April 16, 2026

NEW! Dr. John Burruss, M.D., will end his faculty appointment on April 30 after more than 12 years of service to UT Southwestern Medical Center. Please join us in congratulating him on his many achievements during his time here.

Dr. Burruss earned his medical degree, served as Chief Resident in Psychiatry, and ultimately took on multiple educational roles at the Baylor College of Medicine Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences starting in 1988. A lifelong learner, he earned a Certificate in Leadership Strategies for Evolving Healthcare Executives at the Harvard School of Public Health in 2010. He joined UT Southwestern's ranks of educators in 2013 after accepting the position of Chief Executive Officer of Metrocare Services in Dallas in April of that year. 

In that role, Dr. Burruss oversaw the considerable expansion of Metrocare to become the largest provider of mental health care in Dallas County, now serving more than 50,000 people, including 10,000 children and teenagers. Dr. Burruss has been instrumental in supporting UT Southwestern’s residency training programs. Dr. Adam Brenner, M.D., said that “his unwavering support for rotations at Metrocare has allowed residents to be immersed in the kind of intensive, proactive care that prevents both hospitalizations as well as encounters with the justice systems.” Dr. Brenner described Dr. Burruss as “a riveting teacher who is able to explain the most complicated mental health system structures with clarity and perspective.” 

Dr. Burruss was honored with the UT Southwestern Outstanding Clinical & Voluntary Faculty Award in the Department of Psychiatry in 2014 and 2015. He has been an active part of curriculum development for the Metrocare Leadership Institute since 2014 and was the founder and coordinator of the UTSW Administrative Psychiatry Resident Elective starting in 2018. He also co-wrote the book Manual of Core Competencies: Defining, Teaching and Assessing Resident Competence in 2005.

A Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Burruss served as an attending psychiatrist at the Parkland Psychiatric Emergency Room from 2018-2021 after serving in multiple roles in Houston-area hospitals and clinics for 17 years. Dr. Carol Tamminga, M.D., noted that, in addition to the “striking legacy of success,” in his role with Metrocare, “Dr. Burruss has developed new treatment programs as well as supported existing programs of merit which were already established.”

Dr. Burruss has made exceptional impacts on the state of mental health care in the Dallas area and the learning outcomes for UT Southwestern’s residents, serving as a physician, an educator, a mentor, and a role model to be emulated. We are thankful for his service and wish him the best in the next stage of his life, in which he and his wife, Patricia, will be moving to the countryside near Lismore, Ireland.

Several members of the Psychiatry Department gathered to celebrate Dr. Burruss on April 14.

NEW! MSOPC Leadership updates announced

The Psychiatry Department has named the new leadership team for the Multispecialty Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic (MSOCP). The following individuals will begin their new roles on May 1.

Dr. Arthur Westover, M.D.

Medical Director

Dr. Westover joined the faculty in 2006, and he is an exemplary clinician with deep expertise in caring for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. He has been the Associate Medical Director for MSOPC for many years, and more recently, he has been serving as the Medical Director for the UTSW Richardson/Plano Regional Center. This role will report to Dr. Larry Thornton, M.D., Chief of Service for the UTSW Health System.

Dr. Jessica Moore, M.D.

Associate Medical Director

Dr. Moore joined the Department of Psychiatry in 2019 after completing her training as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at UTSW. She is a Dedman Scholar and has led the development of our Transitional Age Youth clinical and educational programs. More recently, she was appointed Medical Director of the Student and Resident Wellness and Counseling Center at UTSW. This role will report to Dr. Westover.

Dr. Josh Hubregsen, M.D.

Associate Medical Director,
Interventional Psychiatry

Dr. Hubregsen joined the faculty in 2016. In addition to his vast clinical expertise in neuromodulation, he led the creation of an Interventional Psychiatry concentration in our training program. He currently serves the Department as Medical Director of the Clements University Hospital Electroconvulsive Therapy Service and Associate Program Director for the Psychiatry Residency Program. This role will report to Dr. Westover.

