June 11, 2026

NEW The Psychiatry Department remembers the life of Dr. Mary Ellen Bret, M.D.

This week, the Psychiatry Department takes a moment to remember Dr. Mary Ellen Bret, M.D., a longtime educator at UT Southwestern and clinician at Parkland Hospital. She was described by her colleagues as wise, deeply caring, supportive, and good friend. Dr. Bret passed away on June 2.

Dr. Bret began her professional life as a speech pathologist and worked in that field for more than a decade. She came to UT Southwestern for a Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry in 2002 after graduating from and serving her residency at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She joined the Psychiatry Department faculty the same year while working as a clinician and assistant medical director for Parkland Hospital Psychiatry Inpatient Services. She worked in the in-patient setting until 2009 when she transitioned to a Geriatric Psychiatrist role at the Parkland Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. She retired from UTSW in 2023.

“Her diverse experience and encompassing knowledge in mental health care led her to be a sought-after attending psychiatrist for the residents in our clinic,” said Dr. John Sadler, M.D., who got to know Dr. Bret well in that role. He called her an “inspiration.”

Dr. Bret was recognized for her educational efforts with outstanding teacher awards in 2007 and 2017. 

“Mary was known not only for her quick wit and wry style but also being a ‘no-nonsense, teacher who always had patients’ bests interests at heart,” said Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D. “She was the quintessential physician in every sense of the word, and her knowledge of medicine far beyond psychiatry was truly impressive.”

Beyond her medical acumen and teaching ability, Dr. Bret is remembered as “professional, courteous, funny, and very enjoyable to work with,” according to Dr. Timothy Wolff, M.D. 

“Her compassion and ability to speak several languages including Spanish allowed her to reach many, many grateful patients,” he said.  

We’re grateful for all that Dr. Bret contributed to UT Southwestern in her time with the Psychiatry Department. Our patients, faculty, and generations of doctors are all better for her efforts. She will be deeply missed.

NEW! RME Compliance deadline is June 30

All physicians (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, faculty 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 review this detailed list of accepted RME electives. Risk management education verification forms and backup/proof of attendance for all RME elective credits are required. Guidance on obtaining proof of attendance for Ethics Grand Rounds is available from Ruth Vinciguerra. Similar guidance for Psychiatry Grand Rounds is available from Tammy Young. If the physician requires a Med-IQ username/password or technical assistance, click here. They can also email Med IQ and/or call 1-888-315-4356 to assist with accessing the portal if needed. 

NEW! Nominations now open for A/P Committee

The Psychiatry Department is requesting nominations for the Appointments and Promotions (A/P) Committee membership for the term effective Sept. 1. The committee reviews and provides recommendations on academic appointments, promotions, and faculty advancement. Responsibilities, eligibility requirements, and expectations for committee members are available here. Faculty interested in serving should contact their Division Chief to have their name submitted for nomination.

Researchers: Boost your study recruitment

Need participants for your clinical trial? ‌Reach more people across UT Southwestern by submitting your study to The UTSW Insider, a twice-weekly newsletter sent to all UTSW email addresses. Doing so increases visibility, reaches eligible participants, and supports recruitment efforts. It can also help raise general awareness among the university's health care teams, including physicians and clinical staff who may know people who qualify. 

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‌To be considered, email The Insider with the following details: the Study IRB ID, a brief study overview including your target recruitment audience and any relevant details, and a contact email. ‌ Submissions will be reviewed, and selected studies may be featured in upcoming editions.

Brown Lab awarded NIH depression/CUD grant

Dr. Sherwood Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., has received an NIH-National Institute on Drug Abuse UG3/UH3 grant to study the use of pregnenolone in individuals with both cannabis use disorder and depression. Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring neurosteroid that influences both cannabis reward and mood regulation, potentially helping people cut back on cannabis use while also easing depression and anxiety symptoms. Dr. Francesca Filbey, Ph.D., UT Dallas and adjunct faculty at UT Southwestern, is a multiple PI. The UG3 phase will support preliminary research, including a pharmacokinetics study at UT Southwestern followed by a four-site clinical trial in the UH3 phase. 

Use a logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3)

Heading styles available in Microsoft Word and other programs maximize usability. Screen readers use hierarchies to determine the order in which text is read, and users can skim documents for the information they need most. Inconsistent heading styles potentially garble the intended message, as readers could jump illogically from one part to another. Heading 1 (H1) is the most important. If a document has a title at the top of the first page, make it H1 so that readers know where to start. Use Heading 2 (H2) for subheadings and Heading 3 (H3) for subsections under H2. Organizing text with these styles and distinctly describing the content increases the document's understandability. Avoid vague or overly creative heading text that might confuse readers. In Microsoft Word, heading tags are available in the Styles gallery, which also allows you to format documents in a consistent manner by tagging individual parts. Styles may vary across platforms. Explore your program's accessibility features to learn more.

