NEW! Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been published to Psychiatry SharePoint site

Over the past few months, the department has been examining best practices in a multitude of areas. New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been published as PDFs on the Psychiatry SharePoint site. Please review the new SOPs at your leisure. Faculty and Staff leaders will be discussing them in more detail during upcoming Division/Staff meetings, but department leadership believes it is important to provide the SOPs in an accessible way for reference when needed.

NEW! Career Development Institute applications now open

Applications are now open for the Career Development Institute (CDI) for Psychiatry, a 24-month program designed for early career mental health researchers led by organizers from Stanford University and the University of Pittsburgh. The CDI begins with a four-day workshop from April 12-16, 2026, followed by two years of long-distance mentoring and interactive webinars held in a supportive community of alumni and faculty. The application deadline for this year's CDI is Jan. 9, 2026.

Click here for information and a QR code to apply. If you have difficulty logging in, please email CDIPsych@pitt.edu.

NEW! Clinical Trial Budgeting and Negotiations training is available through SPA next week

The Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) is offering three virtual education opportunities for Clinical Trial Budgeting and Negotiation training from Dec. 17-19. Take advantage of these opportunities to learn vital budgeting processes.

Budgeting in Action: Tactical Budgeting in Practice

Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Understand the key components of a clinical trial budget. Apply coverage analysis to distinguish research costs. Develop comprehensive clinical trial budgets. Identify and mitigate hidden costs in clinical trials. Navigate required documentation and best practices. Note: Due to limited space, attendance will be capped for optimal capacity.

Click here to sign up for the virtual town hall meeting. 
 

Velos Budget Training Session

Thursday, Dec. 18 from Noon-1 p.m. 

Learn how to use coverage analysis to create a detailed budget at Velos Budget Training Sessions hosted by the SPA Clinical Trial Finance Team. Secure your seat by submitting a UTSW Service Center ticket to the SPA Clinical Trial Finance Team.

Budgeting with Impact: Strategic Budgeting and Negotiating for Full Cost Recovery and Growth

Friday, Dec. 19 from 10:30 a.m.-Noon

Master strategies for effectively negotiating payment terms. Negotiate clinical trial agreement terms with confidence. Note: Due to limited space, attendance will be capped for optimal capacity.

Click here to sign up for the virtual town hall meeting.

Apply for EVIDENT initiative funding now

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) will invest up to $100 million in more quantitative measures of mental and behavioral health through its Evidence-Based Validation & Innovation for Rapid Therapeutics in Behavioral Health (EVIDENT) initiative.

EVIDENT will pursue two foundational components to improve behavioral and mental health care: more robust data on individual clinical outcomes and patients’ unique responses to novel treatment approaches. As such, ARPA-H is seeking multimodal, longitudinal data collected in registered clinical trials testing the effects of rapid-acting interventions for behavioral health (e.g., neuroplastogens, neuromodulation, digital therapeutics).

TA1-3 proposals are due by Noon on Monday, Dec. 22. Visit the ARPA-H Customer Experience Hub below for more information, including links to ask questions and/or attend a Proposers’ Day event on Dec. 10. Please contact Yelonda Williams or Mariam Andersen for SPA deadline requirements.

UTSW offers poster and presentation support

Do you have an upcoming poster presentation? Need a template, a logo, or just some inspiration? Visit the Health Sciences Digital Library and Learning Center's Poster & Presentation Support Guide. From getting started, through layout, graphics, printing, and preserving the presentation, the guide provides valuable reference material and links. Individual and group training and consultation is also available.

New Division Coordinators named

Congratulations to the following newly named Division Coordinators who will support the efforts of the Division Chiefs in the department's new structure. The department has filled three of these division coordinator positions with a plan to fill similar roles for General Adult Psychiatry and Psychology.

Martha Aguilar – Addiction Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Interventional Psychiatry

Martha Aguilar’s experience in behavioral health extends over 15 years. Her first job in the field was working at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Department of Psychiatry. She holds master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is pursuing a Doctorate in Behavioral Health – Management at Arizona State University. She shared that she is grateful to be part of UTSW, working with an exceptional team, and is enthusiastic about learning as much as she can from everyone.

