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In Celebration of a Career - Announcements - Welcome New Faculty and Staff
In the Media - Kudos - Save the Date
| | In Celebration of a Career | | |
Dr. Robin Jarrett, Ph.D., ABPP, will retire from full-time work after more than 40 years of service to UT Southwestern.
Dr. Jarrett earned her B.A. with honors at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UNC–Greensboro, where she was named 2025 Distinguished Alumnus in Psychology. A board-certified psychologist, she joined the UT Southwestern Psychiatry faculty in 1984 and was one of the first women in the department to earn tenure. She is currently the holder of the Elizabeth H. Penn Professorship in Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Jarrett has led pioneering research on psychosocial factors in health, focusing on mood and related disorders. Her team conducted the first positive randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to pill placebo and antidepressant medication for adults with depression – a landmark study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). They also went on to design and test how CBT can be used effectively to prevent relapse. This groundbreaking work helped establish CBT as a first-line treatment for depression and clarified how and when CBT prevents relapse. Supported by uninterrupted NIMH funding (including two career awards) for more than three decades, her research program integrated clinical trials, relapse prevention, and translational science. These findings advanced understanding of brain–behavior–health connections and shaped global clinical practice and public awareness. Dr. Jarrett’s work has influenced treatment guidelines, and informed adaptations of CBT for other psychiatric disorders. Her forthcoming co-authored book, Mindful Self-Care for Clinicians and Caregivers: A Group Facilitator’s Guide (Elsevier), aims to expand access to evidence-based interventions for professional and informal caregivers.
Dr. Jarrett is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. She has been clinically active for her whole career and credits her patients for inspiring her best work. Beyond her research accomplishments, Dr. Jarrett has distinguished herself by her service activities and love for mentoring. She has served on numerous editorial boards and NIH study sections, mentored students and junior faculty, and been a valued member of various committees within the Division of Psychology and UT Southwestern at large. She served 15 years on the Promotions and Tenure Committee, 13 years on the Institutional Review Board, and led the Conflict-of-Interest Committee/Office for 21 years. She continues to serve on the Faculty Club Board, now in her 23rd year. Dr. Jarrett is also a certified professional coach, helping individuals and groups activate strengths in work and life.
Dr. Jarrett plans to take a mindful pause and return (part-time) to collaborate in research, teaching, and professional coaching. We are thankful for her dedication to our department and her influence in our field.
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NEW! Writing Accountability Group will have two spring cohorts
| The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program will offer two cohorts for its Spring 2026 Writing Accountability Group. The workshop series is designed to make scholarly writing a habit and includes sessions in which researchers will work on their own scholarly writing accompanied by individual and group accountability. The two series consist of eight weekly sessions of around 75 minutes each from 8:15-9:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Cohort 1 will meet each Monday from Jan. 26-March 16. Cohort 2 will meet each Monday from March 30-May 18. | | | NEW! Cleaver named new Facilities Administrator | |
Bradley Cleaver has taken on the role of the Department Facilities Administrator effective Jan. 12. He is now the point of contact for the department for asset management, inventory control, renovations/construction, space management, building access, business continuity, and IMPACT. He will be officed in the Chairman's Suite and spend time at Empire Plaza. Please welcome him to this new position and feel free to reach out to him for assistance.
| | | Excitement is building for the new Texas Behavioral Health Center | The decision that UT Southwestern will operate the new Texas Behavioral Health Center made headlines in the UT Southwestern Newsroom and in the Dallas Morning News. (Please note that the second link may require a subscription for access.) The story has also been picked up by CBS News and KERA, among others. | | | Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee calls for poster session abstracts | |
The Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee (WISMAC) invites the entire UT Southwestern community to submit abstracts for the 2026 Celebration of Women in Science & Medicine Poster Session to be held on April 2. Scientists, clinicians and educators, including faculty, postdocs, fellows, residents and students at UT Southwestern are encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation in basic science, clinical/translational, or public health/education research.
Only one abstract may be submitted per presenting author, and the presenting author must be able to attend the celebration to present their research. Abstracts must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
More information is available at the WISMAC website. Volunteer judges can apply using this form.
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Be part of UT Southwestern Psychiatry's Project ECHO | |
Project ECHO® is a global movement in healthcare that the Department of Psychiatry is pioneering at UT Southwestern. Psychiatry Project ECHO is designed for interdisciplinary clinicians in the Department of Psychiatry (Hub team) to deliver education and case-based consultation to primary care teams in rural and other underserved communities across Texas with the goal of expanding access to high-quality psychiatric care and resources.