Deepa Raj, M.P.H., joins the Psychiatry Department as the Senior Manager for the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC). From her previous role as a Research Program Manager in IM-Cardiology, she brings extensive experience in research operations, project management, and oversight of large, cross-functional teams. In her new role, she will work closely with leadership to support and expand the CDRC’s operations.

NEW! Dr. Joshua Hubregsen, M.D., recently contributed a MedBlog titled, "Modern electroconvulsive therapy may help relieve depression when other treatments fail." You can read it here.

Dr. Laura Howe‑Martin, Ph.D., was interviewed by the Dallas Morning News for an article about "scanxiety" – stress that patients feel while waiting for imaging results – and how patients can manage the anxiety. Read the DMN article here and read Dr. Howe-Martin's original scanxiety MedBlog here. Note that the DMN article may require a subscription.

NEW! Dr. C. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2026 Karen Postal Outstanding Mentorship Award from the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) and The Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (SCN; APA Division 40). The Karen Postal Outstanding Mentorship Award honors the importance of mentoring in the field of neuropsychology, as well as the dedication and impact of individuals with a distinguished record of guiding, teaching, advising, and encouraging students and colleagues, including those who are connected to few other resources in the field. Nomination letters described his mentorship as inspiring, personalized, and enduring.  

NEW! Several faculty members and residents were honored with awards as a part of the Residency Graduation Ceremony on June 5. The following awards and honors were bestowed at the ceremony.

Faculty and Staff Awards

Outstanding PGY-1 Teacher – Dr. Katherine “Brittany” Karlay, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-2 Teacher – Dr. Michael Li, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-3 Teacher – Dr. Sandarsh Surya, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-4 Teacher – Dr. Abbie Ewell, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-I Teaching Site – CUH Inpatient 50, Dr. Larry Thornton, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-II Teaching Site – Parkland Consults, Dr. Emily Kahl, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-III Teaching Site – Addiction Clinic, Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D.

Outstanding PGY-IV Teaching Site – Parkland Addiction CL, Dr. Kapila

Marambage, M.D.

Outstanding Clinical and Volunteer Faculty – Dr. Kitzia Moreno, Ph.D.

Special Recognition Award (Staff) – Tameka Ellis

Faculty Mentor of the Year – Dr. Chadrick Lane, M.D.

Outstanding contribution to medical student education by faculty – Dr. Lessley

Chiriboga, M.D.

Paul C. Mohl Award – Dr. Melissa Black, Ph.D.

Resident Awards

Outstanding contribution to medical student education by residents – Dr. Adam Brantley, M.D., and Dr. Nicholas Champagne-Aves, M.D.

Outstanding Fellow contribution to medical student education by residents – Dr. Hannah Gomez, M.D.

Shared Shoutout: Service Award – Dr. Andrew Contreras, M.D.

Shared Shoutout: Healing Award – Dr. Julia Chavez, M.D.

Shared Shoutout: Advocacy Award – Dr. Jennifer Oruebor, M.D., M.S.

Shared Shoutout: Research Award – Dr. Sarah Elmer, M.D.

Shared Shoutout: Education Award – Dr. Seena Ounsinegad, M.D.

Shared Shoutout: Duty Award – Dr. Nicholas Champagne-Aves, M.D.

Chief Residents Recognition – Dr. Temitope Adedolapo, M.D, M.S, M.B.A., Dr. Rachel Cantu, M.D., Dr. Thomas Pak, M.D., Ph.D., Dr. Victoria Ragland, M.D., and Dr. Kaylee Schrader, M.D., M.P.H.

John F. Hickman M.D. Award – Dr. Victoria Ragland, M.D.

Andresen Award – Dr. Cesar Montelongo Hernandez, M.D., Ph.D.

Chairman’s Research Award – Dr. Nabila Haque, M.D.

NEW! Leigh Hornberger, Chief Psychometrist in the Neuropsychology Clinic, has been selected for a 2026 Meritorious Service Award. ‌The awards are presented to team members who consistently demonstrate the PACT service standards and go above and beyond their everyday responsibilities to support the delivery of exceptional patient care. The award includes a $500 monetary reward.

NEW! Julie Estabrook, a Psychometrist III within the Neuropsychology Clinic, has graduated from Ball State University of Muncie, Indiana, with a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology. She completed additional hours to obtain a certificate in Neuropsychology for Teaching and Learning. 

NEW! Jasmine Moore, LMFT, Clinical Therapist at the Multispecialty Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic (MSOPC), recently completed her American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Certification. AASECT training includes human sexuality, sexual functioning, relationship systems, diversity in sexual expression, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of sexual concerns. She is believed to be the first clinician to complete this four-year specialized certification at MSOPC.

Dr. Dhruba Banerjee, M.D., Ph.D., PGY2 on the Research Track, has been selected to receive the 2026 National Institute of Mental Health Outstanding Resident Award. The award recognizes residents with "outstanding research and academic potential." Dr. Banerjee has been invited to participate in an awards program at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland, in October. 