In announcing the updated leadership, Dr. Kala Bailey, M.D., M.B.A., also thanked Dr. Thornton for serving in the Medical Director role and for continuing in his role as Chief of Service, supporting the outpatient psychiatry practice.

NEW! Welcome Dr. Leilani Hinton, Ph.D., back to UTSW as Director of Psychology for TBHC

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Leilani Hinton, Ph.D., back to the UT Southwestern Medical Center Department of Psychiatry as the new Director of Psychology for the Texas Behavioral Health Center. Her first day with the department was April 6.

A graduate of the UT Southwestern Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, Dr. Hinton returns after 15 years of distinguished service with the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Department, where she served as Assistant Chief Psychologist. In this role, she oversaw the clinical and supervisory operations of the Clinical Services Division, conducted forensic competency evaluations, and developed and lead the department’s Clinical Internship Program as Training Director.

Dr. Hinton previously served as a Volunteer Adjunct Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern from 2014 to 2020 supervising practicum students rotating through the Juvenile Department. Her earlier training includes community mental health crisis, and accredited internships with Parkland Health Hospital, where she worked within the outpatient clinic, assessment service and consult-liaison psychiatry service.

In addition to being a licensed psychologist, Dr. Hinton is a licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) and a licensed sex offender treatment provider (LSOTP). She is also certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and problematic sexual behavior-cognitive behavioral therapy (PSB-CBT). From 2020 to 2025, she served as Grant Manager for the Dallas County Assessment, Stabilization, and Advancement Program for Trafficked Girls (ASAP) and from 2016-2018 as Grant Manager for Problematic Sexual Behavior – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT).

Dr. Hinton has been actively engaged in community leadership, serving on several boards and task forces, including the Governor’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Council, and the Dallas County Opioid Task Force. In recognition of her advocacy work, she received the Advocacy Award from Traffick911 in 2024.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hinton back to UT Southwestern.

NEW! Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Class of 2030 announced

Welcome to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Class of 2030. For a closer look at the new doctoral students, their academic histories, and their research interests, please click here.

Department searching for faculty/researcher to work in Interventional Psychiatry with North Texas VA

There is an exciting opportunity for a clinical researcher faculty position in our department and based at the VA North Texas Health Care System in Mental Health Service. In this position, the faculty member will have their time split 50% for clinical and 50% for research with a focus on interventional psychiatry treatments, especially repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

This position comes also with start-up funds to launch an rTMS protocol at the VA. To learn more about the position, including clinical responsibilities, see the description linked below.

Form a team and join Spring Forward Team Challenge for chance to win prizes

The Psychiatry Department's Faculty Wellness Committee is encouraging all faculty and staff to join the UT Living Well Spring Forward Team Challenge. This team activity is a great way to move more, connect with colleagues, and possibly win a prize while getting healthier. This self‑paced challenge is designed for all fitness levels, whether you’re a seasoned walker or a beginner. You can track steps manually or sync your favorite device, get weekly motivation, and earn points along the way. 

Visit https://ut.limeade.com and search "Spring Forward" to create a team of up to five people and log as many steps as you can between now and May 8. The top Psychiatry Department team - identified with "Psych" in its name - will earn prizes from the Chair's Office.

'Concept to Clinic' program focuses on researchers developing novel technologies

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is providing an opportunity for researchers developing a novel technology to participate in the Concept to Clinic: Commercializing Innovation Education (eC3i) Program.

The eC3i Program is a virtual summer entrepreneurial training program that gives researchers the tools to answer the question “Does my technology have commercial potential?” This program is for academic researchers associated with a NIMH grant developing an innovative technology. It is not a general entrepreneurial training course. Participants can be anyone involved in the research, from grad students and post docs to PIs and grant collaborators, with a strong understanding of the project science and innovation, and a desire to learn and apply business concepts to explore the commercial potential of the invention. This year's program runs from June 1-Aug. 21. All applications must be received no later than April 17.

To be eligible to participate, you must be associated with a NIMH-funded grant award that is active or in a No-Cost Extension through September 2026. Please contact Paige Anderson with any questions about the program and to confirm your eligibility if you plan to apply.

Introducing the FY27 Department Retreat Committee

Planning for the FY27 Department Retreat is in full swing. Retreat Committee members (pictured above) are your best resources for all retreat-related questions or information. Feel free to connect with them anytime. The Retreat Committee members are: (back row from left) Miguel Garza, Dr. Jamylah Jackson, Ph.D., Dr. Kipp Pietrantonio, Ph.D., Dr. Chadrick Lane, M.D., Dr. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., Dr. Ram Madabhushi, Ph.D., (front row) Lilian Hong, Dr. Alyson Nakamura, M.D., Dr. Izabella De Abreu, M.D. Yolanda Barner-Thomas, Tamara Campbell, and Katie Elder. Not pictured: Mariam Andersen, Dr. Sabrina Browne, M.D., Cari Norz, Dr. Tarek Rajji, M.D., Sangita Sethuram, Shelly Sheets, and Jasmina Vuksanovic.

Postdoctoral Fellowships have been announced

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Clinical Psychology Program graduates on their postdoctoral fellowships. These highly competitive positions reflect their exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work. This is a significant achievement, and the Department of Psychiatry wishes them success as they embark on the next phase of their professional journeys.

Digital Accessibility Office Hours are available

Learn how to create more accessible digital documents and get answers for case-specific questions by logging in to Digital Accessibility Office Hours from Noon-1 p.m. every Tuesday. The sessions are run by digital accessibility experts who can assist with best practices and individualized advice.

NEW! Dr. Iván Rodríguez-Flores, Psy.D., joins the Psychiatry Department as a Clinical Assistant Professor who will split his time between the outpatient service and CUH consult service. Dr. Rodriguez-Flores earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from Albizu University. He completed his doctoral clinical internship at Centerstone Consortium followed by a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at AdventHealth Hospital and Medical Group in Winter Park, Florida. Prior to his appointment at UTSW, he was an Instructor and Clinical Neuropsychologist at the University of South Florida, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Rodríguez-Flores is a bilingual clinical neuropsychologist (English/Spanish) with clinical experience across different ambulatory settings, such as behavioral health clinics, psychological services integrated in primary care, and memory disorder clinics. Additionally, he has clinical experience working in different inpatient settings, including neurorehabilitation units, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and psychiatric units.

NEW! Margaret Nguyen has joined the Psychiatry Department as an accountant. A recent graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s in accounting, she previously worked in retail pharmaceuticals where she set a goal for herself to benefit patients.

NEW! Alexandria “Ally” Davis, LPC, is a Clinical Therapist in the Behavioral Health Clinic in Richardson/Plano. They earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Woman’s University. Their clinical practice is grounded in trauma-informed and affirming approaches, with a focus on helping patients identify and directly address maladaptive belief patterns.

Malory Rudd has joined the Psychiatry Department as a Research Technician. She is a 2025 graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, and reading.

Katherine Constantin, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who recently joined UTSW Multispecialty Psychiatry Clinic. Originally from Boston, she obtained her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and started her advanced practice career as a PMHNP in the Psychiatric Emergency Department at Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Melissa Mancillas recently joined the department as an Administrative Associate supporting the Division Chiefs and faculty in Addiction, Interventional, and Geriatric Psychiatry. She started at UTSW in August 2020 in the Department of Plastic Surgery as an admin and surgery scheduler. She also served as a team member of the Employee Engagement Committee, known as The Vibe Tribe. Outside of work, she can often be found me at soccer matches cheering on her children from the sidelines. 

Isela Rodriguez, LBSW, MPH, CHES, recently joined the Case Management team at the Multispecialty Psychiatry Clinic as a Social Worker I. Originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Baylor University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington. Her clinical interests include health education, prevention, and helping individuals overcome barriers related to social determinants of health.

NEW! In the latest episode of Science in 60+, Dr. Frederick Hitti, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery and Psychiatry, explains how a multidisciplinary team is exploring advanced solutions like deep brain stimulation (DBS) to help patients find lasting relief. Watch the video here.

Dr. Tyler Evans, Ph.D., recently contributed a MedBlog titled, "Psycho-oncology supports the whole person during and after cancer treatment." The MedBlog came out shortly before World Psycho-Oncology Day, which is April 9.

Dr. Jeff Schaffert, Ph.D., was recently featured in two articles about concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) wrote an article about a recent manuscript published in Neurology and written by UT Southwestern researchers, including Dr. Schaffert, Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., and Dr. Christian LoBue, Ph.D., and members of other departments on the research team. The group's work and Dr. Schaffert's recent appearance on "Learning from Leaders," were also the basis for an article about head trauma in former athletes. That research is funded by the Cary Council.

NEW! Dr. Jennifer Coughlin, M.D., has been awarded a $10,000 Special Grant Incentive (SGI). The SGI program provides funding to UT Southwestern faculty members who are successful in obtaining federal awards and encourages faculty to further pursue federal awards to advance science and benefit patients.

NEW! This month's Golden Heart Award for Clinical Excellence goes to Dr. Derek Bartlett, Ph.D. The Golden Heart Award honors providers for their clinical excellence in service to meeting the needs of our patients. 

Dr. Chadrick Lane, M.D., has been selected as a commencement marshal for the UT Southwestern Class of 2026 commencement ceremony. Dr. Lane was one of six Commencement Marshals selected by the graduating class in recognition of playing a significant and impactful role in their medical education. Selection as a commencement marshal is one of the most cherished recognitions one can receive as a faculty member. In addition to the symbolic nature of the role, the marshals also play roles in the commencement ceremonies by guiding students into the auditorium, assisting them with leaving and returning to their rows, helping them at the stairs, etc.

A paper by medical student Catherine Agarwal, produced under the supervision of Dr. Sherwood Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., has been awarded second place in the Stanley M. Kaplan Essay Contest. The psychiatry writing competition recognized the paper, "The relationship between asthma and suggested alcohol dependence and heavy alcohol use in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study: The role of depressive symptom severity," which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Agarwal has worked with Dr. Brown previously and will soon rejoin his lab for another three-month rotation.

Savannah Dieste, a Clinical Psychology Program graduate student, has been selected as the recipient of the Dallas Psychological Association (DPA) Outstanding Student Dissertation Award for this year. This award recognizes excellent scholarly achievement and the significance of her dissertation research that is titled: A Mixed Methods Study of Trauma and Family Factors in an Intensive Outpatient Program for Suicidal Adolescents.

Five residents were inducted into honor societies last week. Dr. William Burton, M.D., was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society on March 18. The Gold Humanism Honor Society is a community of medical students, physicians, and other leaders who have been recognized for their compassionate care. Dr. Tope Adedolapo, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., Dr. Enrique Chiu Han, M.D., Dr. Nabila Haque, M.D., and Dr. Renae White, M.D., were all officially inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society on March 19. Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. 

NEW! Dr. Ashley Neduvelil, Ph.D., and Natalie Noebel, a doctoral intern, attended an in-person community education program organized by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) in Grapevine to share skills and strategies for emotional wellness and adjustment to life following cancer diagnosis and treatment.  

Several members of the Psychiatry Department submitted posters for the 2026 Celebration of Women in Science and Medicine Poster Session on April 2. The UTSW event is sponsored by the Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee, and was open to faculty, postdocs, fellows, residents, and students. See a collection of psychiatry and psychology entries in a special gallery linked below.

