Dr. Lakshmi is a Medical doctor by training. Post MBBS, she did DPM degree from NIMHANS Bangalore and DNB (Psychiatry) from National Board of Examinations, New Delhi. She joined KIMS Bangalore in 1997 as a senior resident in Psychiatry. She served at KIMS until 2022 as a Professor. She is currently working as a Professor and Head in the Department of Psychiatry at Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore.