The State of Texas has started the process of putting a new, state-funded psychiatric hospital in Dallas within 5-6 years, possibly sooner. Dallas is the single big city in Texas without such a hospital; other state facilities have been renovated and rebuilt. Texas HHS has partnered with its medical schools in this effort to bring the delivery of mental health care close to the doctors developing new knowledge. This facility will broadly treat serious mental illness in the 200-bed facility.
UT Southwestern has received planning dollars and resources for acquiring a location.
Stay tuned for additional developments.
--Carol A. Tamminga, M.D.
Department Chair
Jessica Moore, M.D., Dedman Scholar
Dr. Jessica Moore has been appointed as a Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care by a generous gift from the Dedman Foundation, which was established in 1995 by the late Robert H. Dedman, Sr. This award provides Dr. Moore dedicated time to focus on clinic development, trainee education, and inter-institutional collaboration for the Transitional Age Youth Program.
Transitional Age Youth Program
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults, and 75% of lifetime psychiatric disorders develop by age 24. Transitional Age Youth broadly describes a discrete developmental period for people ages 16-27. These young adults face unique developmental tasks, social changes, and neurobiological changes that put them at risk for psychiatric disorders and make their care significantly challenging. Despite the risks, Transitional Age Youth have the lowest rates of mental health service use of any age groups, with about only a quarter receiving needed services. Without intervention, Transitional Age Youth face difficulties maintaining employment, decreased likelihood to complete college, higher risk of legal difficulties, and worsening of comorbid medical problems. These patients and their families need comprehensive care to help transition not only from pediatric to adult psychiatric care but also from adolescence to adulthood.

Dr. Moore’s passion for Transitional Age Youth and the challenges they face is a tremendous asset to our department, and we look forward to the continuing development of our clinical services to this vulnerable patient population.
Welcome New Psychiatry Residents and
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students
General Psychiatry Residents
Rachel Beck, M.D.
UT Health Science Center, Houston
Khady Diack, M.D.
UT Health Science Center, San Antonio
Donald Egan, M.D., M.P.H.
UT Health Science Center,
San Antonio
Allyson Folsom Davis, M.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch
Jasmine Jack, M.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Zachary Kennedy, M.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch
Caila Lavine, M.D.
University of Arizona
Christian Monsalve, M.D., M.S.
Rutgers
Diona Symester, M.D., M.P.H.
State University of New York Downstate
Lindsay Szauter, M.D., M.P.H.
University of Texas Medical Branch
Kelston Thomas, M.D.
Columbia University
Child and Adult Psychiatry Combined Track Residents
Emily Nguyen, M.D.
Texas Tech University
Vivianne Oyefusi, M.D.
University of Pittsburgh
Swetha Ramamurthy, M.D.
UT Southwestern
Research Track Residents
Ozlem Hokelekli, M.D., Ph.D.
Hacettepe Üniversitesi
Tip Fakültesi
Bryan Kromenacker, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Arizona
Rural and Public Mental Health Track Residents
Trisha Modi, M.D., M.B.A.
Texas Tech University
Justin O’Brien, M.D.
UT Southwestern
Combined Residency Program Residents
Nathalie Abenoza, M.D.
Medical College of Wisconsin
Internal Medicine-Psychiatry
Areej Ali, M.D., M.P.H
University of Pittsburgh
Internal Medicine-Psychiatry
Enrique Chiu Han, M.D.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Facultad de Medicina
Neurology-Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Students
NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist
Child Psychiatry Fellow Joseph Guillory, M.D., received one of the 2021 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Exemplary Psychiatrist Awards, following nomination by
Dr. Athena Tremtin, Executive Director of NAMI North Texas.
Congratulations, Dr. Guillory!
Welcome New Faculty
Children's
Charles Odom
Parkland
Abhisek Khandai
Megan Verlage
VA
Andrew Fritz
Steven Bender
We have many opportunities
for new faculty!
for our openings.
Photography Sign-Up
The Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs Department is pleased to offer all UTSW Faculty the opportunity to have a new professional head shot taken each fiscal year. Sitting for a professional photo takes about 10 minutes.
Welcome New Staff
  • Fawn Palmer, Advanced Practice RN, BL7
  • Kennedy Balzen, Clinical Data Specialist, Pediatrics
  • Ovidio Cruz Diaz, CSA, Neuropsychology Clinic