Thomas “Tom” Crone – 
Psychiatry Neuroscience

Tom Crone joined the Department of Psychiatry in August 2003 as an administrator for then-Chairman Eric Nestler’s basic science research team. Over the past 22 years, he has worked his way up the ranks and is now the senior administrator of the Psychiatry Neuroscience Division. He oversees the daily operations of the division under the guidance of Division Director Dr. Yingxi Lin, Ph.D., which includes 10 basic science laboratories.

Katie Elder – 
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Katie Elder joined the Department of Psychiatry in February 2016, supporting medical students and assisting with recruitment efforts for the General Psychiatry Residency and combined programs. In January 2020, she transferred to the Department of Pediatrics, where she facilitated medical students' educational experiences and credentialed trainees at Children's Health. She returned to the Department of Psychiatry in August 2022, joining the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division. She is excited to continue working within this division in her new role and looks forward to making lasting contributions and supporting the division's growth. 

Welcome Dr. Hamed Ekhtiari, M.D.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hamed Ekhtiari, M.D., Ph.D., to the department as the new Division Chief of Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Ekhtiari's first day with the department was Nov. 17.

Dr. Ekhtiari graduated from Tehran University of Medical Sciences with his medical degree in 2004 and his Ph.D. in Neuroimaging in 2015. He did his psychiatry residency in University of Minnesota and a research fellowship on neuroimaging and neuromodulation at Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He comes to UT Southwestern from the University of Minnesota where he was Associate Director of Clinical Studies on the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Ekhtiari is a board member and Distinguished Fellow of the International Society for Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and Scientific Director of its Global Innovation Day in Addiction Therapeutics.

Dr. Ekhtiari's research interests include Neural Target Engagement (NTE) Informed Treatment Development and Precision Medicine for People with Substance Use Disorder, using fMRI as an NTE measure, brain stimulation for NTE, and cognitive intervention for augmenting NTE. He has published more than 200 academic papers in his career.

As a division chief, Dr. Ekhtiari will focus on extending innovative and research-based care, faculty development, academic trajectory, and professionalism for the Addiction division. 

Dr. Ekhtiari shared, "I'm excited about the opportunities in UTSW to make new friends and colleagues in interdisciplinary care and research, and I'm looking forward to be a part of this great team."

Dr. Christian LoBue named Clinical Psychology 
Doctoral Program Director of Research Training

Dr. Christian LoBue, Ph.D. has been selected as the Director of Research Training for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.

A UT Southwestern graduate who served in a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology and went on to become an Associate Professor at UTSW, Dr. LoBue has been lauded for his dedication to mentorship and education. He has trained undergraduate, graduate, and early-career scholars and served on five dissertation committees.

He has been an active member of the Research Training Committee and Clinical Training Committee, and his academic career reflects a strong record of research productivity, including multiple peer-reviewed publications and leadership on federally funded grants. He has proposed several initiatives to enhance research training, including improving the research competency exam and organizing a research symposium to connect students with faculty projects.

Grant writing and consulting support available

UT Southwestern has announced an open call for submissions to receive grant writing and consulting support through Eva Garland Consulting (EGC). EGC supports scientists and entrepreneurs by helping them obtain and manage non-dilutive funding to support scientific advancement. EGC's team of Ph.D. scientific grant writing experts specialize in helping investigators prepare grants for multiple forms of research funding, including non-dilutive funds for translational and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

This opportunity is designed for researchers and entrepreneurs preparing proposals for innovative, translational, or high-risk, high-reward projects, including those for:

• ARPA-H – applications accepted until March 2029 
   for Mission Office ISOs
• NIH SBIR/STTR – proposals due Jan. 5

Projects that aim to tackle significant challenges in medicine and health, create high-value intellectual property, and reach milestones that represent substantial advancement or scientific breakthroughs are welcomed. Evaluation will focus on the level of innovation, technical and execution risks, and the suitability of the proposed research objectives and technical milestones. To apply, please submit the following information:

• Name
• Department
• Grant solicitation or RFP
• Brief summary of the project, emphasizing its potential impact and alignment with the above criteria

A limited number of slots are available, so early submission is strongly encouraged. Please email applications (no longer than one page) to Cara Forsberg.

