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In Celebration of a Career - Announcements - Welcome New Staff
In the Media - Kudos - Transitions - Presentations - Save the Date
| | In Celebration of a Career | |
| |  | Dr. Sunita Stewart, Ph.D., will end her faculty appointment on Aug. 31 after 32 years of service to UT Southwestern. Please join us in applauding Dr. Stewart’s contributions to psychology, education, and research. Dr. Stewart received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, before earning her Master of Science and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1978 and 1981 respectively. She began her career in New York before coming to UT Southwestern and Children’s Medical Center from 1984 to1992 and again from 2001 to present. She served as Chief Psychologist at Children’s Medical Center for almost 25 years. Under her leadership, Psychology grew from a single position to 45 faculty, with parallel growth in pre- and post-doctoral training programs. Dr. Stewart also spent seven years in the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. Her areas of research interest are cross-cultural psychology, psychology of minoritized cultural and ethnic groups, and trauma and suicidality in adolescents. She has served on the Editorial Board of several journals and is currently Associate Editor for the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. She has written or co-written 175 peer-reviewed papers, contributed to multiple books and other publications, and has presented professionally in nine countries. Dr. Stewart is a Fellow in two divisions of the American Psychological Association, and a member of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology and the Texas Psychological Association. She is a winner of the Dallas Psychological Association’s Distinguished Psychologist Award, a two-time winner of the Research Mentor Award from the UTSW Division of Psychology, and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the Low Birthweight Development Center. We thank Dr. Stewart for all of her work at UT Southwestern and wish her the best in her coming endeavors, part of which will be as a returning retiree with a part-time appointment.
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| | | Dr. Timothy Wolff, M.D., will end his faculty appointment on Aug. 31 after 38 years at UT Southwestern. Please join us as we celebrate the impact Dr. Wolff has had during his time here. Dr. Wolff obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology at Brown University in 1979. He earned his medical degree at UT Southwestern Medical School in 1983 and completed his Psychiatric Residency at Baylor College of Medicine, where he was Chief Resident. He joined UT Southwestern as a faculty member in 1987. Dr. Wolff has touched thousands of lives in his almost four decades as a clinician, clinical administrator, and educator. His expertise in student mental health has been invaluable as a staff psychiatrist at the Student Mental Health Service and the Multidisciplinary Clinic. His work in adult outpatient psychiatry has played a significant role at the Parkland Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, where he is Interim Medical Director. His work as Associate Residency Training Director for the General Adult Psychiatry Residency Program has also made a profound impact on the training our residents receive. Other highlights of Dr. Wolff’s career include serving as Medical Director of the Parkland inpatient unit for 13 years, acting as a board exam questions writer and an oral examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and representing his fellow educators as a president of the UTSWMC Faculty Senate. A Distinguished Life Fellow with the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, Dr. Wolff is a tireless advocate for mental health and was recognized for his efforts with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians. Dr. Wolff was presented with a plaque recognizing his contributions to the residency program in June of this year stating, in part, that he “will always remain as a shining example of the values we aspire to in our residents and ourselves.” Dr. Adriane Dela Cruz saluted Dr. Wolff’s “sage counsel and steadfast determination in the world of residency education” and noted his wry sense of humor. He is known for awarding humorous “Aluminum Stars” – a mix of earnest praise and lighthearted joking – to residents, staff, and faculty for their hard work. Dr. Wolff has been an exceptional educator and mentor for almost four decades at UT Southwestern. We are thankful for his service and wish him the best in the next stage of his life. Dr. Wolff will remain connected to our department as an adjunct professor.
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NEW! LEAD Program is taking junior faculty
applications
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Leadership Emerging in Academic Departments (LEAD) is now accepting applications for the Class of 2026. The LEAD Program is an in-house program at UT Southwestern designed for junior faculty who aspire to develop their leadership skills. The program uses didactic lectures, case studies, and experiential activities to explore topics including self-discovery, communication, influence, negotiation, difficult conversations, and inspiring trust. Participants also work with an executive coach and anchor the LEAD learning objectives with an individual capstone leadership project.
