Elizabeth Dodge, M.D., retired on June 30, 2025. Dr. Dodge received her undergraduate degree from Yale and graduated from medical school at UT Southwestern, where she also completed psychiatry residency training. Dr. Dodge completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, and served as a psychiatrist for a residential/outpatient program in Los Angeles until she returned to Dallas. In addition to maintaining a private practice, she has served as a psychiatrist for the Dallas Independent School District, Youth and Family Centers. She joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in 2017 as an Assistant Professor in Student Wellness and Counseling (SWaC), where she has provided personal counseling, psychotherapy, group therapy, and psychiatric services for students in the Medical School, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and School of Health Professions, helping students maintain wellness and thrive. She also has served on committees for student behavioral intervention, student wellness/resident wellness, and peer advocacy mentoring, and she has interviewed medical school applicants. She has supervised residents weekly in a student wellness elective as well as in psychodynamic psychotherapy and has taught courses on topics from boundary setting to bystander intervention training in transition to clerkships and more. Dr. Moore shared that Dr. Dodge “exemplifies what it means to be part of a team- she offers mentorship to earlier career faculty, is always available for thoughtful consultation with peers, and really reminds me team why we love student wellness.” Dr. Wolff added, “She also has been a wonderful colleague to the psychiatrists and psychologists at SWaC.” Dr. Dodge’s thoughtful approach in mentoring, teaching, and counseling has been an asset to our department and to learners both inside psychiatry and across the institution. We wish her well in her new stage of life.

NEW! Kala Bailey, M.D., M.B.A., has been appointed as the Executive Clinical Director of Neuroscience, leading the service line in partnership with the associate vice president for neuroscience clinical programs. In this new aspect of Dr. Bailey's work, she will develop strategies to advance clinical performance and quality and to provide equitable access to operational resources in alignment with Health System goals, as well as serve as a liaison for clinical department, hospital and ambulatory leaders, UT Southwestern clinical partners, and referring physicians. Alongside this executive leadership role, Dr. Bailey will continue her role as Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, overseeing the clinical programs, patient care operations, and faculty and providing strategic and operational leadership for all clinical activities in the Department of Psychiatry.

NEW! TARCC Application Deadline Extended

The Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium has extended the deadline to July 23 at 11:59pm CST for its 2025 Request for Applications to support innovative, translational based research in Texas and to ensure well-trained basic and translational researchers and clinician-scientists are available in Texas to aid in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Applications from junior investigators and projects that reflect cutting-edge science that will provide pilot data for larger proposals are particularly of interest.

Call for Nominations: Shine Academy

UT Southwestern may submit up to four nominees for the prestigious honor of membership in the University of Texas System Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education, which recognizes excellence in teaching across many disciplines in health science education.

Outstanding performance in any of the following categories will qualify faculty for consideration:

• Direct teaching
• Curriculum development and instructional design or redesign
• Assessment of learner performance
• Mentoring and counseling
• Educational administration and leadership
• Educational scholarship and research

Submissions are due July 25. For more information, email Pamela Munoz.

CTSA Writing Accountability Groups

The next two cohorts of the UT Southwestern Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program Writing Accountability Group will begin in Fall 2025, from August to September and from October to November. The aim of the group is to help writers stay focused, inspired, and productive. Group members will have dedicated time once a week for six weeks with a community of writers committed to staying accountable, making consistent progress, and successfully achieving their goals.

Faculty Research Mentor Training Program

UT Southwestern's Office of Faculty Affairs and Career Development has launched an interactive Research Mentor Training Program in collaboration with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the NCATS CTSA KL2/K12 Program, and the Office of Faculty Development. The first workshop, "Aligning Expectations and Maintaining Effective Communication," is still accepting registration forms for the following date (spots are filling fast). Breakfast is provided: Wednesday, August 5, 8:30am to 12:00pm: Register

Cynthia Fung, M.S.N., APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Ms. Fung completed her B.S. in Nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington and worked as a registered nurse at Parkland Hospital and at UT Southwestern Medical Center for several years. After earning her M.S. in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, she then completed the Advanced Practice Provider Psychiatry Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center and has now joined our outpatient psychiatry clinic as a full-time provider.

Kaylea Gawf, originally from Arkansas, graduated from Baylor in December 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and experience in psychoneuroimmunology research. Kaylea has joined the Kitamura Lab as a research technician. Outside of work, Kaylea's hobbies include reading and trying new coffee shops.

Jeanné Dube earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma and Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from the University of Texas at Tyler. She is excited to join UTSW as a Psychometrist II in the Neuropsychology Clinic.

The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center highlighted the work of Gavin Sanders, Ph.D., a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellow, in its Quick Review of Model System Research feature: Barriers to Driving and Psychosocial Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury.

The UT Southwestern press release "Study reveals disparities in mental health care for Texas youth" highlights the article Examining Treatment Options in Youth With Major Depressive Disorder: Observations From the TX‐YDSRN Registry Study, authored by E. Rabia Ayvaci, M.D., and colleagues from the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care directed by Madhukar Trivedi, M.D.

Darlene King, M.D., was quoted in a Time magazine article about the risks of AI therapy from chatbots.