Did you know? TARCC has deep ties to UTSW

The administrative and data cores for Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) have been housed at UT Southwestern since 2017, when Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., became the Scientific Director of the organization. TARCC issues an RFA every two years, with grant applications ranging from postdoctoral fellowships and junior investigators to established investigators. NIH-style reviews are conducted, and funding recommendations are made by an external advisory committee comprised of leading experts in the field from across the country. 

Between 2018 and 2025, TARCC had awarded more than $29 million in grants to Texas researchers. Importantly, TARCC investigators have gone on to obtain federal and foundation funding that reflects a 5.5-fold return on investment stemming from TARCC projects. This now includes two NIA -funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC) in Texas, with the North Texas ADRC at UTSW being the latest funded center. A number of UTSW researchers have been funded by TARCC over the years, including several members of the Department of Psychiatry with current or pending awards.

Members of UTSW Psychiatry Department who serve as TARCC staff include: 
Elida Godbey – Administrative Director, Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium 

Nakita Gee – Program Coordinator TARCC Symposium Chair

Jake Rossmango – Programmer Analyst TARCC Data core

Francisco Argueta-Ortiz – Data Analyst Sr. TARCC Data Core

Ellen Chang – Research Scientist TARCC Tissue Core

Tomequa Sears –Research Coordinator TARCC Tissue Core

Vishal Thakkar – TARCC Data Manager

NEW! Dr. Karen Dorsman, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Psychiatry with a dual appointment to the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP). Dr. Dorsman will serve as a bilingual neuropsychologist with a special focus on neurodevelopmental and neurogenetic disorders. Dr. Dorsman completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a predoctoral internship at UT Southwestern Medical Center and completed a 2-year, APPCN-member, postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas/UT Southwestern. Her clinical interests include genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders, acquired brain injuries, and rare neurological conditions, along with culturally responsible assessments. Her research interests center on social determinants of health, their impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes, and factors that support the optimization of neuropsychological evaluations by the systems in which children grow (e.g., family, school, and medical). Outside of work, Dr. Dorsman enjoys weightlifting, metabolic conditioning, traveling, gardening, and collaborating with her husband on renovation projects for their new home.

NEW! Isaias Cruz Borbon has joined the Psychiatry Department as its new Graduate Medical Education Program Coordinator I. He comes to the department with extensive experience in medical education and program coordination, most recently serving as a Medical Education Program Professional II with the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. His background also includes financial administration within academic medicine and several years of nonprofit coordination and community engagement. With strong skills in New Innovations, Thalamus, and university financial systems — as well as a demonstrated passion for communication, relationship-building, and supporting trainees — he brings a valuable blend of operational expertise and human-centered service to the team.

Gabriela "Gabby" Argueta joins the Department of Psychiatry as a Clinical Staff Coordinator after three years at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Coppell, where she started as a Clinical Staff Assistant. Argueta shared, "After 10 years in the medical field, I can honestly say I'm a lot closer to my career goal and I'm very excited to see where this new journey takes me." 

Dr. Dieu Truong, Ph.D., has joined the Center for Autism Care at Children’s Health as a pediatric psychologist and UT Southwestern as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Truong completed her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Houston, followed by an internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Autism Research. She is a Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. Dr. Truong is thrilled to join the growing psychology team at the Children’s Health Center for Autism Care, where she looks forward to the collaboration and the guidance of her colleagues and leadership at Children’s Health and UT Southwestern. When she is not working, Dr. Truong enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and exploring new places, and cooking (though she admits she enjoys the eating part even more), especially hot pot and Korean BBQ.

Hailey Arias joins the UT Southwestern Psychiatry Department as a Research Technician II in Dr. Steve Shabel’s Lab. A Houston native, she recently earned her B.S. in Neuroscience and minor in Spanish from Trinity University, where she spent three years researching specific dopamine pathways involved in reward, motivation, and addiction. She presented this work at the Society for Neuroscience, which confirmed her passion for translational research. She is excited to continue exploring the neurobiology of mood and behavior and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Outside of the lab, she enjoys photography, cooking, live music, and is always looking for the next place to learn or experience something new.