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NEW! American College of Neuropsychopharmacology is accepting new member nominations
| The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) is accepting new membership nominations and promotion applications. Th ACNP is an international organization of leading brain scientists whose membership is selected primarily based on their original research contributions. The submission deadline is Thursday, Sept. 25. Instructions for nominees and promotion candidates are available here. | | |
NEW! Get your tickets for the department retreat
| The Psychiatry Department's first-ever combined faculty and classified staff retreat is from 1-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Dallas Zoo. Get ready to roar with teamwork, connection, and a little adventure as we start the year off right! As a reminder, registration is required by Sept. 12 to secure your admission ticket. Please take a moment to complete the registration process using the link below. | | |
NEW! Employees enjoy a paleta break
| The Psychiatry Department cooled off on Aug. 19 with a paleta giveaway at Empire Central. Members of the department came by to pick up the treats for themselves or to take them back to their officemates. | | | |
Be sure to report Risk Management Education
| All clinical M.D. faculty covered by the UT System Professional Medical Liability Benefit Plan are required to complete five hours of Risk Management Education (RME) by June 30 of each year as a condition of coverage. To meet this requirement, you may take online courses provided by UT Southwestern, Children’s Medical Center, Parkland Health Hospital System, and/or Med-IQ. Faculty physicians may also provide proof of participation in other risk management electives and activities such as committees, seminars, conferences, societies, review boards, medical documentation, etc. Please contact Jessica Jurado, M.B.A., B.S.H.A. for more information or an RME verification form. | | | NIH Loan Repayment Program application cycle opens on Sept. 1 | |
The National Institutes of Health will begin accepting applications for the Extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP) on Monday, Sept. 1. Awardees can receive up to $100,000 in qualified educational debt repayment with a two-year award. To learn more about eligibility requirements, application dates, and the benefits of receiving an LRP award, visit the LRP website, check out this overview video, and/or attend one of our upcoming events:
- Oct. 7 – LRP Technical Assistance Webinar
- Nov. 6 – LRP Ask Me Anything Session
Please note that the deadline to apply is Nov. 20.
| | | Writing Accountability Group meetings set | The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program has announced the dates for its Fall 2025 Writing Accountability Group cohort. The workshop will consist of six sessions of around 75 minutes each via Microsoft Teams on Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5, during which researchers will work on their own scholarly writing accompanied by individual and group accountability. While participants can work on smaller documents (e.g. cover letters, emails, or abstracts), past cohorts show that individuals working on larger documents (e.g. manuscripts and grants) benefit most from this workshop series. | | | MOAs include updated Faculty Code of Conduct | Annual Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) reappointment letters for faculty will be sent on Aug. 1, 2025, via DocuSign. A revised and updated Faculty Code of Conduct will be included. The MOA must be signed by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Please note that the reappointment letters have been approved by the Dean’s office and no changes will be made. Contact Jasmina Vuksanovic with questions. | | | Indirect Cost Rate adjusted | The Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) has announced a new negotiated indirect cost (IDC) for on-campus research. The new rate is 66% and has been effective since Sept. 1, 2024. It applies to all new proposals submitted on or after that date and any awards issued based on those proposals. Existing awards will continue to use the IDC rate effective at the time of the proposal submission unless otherwise stipulated by the sponsor. This change reflects an updated agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) dated May 21, 2025, and applies to any new award that allows for the application of the federally negotiated rate. Please be sure to use the updated rate when developing budgets for new proposals. eGrants and PeopleSoft systems have been updated to reflect the new IDC rate. Revised budget templates are also available in eGrants, and updated guidance is available on the SPA website. | | | Welcome New Faculty and Staff | | |
Dr. Andre Russowsky Brunoni, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., joins the department as the Division Chief of Interventional Psychiatry after a successful trajectory at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo Medical School. Dr. Brunoni's research focuses on developing innovative therapeutic strategies using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and other neuromodulation techniques for treating major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, and post-COVID cognitive symptoms. His extensive publication record includes 432 peer-reviewed articles.
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Dr. Jason Chin, M.D., joins the Clements University Hospital 5 Orange Inpatient team as a faculty member. Dr. Chin went to medical school and residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. He moved to Dallas for the first time this month and said he is excited to start at UTSW and begin his life in Texas.
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Dr. Bernice Yau, M.D., completed medical school at McGovern Medical School, psychiatry residency at UT Southwestern, and a consultation-liaison psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University. Following training, she worked in psycho-oncology at the Mount Sinai Hospital. She currently works on the Parkland Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service and in the Parkland Psycho-Oncology Clinic, and she is also an Associate Program Director for the Psychiatry Residency.