Dr. Carmen Cruz, Psy.D. was recently invited to be part of the “Generations in Dialogue: The Evolution of Psychological Practice” panel for the Dallas Psychological Association. The event was part of the Dallas Psychological Association – 70 years of Celebration. The panelists engaged in conversations about their experiences through an intergenerational lens. 

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students Rose Talebi and Sarah Taghavi presented posters at the annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) conference in New Orleans. Talebi presented "Brief suicide assessment among AYA and older adult neuro-oncology patients." Taghavi presented "Understanding the needs of young adults diagnosed with a Primary Malignant Brain Tumor (PMBT)."

Dr. Tyler Evans, Ph.D., (left) and Dr. Jessica Stone, Psy.D., partnered with UTSW's O'Donnell Brain Institute and the Dallas Mavericks for their Brain and Mental Health Awareness Game on March 23 with giveaways and mental health awareness facts. 

NEW! OSPH hosts faculty candidate seminar

The O'Donnell School of Public Health will host a faculty candidate seminar for Dr. Tiffany Powell-Wylie, M.D., M.P.H. on Wednesday, April 22 from Noon-1 p.m. Dr. Powell-Wiley's presentation is titled "Harnessing Social Behavioral Determinants for Chronic Disease Prevention: An Interdisciplinary Approach." Dr. Powell-Wiley, a senior investigator with the National Institutes of Health, is a candidate for the Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The presentation will be held in Y2.206 and lunch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. To join online, log in to this Teams link.

Sign up for the SOAR R-Grant Writers Workshop

Successfully Obtaining an R Grant (SOAR) is an intensive workshop designed to prepare assistant professors or above who are ready to submit an R01 or equivalent by the October 2026 submission deadline. The workshop includes an in-person orientation followed by six weekly virtual two-hour sessions starting in June and ending with a structured review of grant sections by peers and grant coaches. Access to on-demand videos will be available. 

Key components of program include:

• Internal senior grantsmanship coaches/mentors
• Parallel basic science and clinical/translational workgroups
• Structured grant writing and feedback sessions
• Mock study sections
• End goal of R grant submission in October 2026.

Participants must have a well-developed plan for writing an R01 and have the data (preliminary or published) to support the R01 application. The Application deadline is May 26. Questions? Email Faculty Development for more information.

ACNP Travel Award applications now open

Each year, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Education & Training Committee selects several early career investigators to attend the ACNP Annual Meeting as travel awardees. Travel awards offer opportunities to attend an outstanding scientific program in clinical and basic research on brain-behavior-drug interactions, become aware of the most recent, and often unpublished, advances in psychopharmacology, and meet and interact with internationally distinguished researchers and scientists.

Any scientist worldwide is eligible to apply for a travel award. All candidates must complete an online application and submit required documentation. Complete application instructions are available on the ACNP Travel Awards webpage linked below. The application deadline is May 14.

The next ACNP Annual Meeting is Jan. 10-13, 2027, in San Diego, California.

Alumni reception planned for APA Annual Meeting

Alumni planning to attend the 2026 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco in May can reconnect with former residents, fellows, and new trainees, as well as current faculty, during a UT Southwestern Alumni Reception. The reception will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Food and beverages will be provided. Click here to register for the reception.

In-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds continue

Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., of the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will present "Understanding the opioid effects of ketamine: implications for treatment development" at an in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds from Noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. The presentation will be held in NG3.112 with a reception and food in NG3.108.

This is the latest in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds. Don't miss your opportunity to learn from visiting physicians and educators when they come to UT Southwestern. In-person attendance reflects well on the Psychiatry Department and offers you the opportunity to interact directly with the visiting speaker. The final in-person grand rounds of this year is listed below.

May 22

Dr. Frederick Nucifora Ph.D., D.O., M.H.S., Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Presenting "Schizophrenia, subtyping and treatment resistance"

Please watch for more information about all Grand Rounds via calendar invitations or by checking the UT Southwestern Events Calendar.