Amelia Strehli has joined UT Southwestern as a Research Technician II in Dr. Carol Tamminga’s Lab. She graduated in May with her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia and has been involved in quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving pediatric disparities in mental health outcomes. She is excited for her new role. She also enjoys cooking and spending time with family (including her labs Daisy, Buddy, and Bevo).

Dr. Olufunke Awosogba, Ph.D., was quoted in Dallas Morning News article titled, "Marshawn Kneeland’s death spotlights mental health stigma in Black community," about the Dallas Cowboys player's recent suicide and its wider implications. Read the article here (a DMN subscription may be required).

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student Jack Kaufman was featured in a story in the latest edition of the UT Southwestern Medical Center's Pathways magazine. The article is about Kaufman's work with We Defy Foundation, which provides veterans with military-connected disabilities coping opportunities through Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fitness training. Supported by Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., Kaufman is leading what may be the largest ever clinical study on martial arts therapy and veterans with combat-related disabilities. Read the article here.

Dr. Salahuddin “Dino” Kazi, M.D., Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Internal Medicine and Co-Program Director for the Combined Internal Medicine-Psychiatry Residency Program, is featured in a Center Times Plus article as the recipient of the 2026 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The award commends program directors who foster innovation and improvement in their programs and serve as exemplary role models for residents. Dr. Kazi co-directs the combined med-psych residency program along with Dr. Adam Brenner, M.D. Read the CT Plus article about the award here.

UT Southwestern Psychology recently hosted the oral examination for the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), a specialty of the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). This event brings in examiners from all over the country and allows the program to showcase UTSW while promoting the highest performance standards in the field. UTSW has a strong and growing number of ABPP board-certified neuropsychologists. Thank you to Dr. Veronica Bordes Edgar, ABCN President, for her support in bringing the event back to UTSW as well as Khameka Webb and Elida Godbey for their assistance in making the examination a success. The exam crew was complimentary of our facilities. Above, Exam Co-Chair Dr. Julie Bobholz (left), sits with Dr. Edgar (center), and ABCN Executive Director Dr. Bernice Marcopulos.

Dr. Carolyn Rekerdres, M.D., adjunct professor for the Rural and Public Mental Health track, has been selected for the National Alliance on Mental Illness's (NAMI's) inaugural Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Rekerdres, who is a UTSW alum, was named to the advisory council along with Dr. Margaret Balfour, M.D., Ph.D., another former UTSW resident. Read more about the NAMI Scientific Advisory Council here.

Dr. Shawn McClintock, Ph.D. has been selected into the University of Texas System's Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education. Established in 2005, the academy advances excellence in health science education, scholarship, and leadership. Dr. McClintock will be inducted during the Innovations in Health Science Education Conference in Austin on Feb. 26-27, 2026.

Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., has been awarded the UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) GME Program Director Outstanding Educator Award for the 2024-2025 academic year. The award will be presented at SWAT’s annual celebration of teaching excellence in early March.

After six years of board service, Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., has transitioned into the inaugural role of President Emeritus of the NAMI North Texas Board of Directors to continue his work in advocacy, support, awareness, and education across North Texas. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which "advocates for access to services, treatment, supports, and research, and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need."

The Archives of Clinical Neurology recently informed Dr. Jeff Schaffert, Ph.D., Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., Dr. Christian LoBue, Ph.D., and Dr. Matthew Clem, Ph.D. that their artcile, "Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Incident Dementia: Forensic Applications of Current Research," is among the journal's most-read recent articles. Read the article here.

Dr. Lessley Chiriboga, M.D., M.P.H., has been named as the new Committee Chair for the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians' Professional Practice Management Committee. This committee meets to review clinical practice challenges affecting psychiatrists, bring ideas for education programs and policies to improve patient care, and update existing guidelines. Dr. Chiriboga officially took the position at the November 2025 Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians' Annual Conference and Scientific meeting.

Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., has been named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate, which is responsible for the Web of Science database. A release by Clarivate reads, "Highly Cited Researchers demonstrate significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research. Each researcher selected has authored multiple highly cited papers which rank in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years. However, citation activity is not the sole selection indicator. This list, based on citation data, is then refined using other quantitative metrics, as well as qualitative analysis and expert judgment." This is the second year in a row that Dr. Trivedi has been named to this list. See his Web of Science profile here.

Dr. Juan Sosa, M.D., and resident Dr. Emily Heydemann, M.D., M.S.W. have been selected to attend the American Psychiatric Association’s Collaborative Care Model Residency Education Conference in La Jolla, San Diego, in January.

Several UT Southwestern Psychiatrists gave presentations at the 2025 Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP) conference in San Antonio in late November. Dr. Molly Camp, M.D., presented "Simulation in Medical Education." Year 1 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow Dr. Courtney Chineme, M.D. (pictured above with Dr. Seena Ounsinegad, M.D.) presented, "Push It to the Limit! Innovations in Counteracting Catatonia in Pediatric Populations." Dr. Abhisek Khandai, M.D., and Dr. Diana Robinson, M.D. presented a workshop titled, “Innovation in CL Education: Exploring Training Opportunities for Non-Psychiatry Resident Rotators.” Dr. Robinson also presented, "Critical Withdrawal: Navigating Complex Withdrawal States in the ICU." Dr. Ounsinegad, PGY-3, gave two presentations: "Be PrEP-ared: Implementing Smart HIV/AIDS Prevention Using AI and Time-Tested Strategies" and “It’s Probably Just Gas: The Role of CL Psychiatry in Care Coordination for Psychotic Pregnancy Denial."

Several UT Southwestern residents attended the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians' 69th Annual Convention and Scientific Program in early November. Dr. Shivani Raman, M.D., presented a poster titled "Support received from family is significantly associated with diabetes self-management behaviors both directly and through self-efficacy." Dr. Isreal "Blad" Munoz, M.D., presented a poster titled, "Bridging the Gap: Improving Mentorship for DO and IMG Psychiatry Applicants," which he authored along with Dr. Jasmine Liu-Zarzuela, M.D.

Drs. Jennifer Coughlin, M.D., and C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., recently presented "When the Game Hits Back: The Science of Sports Concussions" through the Moody Speaker Series.

Dr. Sarah Elmer, M.D., PGY-4 Psychiatry, 2024-25 Fellow Dr. Kwame Frimpong, M.D., and Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., presented a poster titled "Drunk without a Drink: Auto-Brewery Syndrome Affecting Liver Transplant Candidacy" at the 2025 American Association of Addiction Psychiatry Conference in San Francisco.

Dr Donald Egan, M.D., one of UT Southwestern's current Addiction Psychiatry Fellows, presented a poster titled "Inclusive Recovery: Barriers to Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment & Resources for People with Disabilities" at the 2025 American Association of Addiction Psychiatry Conference in San Francisco.

Members of the UTSW Psychiatry Department, including Erik Rodriguez, Dr. Manish Jha, M.D., Kristin Martin-Cook, and Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., provided an information table at the 2025 Shatterproof Walk to End Addiction Stigma in Dallas. Shatterproof works to "increase access to recovery, prevention, and mental health resources for everyone who needs them."

Mark your calendars for in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Don't miss your opportunity to learn from visiting physicians and educators when they come to UT Southwestern for in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds. In-person attendance offers you the opportunity to interact with the visiting speaker and reflects well on the Psychiatry Department. In an effort to promote in-person events, please mark your calendars for the following Psychiatry Grand Rounds scheduled in the coming year. 

Feb. 18, 2026

Dr. Zafiris "Jeff" Daskalakis, M.D., Ph.D., UC-San Diego Department of Psychiatry
Presenting "Harmonizing effectiveness & physiology: an exploration of magnetic brain stimulation in depression"

o Location: NG3.112

o Food will be: NG3.108

March 11, 2026
Dr. Chadi Calarge, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Presenting "Iron deficiency and adolescent brain development"

o Location: NG3.112

o Food will be: NG3.108

March 25, 2026

Dr. Benoit Mulsant, M.D., M.S., FRCPC, DLFAPA, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

Presenting "Can we predict the future of psychiatry?"

o Location: NG3.112

o Food will be: NG3.108