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Opal Brown has joined the Clinical Research Infrastructure (CRI) and the Division of Psychology as a Senior Grants and Contract Specialist. Opal earned her bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration from Jackson State University and a Master of Health Services Administration from Mississippi College. She has an extensive background in clinical research as a clinical trial professional and as a grants and contract specialist at large academic medical centers specializing in neuroscience and psychiatry. She will be working closely with Dr. Munro Cullum's group.
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Dr. Brittney Campbell, D.O., has joined the Children's Foster Care Clinic and UT Southwestern's Student Wellness and Counselling Clinic as a faculty psychiatrist. A Dallas native, she attended medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed her general psychiatric residency at UT Health San Antonio, and recently completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UT Southwestern. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, scrapbooking, and attending musical theatre performances.
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Dr. Abby Ortiz, M.D., will lead the Computational Psychiatry program at UTSW. Dr. Ortiz is an expert in bipolar disorder with a research focus on understanding mood regulation and forecasting episodes of illness using mathematical models and wearable technology. She completed her medical training in Mexico and her postgraduate studies at McGill University and Dalhousie University. Dr. Ortiz has been presented with more than 15 awards in her career, including the Samuel Gershon Award by the International Society of Bipolar Disorders, and the Clinical Innovator of the Year by Digital Health Canada. She is also a certified yoga instructor.
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Dr. M. Alyssa Shaffner, M.D., has joined the Center for Autism Disorders and the Community Psychiatry Workforce Expansion, a program of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium. Her interests are developmental disorders, advocacy, and medical education. Dr. Shaffner earned her bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University before attending medical school and fellowships in General and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her pets, collecting Christmas sweaters and earrings, and traveling to new places.
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Dr. Marisela Munoz Puga, M.D. has joined the Children’s Health Eating Disorder Team as faculty in Plano. Dr. Munoz earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston before completing an Adult Psychiatry Residency and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UT Southwestern.
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NEW! Dr. Lina Chalak, M.D., is a coauthor of a new paper in the journal Pediatric Research about the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy in lowering parental perceptions of a child's vulnerability, a critical factor in the child’s future development. Read her paper here.
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Dr. Chadrick Lane, M.D. was the featured guest on The Journey of Science podcast, on which he discussed functional neurological disorder, how predictive coding helps explain symptoms like tremors or non-epileptic seizures, and how treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation may help reset these faulty circuits. Listen to the podcast here.
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NEW! Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program accredited for 10 years
| Congratulations to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program on being accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) for 10 years, the maximum period possible. This achievement reflects the enduring strength of the program and its commitment to excellence in training. It is a collective success, made possible by the dedication and contributions of our faculty, staff, and students — past and present. The collaboration, shared vision, and hard work across all levels of the program have been instrumental in reaching this outcome. Thank you to everyone who supports and advances the educational mission of the program. | | | |
NEW! Southwestern Academy of Teachers
Dr. Elizabeth Heitman, Ph.D., has been accepted to the Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT). Comprised of leaders from UT Southwestern's four schools, the academy provides a focus for the exchange of ideas and a platform for enhanced interactions among basic, clinical, and social scientists. Membership in SWAT comes with the title "Distinguished Teaching Professor." Dr. Heitman will be recognized formally at the Excellence in Education Awards presentation in February 2025.
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NEW! Southwestern Academy of Teachers
Dr. Adrianne dela Cruz, M.D., Ph.D. has been accepted to the Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT). Comprised of leaders from UT Southwestern's four schools, the academy provides a focus for the exchange of ideas and a platform for enhanced interactions among basic, clinical, and social scientists. Membership in SWAT comes with the title "Distinguished Teaching Professor." Dr. dela Cruz will be recognized formally at the Excellence in Education Awards presentation in February 2025.
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New and Emerging Children's Mental Health Research
Dr. Emine Ayvaci, M.D. has been awarded a $283,991 New and Emerging Children's Mental Health Research (NECMHR) initiative grant by the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium for her proposal, "Nudging Parental Action with A Randomized Controlled Trial of Text Messaging Intervention for Suicide Prevention." Her study was one of 22 proposals selected as part of the $8.5 million NECHMR initiative.