Klingenstein Fellowship Award

Seungwon (Sebastian) Choi, Ph.D., has received the Klingenstein Fellowship Award in Neuroscience for "Unraveling the Cancer-Neuron Crosstalk: Pathological Interactions Between Cancer and Pain Circuits." The award supports highly promising early career researchers in cutting-edge investigations with $150,000 per year for three years ($450,000 total).

Staff from the Chair's Office and Financial Affairs enjoyed a lunch out in appreciation for all their efforts on behalf of our department.

4th year Clinical Psychology student Emma Reutimann won the annual Dallas Psychological Association Dissertation Award for her project titled "Measuring the Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress and Related Factors in Burn Care Clinicians." 

Graduation Celebration for Psychiatry Residents and Fellows

Service Milestones Achieved

The Department of Psychiatry has 51 staff and faculty that reached milestone years as of December 31, 2024 -- one of the largest groups in all the departments on campus. Their accomplishments represent several centuries of experience and are a testament to their commitment to our patients and our mission. Please take a moment to reach out to your colleagues and congratulate them on their dedication and service to the University and the Department of Psychiatry.

• 5 Years: Francisco Argueta-Ortiz, E. Rabia Ayvaci, Amanda Bower, Suzanne Brann, Julia Bunton, Alexander Cole, Erin Cox, Dena Daniel, Amber Deane, Amber Gibson, Michael Kandalaft, Greg King, Danielle Malone, Matthew Martin, Venkata Mukkavilli, Samaiya Mushtaq, Gabriela Reyes, Diana Robinson, Courtney Smith, Ashkan Soltan, Ann Tennier, Russell Toll
• 10 Years: Julia Cartwright, Veronica Bordes Edgar, Adrianna Harris, Cason Hicks, Sharlenta Johnson, Katherine Bellone Mount, Leslie Rosenstein, Chanel Smith, Daniela Vela
• 15 Years: Cherise Chin Fatt, Elida Godbey, Jo Kutty Kurian, Marianne Nash, Heidi Rossetti, Bo Wu
• 20 Years: Ling-Yu Chang, Ellie Hakim, Wei Li, Deanna Liss-Clarke, Shawn McClintock, Jane Miles, James Norcross, Catherine Orsak, Ronny Pipes

ADMSEP Meeting

At the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry Annual Meeting in Boston, Lia Thomas, M.D., co-presented the workshop "Addressing Ambivalence: How to Advise Medical Students Uncertain about a Career in Psychiatry." Dr. Thomas will serve the ADMSEP Council as Past President for 2025-2026.

Adriane dela Cruz, M.D., Ph.D., presented two workshops: "Getting the Most Out of ADMSEP: Optimizing Mentoring Relationships in Professional Societies" and "Implementing Curriculum Revision Even If You Don’t Want To: A Discussion for Preclinical Educators." Dr. dela Cruz will continue to serve on the ADMSEP Awards Committee and as Chair of the Posters Awards Subcommittee.

Ashley Woolbert, M.D., presented the poster "From Theory to Practice: Teaching Social Determinants of Health Through a Human Rights Framework" with medical students Bilal Rehman, Margaret Vo, and Cole Ferguson.

Darlene King, M.D., was a plenary speaker for "The Last of Us: Developing Resilient Policies to Survive the Era of AI."

AACN Meeting

Our department was well represented at the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology meeting in Chicago. Among other presenters and attendees, Psychology Doctoral Candidate Matt Hutnyan presented his work with Dr. Leslie Rosenstein on a case of normal pressure hydrocephalus and HIV encephalopathy. Jeffrey Schaffert, Ph.D., Christian LoBue, Ph.D., Munro Cullum, Ph.D., and Matthew Clem, Ph.D., presented a workshop on the forensic aspects of concussion, aging, and dementia.

Lia Thomas, M.D., co-presented "Optimal Strategies for Your Residency Application, with a focus on Psychiatry (For Applicants and Advisors)" as part of a webinar hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Jane Foster, Ph.D., spoke at "The Barcelona Debates on the Human Microbiome" about the microbiome and depression.

The Impact of Health Literacy on Mental and Physical Health Inequalities

Friday, July 11, 12-1pm via Zoom

Speakers: Valerie Loehr, Ph.D., and Rachel Elkins, Psy.D.

Educational Objectives: 1) Recognize the factors that contribute to health inequities. 2) Examine strategies for addressing inequities in practice, research, and education 3) Identify and discuss systemic change activities in support of health equity. 

The Department of Psychiatry Health Equity Forum is a monthly interactive series directed by Olufunke Awosogba, Ph.D., that aims to foster a deeper understanding of mental health disparities and to empower participants to integrate evidence-based best practices into their daily clinical practice.

Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act

Wednesday, July 16, 11:30am-1pm, South Campus, D1.502

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the uniqueness of every individual, join the UT Southwestern community at a light lunch reception followed by a keynote address by Maria Chahrour, Ph.D. that will focus on autism and invisible disabilities to foster a more inclusive and supportive society. Registration is required.

Waiting to Exhale - A Journey to Self-Discovery

UT Southwestern Medical Center Faculty Wellness Panel Discussion

Wednesday, July 23, 12-1pm via Zoom

Moderator, Jaime Harry, LCSW

Speakers: Julie Trivedi, M.D., Alejandra Alfaro, Marvin Washington, LPC, Terrie Jenkins, LCSW-S