Mood Disorders
  • Catherine Kurusu Callan, Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Elizabeth Kaiser, Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Harmony Hilton, Program Manager, Public Education & Community Outreach
  • Michael Henson, Research Scientist Senior
  • Rorie Duprey, Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Tobi Fuller, Clinical Research Manager
  • Olufunmilayo Adesanlu, Advanced Practice RN

Brown Lab
  • Donovan Taylor, Clinical Data Specialist
  • Edward Fitzrandolph, Research Study Coordinator
Highlights from Our Publications
Dr. C. Munro Cullum’s publication with colleagues on “One-year aerobic exercise reduced carotid arterial stiffness and increased cerebral blood flow in amnestic mild cognitive impairment” in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease attracted attention in the media recently in relation to its finding that aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, increases blood flow to the brain in older adults affected by mild memory loss. The work results from Dr. Cullum's collaboration with the Neurology Department at UTSW (Tomoto T, Liu J, Tseng BY, Pasha E, Cardim D, Tarumi T, Hynan LS, Cullum CM, Zhang R).

Other Recent Publications

Developing New Research
Psychiatry faculty members are eligible to apply for special funding for program activities, including support for research symposia or educational or community outreach activities, from the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute.
Check out Study Finder for clinical trials studying mental health at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care
The CDRC will partner with US colleagues to expand detection and treatment for depression and other disorders across Texas as part of the Lone Star Depression Challenge. Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Lever for Change announced Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute as the recipient of the $10 million Lone Star Prize, a Texas-based competition launched in early 2020 to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. Measurement-based care strategies, which have been shown to improve outcomes by 40-60%, are being combined with other proven effective strategies into a three-tiered Lone Star Depression Challenge action plan. Watch a short video illustrating our plan of action. The initiative is being led by Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in collaboration with the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern, Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, and The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use.

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) is an interactive CDRC program for adolescents promoting increased discussion and knowledge about mental health, suicide prevention, and the development of problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence. Instructors are certified and qualified to implement YAM within their districts and charters upon completion of the 4.5-day course, comprehension of the model, successful demonstration of the opening session, and active participation throughout the course. Nineteen instructors received certification at the end of our recent training session.

The CDRC's Texas-Resilience Against Depression (T-RAD) study examines the development of resilience in youth and young adults who may be at risk for depression or bipolar disorder as well as individuals who are currently facing either of these disorders. The Town Hall series is an opportunity for study participants to learn more about ongoing research. Watch the third T-RAD Town Hall webinar.
In the News
Maria Alvarez, a nurse with our Parkland CL service, received one of the 2021

The REACH team, including Lisa Schuster, Ph.D., from Children's Health Medical Center Dallas, won the organization honor for Child Advocacy Partner of the Year.
Mark Your Calendars
July 27, 12pm
Seizing the Opportunity:
What the Pandemic Has Taught Us About Mental Health
in Minority Populations and How to Continue the Conversation

Four panelists will foster conversation:
  • Dr. Suselina Acosta, Parkland Department of Psychiatry
  • Dr. Joseph Guillory, Children’s Medical Center Department of Psychiatry
  • Dr. Brenda Richardson-Rowe, LPC-S of Harmony House Counseling Center
  • Dr. Dennis Le, UT Southwestern Department of Psychiatry
August 4 Department Town Hall
Our next Psychiatry Department Town Hall will be held via Zoom at noon on Wednesday, August 4. Reach out with your ideas for topics to cover or questions to be addressed!

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Faculty Retreat - Hybrid Style
The Faculty Retreat will take place on Friday, October 1, 2021, in a hybrid format, with both an online joining option and an in-person option at University Hospital.

More information to come!