Dr. William Goette, Ph.D., will receive the 2026 DocStars Award and funding from the Cary Council for his proposal, “A Pilot Study of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Interference-Sensitive Learning in Cognitive Impairment.” The award comes with a $50,000 grant. 

Savannah Dieste, a senior student in the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, accepted the 2026 Ida M. Green Award at a ceremony in May. Dieste's dissertation research was conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Sunita Stewart, Ph.D. She is pictured here second from left with (left to right) Michael McMahan, president and CEO Southwestern Medical Foundation, Ondine Cleaver, Co-chair of the Women in Science & Medicine Advisory Committee, and Andrew Zinn, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Nakita Gee, a Program Coordinator within the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology, has graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with an emphasis in Healthcare Organizational Leadership. She graduated with highest distinction and has been inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society as well as the National Society of Leadership and Success.

NEW! UT Southwestern Psychiatry was well represented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, May 27-30, with multiple speakers and poster presenters. Those presenters included Dr. Snoben Kuruvila, M.P.A.S., PA-C, Dr. Nabila Haque, M.D., Clinical Research Lead Virgilio Garza, Clinical Research Assistant II Amrita Ghose, Popular Science Data Analyst III Nandini Jha, CRA II Annsley Martin, and medical student Megan Lean. Click the link below for a full list of their presentations. The photo above is (from left to right): Lean, Ghose, Dr. Manish Jha, M.D., Martin, Garza, Dr. Kuruvila, and Nandini Jha. Click here for more information about their presentations and posters.

NEW! Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., did a Grand Rounds presentation in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston on the “Management of Alcohol Use Disorders” on May 14.

Dr. Jane Foster, Ph.D., participated as faculty in the Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies – Microbiota Regulation of Brain Function in Health and Disease in Venice, Italy, May 16-23.

Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., P.S.S., Dr. Darlene King, M.D., and Dr. Thomas Pak, M.D., Ph.D., shared photos of their presentations at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting. Dr. King participated in Innovation Zone Panel Discussion on App Advisor Updates and presented a talk on AI in Education and a talk on Updates to the APA App Advisor. Dr. King also recently completed her three-year term as Chair of the APA Mental Health IT Committee. She is now a member of the APA Digital Health and Innovation Council. Drs. Guillory and Pak presented a workshop titled "From Stabilization to Resilience: ​Integrating Recovery Principles in Everyday Psychiatry.​"

Psychology Graduate Students Robbie Magill and Logan Shurtz presented some of their latest research along with Dr. Stephen Bunt, Ed.D., and Dr. Munro Cullum, Ph.D. (standing with Shurtz), at the Concussion and Brain Health Symposium put on by the Sports Neuropsychology Society in Cleveland.

NEW! 2026-2027 Ethics Grand Rounds series announced

The UT Southwestern Ethics Grand Rounds series has announced its 2026-2027 schedule. The lectures are presented at Noon on the Second Tuesday of each month between September and May. All of the lectures will be presented virtually. The lecture on April 13, 2027, will also be presented in person. Registration is required to participate virtually. Emails will be sent each month with the relevant details. Please contact Ruth Vinciguerra with questions. See the 2026-2027 Ethics Grand Rounds here.

Campus event will cover vision for responsible AI use

The campus event, AI Town Hall Webinar #11 beginning at Noon on Tuesday, June 16, will include AI project updates, demonstrations of key features, and solicitation of feedback from faculty, staff, and learners. Presenters will include Dr. Heidi Jacobe, M.D., Associate Dean for Clinical Research Development, along with members of the AI Leadership team (Natalie Ramello, J.D., Vice President, Chief Compliance & Audit Officer, and Brian Evans, Associate Vice President, Chief Enterprise Architect). ‌

‌The session will cover:

• ‌Continued strategic vision for AI in healthcare
• ‌Responsible AI use and governance
• ‌Enterprise AI tool portfolio and licensing
• ‌Security safeguards and compliance
• ‌Upcoming training initiatives and opportunities
• ‌Support and community engagement

Explore REDCap's extended features with CTSA

REDCap can be an invaluable tool for clinical research. Get the most out of this flexible and secure data collection software in an engaging session led by Dr. Mujeeb Basit, M.D., M.M.Sc., at Noon on Tuesday, June 30.

Participants will get an intro to REDCap, dive into REDCap features and how it supports clinical and translational research, learn how to design and manage automated invitations, and understand how REDCap integrates with Epic.

Library offers class on Article Processing Charges

"Article Processing Charges - How They Work and Determining Possible UTSW Author Discounts" introduces the basics of transformative agreements and article processing charges (APCs) for open access publishing. Participants will also learn how to identify funding opportunities and institutional support for these fees through the Library's APCs Guide. This online session is planned for Tuesday, June 23 from Noon-1 p.m. Registration is required.