UT Southwestern's Project ECHO will meet virtually from Noon-1 p.m. on the fourth Mondays of each month. The following topics are planned for the first quarter of the 2026 series (with more linked below):
Jan. 26 – Social drivers of mental health (e.g., unhoused populations, food insecurity)
Feb. 23 – Polypharmacy in older adults: psychiatric side effects and interactions
March 23 – Psychotic disorders: early signs, managing acute presentations, referral pathways
See more here.
During an ECHO session, participants present real (anonymized) cases to the specialists — and each other — for discussion and recommendations. Participants learn from one another, as knowledge is tested and refined through a local lens. Continuing Education credits will be offered. For more information about the Project ECHO Model, visit https://projectecho.unm.edu/model/.
Project ECHO is seeking participation from the following disciplines: psychiatrists; advanced practice practitioners (NPs, PAs); clinical therapists (LPs, LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs); social workers (care management; LMSWs); and registered nurses. Faculty and staff interested in participating in one or more Psychiatry Project ECHO sessions as a Hub team member are encouraged to complete the Psychiatry Project ECHO Hub Team Interest Form below.
| | | Expand your leadership skills with the Psychiatry Department Leadership Series | The Psychiatry Department is starting a new leadership series to equip clinical, research, and academic faculty, staff, and learners in the department with practical skills to lead with self-awareness, communicate effectively, support teams, and foster well-being, belonging, and resilience. The Psychiatry Department Leadership Series will meet virtually from Noon-1 p.m. on the second Mondays of each month from January through October 2026 (excluding August). Continuing Education credits will be offered. Look for Outlook calendar invitations to follow. | | | Be part of the Multisite Research Trial Investigators Focus Group | Help shape the future of multisite trials conducted at UT Southwestern by volunteering for the Multisite Research Trial Investigators Focus Group. The focus group is a platform to translate your experience and insights into network-wide solutions. Share your thoughts to directly shape research priorities. Gain access to centralized support and tools. Troubleshoot challenges with your peers. For more information, contact Josue Alicea. | | | Welcome New Faculty and Staff | | |
Jalisa Clark has joined the Student Wellness and Counseling Center as a Certified Medical Assistant. An Alabama native, she has a bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy from Alabama State University in Montgomery. She earned her CMA from Jes Health Services, LLC. She is also a licensed natural hair stylist that specializes in locs and is a salon owner in Montgomery, Alabama. Jalisa said she looks forward to making lasting contributions and having a positive impact at UT Southwestern while supporting the department's work.
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NEW! Dr. Collin Vas, M.D., published the MedBlog, "Body dysmorphia: Effective treatment for ‘invisible’ mental health condition." Read it here.
| | | | | In its "Reviewer Appreciation December 2025" article, the journal Academic Psychiatry honored Adriane M. dela Cruz, M.D., Ph.D., and Kathlene Trello-Rishel, M.D., among its 2025 Peer Review Mentors, "who, in addition to completing reviews, made advances toward raising up a new generation of peer reviewers through their additional time spent mentoring learners and early career colleagues in the peer review process." | | | Congratulations to 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., on their election to the UT Southwestern Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society as Resident Nominees. | | | |
Dr. Joy Neumann, Psy.D., has achieved board certification in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN).
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NEW! Sign up for group coaching this spring
Group coaching sessions offer a supportive environment where you can connect with faculty peers, share experiences, and gain valuable insights to help you achieve your goals. Sessions facilitated by Dr. Anand Rohatgi, M.D., are interactive and dynamic, featuring a mix of group discussions, exercises, and actionable takeaways. The next cohort begins on March 23 with sessions on April 13, May 11, May 27, and June 8.
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Deadline for Inspiring Careers in Mental Health apps is Feb. 2
The application deadline for Inspiring Careers in Mental Health, a two-week summer internship for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and rising college first-years is Monday, Feb. 2. The program provides students with overviews of a range of careers available in mental health. Participants learn about the breadth of work available in mental health in areas like psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and community psychiatry.
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Check the calendar for Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Have you been taking advantage of visiting expertise? Psychiatry Grand Rounds will continue each Wednesday at Noon through May, with the exception of holidays and Psychiatry Department Town Hall dates. Details on individual presentations will be shared as they become available. Please watch for more information via calendar invitations or by checking the UT Southwestern Events Calendar.
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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
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