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New and Emerging Children's Mental Health Research
Dr. Karabi Nandy, Ph.D., was awarded a $474,367 New and Emerging Children's Mental Health Research (NECMHR) initiative grant by the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium for her proposal, "A Data-Driven Approach to Early Mental Health Screening in Offspring of Parents with Bipolar Disorder." Her study was one of 22 proposals selected as part of the $8.5 million NECHMR initiative.
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Dedman Family Scholar
Dr. Jeff Schaffert, Ph.D., has been appointed as a Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care. This honor is given to an exceptional junior faculty member who provides patient care and conducts research. The award is made possible by a foundation started by the late Robert Dedman, Sr. The award includes four years of funding for research projects.
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| | | Please join us in thanking Dr. Joe Kwon, M.D., for his many years of dedicated service as he embarks on the next stage of his career journey. Dr. Kwon earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, followed by a residency in general psychiatry and a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2016. He is a member of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Kwon has published peer-reviewed research on substance abuse and emergency psychiatry and has lectured widely on acute psychiatric care settings. Dr. Kwon has served in multiple leadership roles, most recently as the Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) at Parkland. He also served as the Co-Chief of Psychiatry and was the inaugural Medical Director of the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Service at Parkland, helping establish the first interventional psychiatric program accessible to the most vulnerable patients in Dallas County. At Parkland Health, Dr. Kwon’s leadership was instrumental in navigating several critical challenges, from the closure of Green Oaks’ psychiatric emergency room, which nearly tripled the volume of acute psychiatric cases at the Parkland’s ER, to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting cascade of medical and psychological complications. Under his leadership, the PES grew to become the largest academic psychiatric emergency service in the nation. Colleagues said that his calm and resourceful approach provided essential support during trying times. Dr. Kwon has contributed significantly to hospital and university committees focused on improving the quality of care and safety of psychiatric services at Parkland and the professionalism of psychiatric providers. We are deeply grateful for all that Dr. Kwon has contributed to the academic and clinical missions of UT Southwestern. We wish him continued success and fulfillment as he relocates to California to continue his professional journey.
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| | | Please join us in thanking Associate Professor Dr. Geetha Shivakumar, M.D., for her many accomplishments as she transitions to the next stage of her professional journey. Dr. Shivakumar earned her MBBS from Bangalore University and served as a resident at University of Arkansas Medical Sciences before coming to UT Southwestern in 2002. At UTSW, she has served as a resident physician, research fellow, and associate professor. She earned her MS in Clinical Sciences from the university in 2009. In addition to her associate professor duties, Dr. Shivakumar has been the co-director of the Dallas VA’s Network of Dedicated Enrollment Sites (NODES) since 2024, following leadership roles at the Fort Worth VA Mental Health Clinic and the VA North Texas Health Care System. She was also a staff psychiatrist at the Dallas VA Diamond Clinic and was a women's mental health champion. An American Psychiatric Association Fellow, much of Dr. Shivakumar’s recent research focused on women veterans and their maternal mental health. She has also served as a site primary investigator for multi-site studies on post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, and the patterns and experience of VA Maternity Care Coordination. Dr. Shivakumar shared that starting from residency through her time as teaching faculty, UT Southwestern Psychiatry has given her a rich learning environment and opportunities that continue to shape her professional career. She added that “observing and learning from great teachers and pioneers of the field and later working with trainees and residents has been truly rewarding aspect of my career. I am especially proud of our Women’s Mental Health colleagues who continue make impact on lives of many women through their passion for clinical care, education, and advocacy.” We are grateful for the significant role she has played in shaping the lives of her students and patients. She will be relocating to northern California. We offer her congratulations and best wishes on the next step in her career.
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Dr. Carmen Cruz, Psy.D., presented at the 2025 annual American Psychological Association convention in Denver, Colorado. The presentation was titled “Bridging Generations: Building Community and Connection Through Relational-Cultural Theory.”
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Blair Wallace, an undergraduate intern for the Inspiring Careers in Mental Health program, spoke at the closing ceremony for the UT Southwestern Healthcare Summer Internship Program through the Office for Institutional Opportunity. He also gave a poster presentation summarizing his contributions supporting the program's recruitment and evaluation efforts.
