ achievements, but we don’t talk about their struggles. Emotional wellness is still a taboo topic.”
Dr. Zee is working to change that. Through her advocacy and public speaking, she encourages South Asian parents to prioritize their children’s mental health and emotional well-being. “We need to stop comparing our kids and start listening to them,” she says. “Only then can we create a safe space for them to thrive.”
Dr. Zee offers three simple but powerful questions that parents can ask their children to foster open communication:
“The key is to listen without interrupting,” Dr. Zee emphasizes. “Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. They just need a safe space to express themselves.”
Dr. Zee has a nuanced perspective on the role of technology in children’s lives. While she acknowledges the benefits of AI and digital tools, she also stresses the importance of balance and guidance. “We can’t just hand kids an iPad and expect them to figure it out,” she says. “We need to teach them how to use technology responsibly and mindfully.”
She also encourages parents to model healthy digital habits. “If you’re constantly on your phone, don’t be surprised when your kids do the same. We need to lead by example.”
Dr. Zee’s work with INKids and the Listen to the Kids movement is a call to action for all of us. By prioritizing children’s voices and emotional well-being, we can create a brighter, more inclusive future for the next generation.
To learn more about Dr. Zee’s work, visit INKids and follow her on social media. Together, we can amplify children’s voices and build a world where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.