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The O'Donnell Brain Institute and members of the Cullum lab in the Department of Psychiatry shared information on the North Texas Concussion Registry (ConTex), Endophenotypes of Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms in Adolescents (Care4Kids), Brain Health Outcomes in Aging Former College Athletes (CLEAATS), and Concussion Health Improvement Project (CHIP) at the 71st Annual Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA) Symposium, July 17-19 in Frisco. Representing UT Southwestern were (from left) Sebastian Chowdhury, Dr. Stephen C. Bunt, Ed.D., and Ingrid Tamez. SWATA athletic trainers support athletes at all levels from schools and universities to amateur and professional sports throughout Texas and Arkansas.
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Davon Breedlove, a rising third-year graduate student, served on a graduate student panel at the Psychology Career Seminar at Children’s Health in Plano. As a panelist, Davon shared insights on clinical training experiences, professional development, and career pathways in the field of psychology. He offered valuable guidance on navigating the journey toward a career in mental health to undergraduate and early graduate students
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Children's Health had its first-ever Play Therapy Day Conference on July 25. "Common Concerns in Kids" paired experts in sleep, feeding, toileting, and school with play therapy experts. Eight Children’s employees presented, and eight employees are volunteering their time as the Play Therapy Education Planning Committee. Organizers called the event a great success. Children’s Health is the only hospital in the world with the designation of Approved Provider by the Association for Play Therapy to provide education and CEs to Registered Play Therapists in the community or those seeking their RPT credential.
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Medical student Mashal Ali presented a poster titled “Beyond the Burn: Pain, Body Image, and Physical Function in Pediatric Rehabilitation” at the Texas Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in July.
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Faculty Leader Professional Development
The Office of Faculty Wellness and Engagement is pleased to offer two free professional development opportunities designed to strengthen coaching competencies among faculty leaders.
The Coaching Skills for Leaders Workshop is a two-day in-person workshop on Oct. 24-25 that introduces foundational coaching techniques that faculty can integrate into their leadership roles to promote wellness and engagement. The workshop also includes six monthly virtual group sessions. The workshop is open to chairs, chiefs, medical directors, program directors, section heads – established leaders with at least 2–4 direct reports. Focus areas include asking curious, open-ended questions, supporting others in discovering their “why," and guiding individuals toward meaningful accountability. This program is not designed to produce professional coaches, but rather to enhance traditional mentoring, advising, and management skills with coaching techniques.
| The UTSW Coach Certificate Program is a 10-month professional development program that is ideal for faculty interested in becoming professional coaches or integrating coaching into their leadership toolkit. Graduates will be eligible to pursue a Board Certified Coach or International Coaching Federation Asssociate Career Coach credential after completing required coaching hours. This professional development opportunity is intended for faculty with a strong interest in coaching. Past participants include associate deans, division chiefs, program directors, and mentors. The program includes in-person and virtual sessions and a minimum of 15 hours of coaching practice. | | |
Ethics Grand Rounds 2025-2026
The first Ethics Grand Rounds lecture for this academic year will be conducted via Zoom webinar from Noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9. The speaker will be Michael McCarthy, Ph.D., HEC-C, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for Healthcare Mission Leadership in the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He will present, "Exploring the False Dichotomy of Secular and Religious Approaches to Bioethics."
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CTSA's BERD Quarterly Seminar Series
The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program will host its Biostatics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Quarterly Seminar at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in South Campus E6.224. There will also be a virtual option. Dr. Lindsay G. Cowell, M.S., Ph.D. will present "Leveraging PCORnet and the Greater Plains Collaborative for Multi-site Clinical and Translational Research."
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OBI Investigator Social
Current OBI Investigators are invited to a fun networking event. Join your fellow Investigators for food and drinks and a chance to get to know each other.
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 27 Time: 4-6 p.m.
Location: Celestial Beer Works, 2530 Butler St., Dallas, TX 75235
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Psychiatry Department Town Hall
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 12-1 p.m. via Zoom
Check your calendar for the Zoom link.
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OBI Workshop for New Faculty
New OBI-affiliated faculty members (hired from 2023 to present) are invited to learn how to establish and maintain a lab at UT Southwestern. Administrative experts from across campus will discuss specific processes, deadlines, and policies and answer your questions.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 11
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: NM3.930 (Thompson Family Conference Center)
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