June 4, 2026

NEW! 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. 

NAMIWalks North Texas draws a UTSW crowd

UTSW Psychiatry Team Confabulous represented UT Southwestern well at NAMIWalks North Texas 2026, engaging and informing the public while also helping raise $5,000 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The funds will be used to provide free mental health education programs, support groups, advocacy efforts, and community outreach. The department thanks everyone who came out to walk, to volunteer, or just to say "Hello." Special thanks go to Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D. for serving as Team Captain, Dr. Hamed Ekhtiari, M.D. for representing the Division of Addiction Psychiatry in person and providing educational materials, and Cari Norz for leading organizational efforts in the Chair's Office.

Clinical Neuroscience Scholar Program applications open 

The O'Donnell Brain Institute is now accepting applications for the Clinical Neuroscience Scholar (CNS) Program through July 13. The CNS Program is centered on patient-facing clinical program development with particular emphasis on novel, innovative approaches to care, such as multidisciplinary programs organized around a specific disease or disease area. Each scholar will receive $1M to be used over five years ($100K annually for salary support and $100K annually for clinical program development and scholarly work). 

Nominate an APP for their outstanding service

Nominate an Advanced Practice Provider for the 2026 APP Outstanding Achievement Awards through June 28. ‌‌Submit a deserving APP colleague for consideration in these six categories: Teaching, ‌Ambulatory Clinical Practice, ‌Inpatient Clinical Practice‌, Leadership‌, Professional and Community Service, and Scholarly Endeavors.

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‌Nominations are also open for the APP CHAMPion of the Year Award, which recognizes a non-APP leader, faculty, or staff member who demonstrates good partnership and advocacy for APPs in their daily work. ‌All Health System staff members are eligible to submit to each category. Award recipients will be announced at the APP Celebration Week Event on Thursday, Sept. 24.

NEW! 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.

NEW! 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.

Chris Loehrlein recently joined the department's Clinical Research Infrastructure (CRI) as a Program Coordinator. He will support faculty as they set up their clinical research practices and oversee a CRI referral program to help bridge clinics with research study recruitment efforts. He serves as a representative on the UTSW Employee Advisory Council and has been with the university since 2017.

NEW! 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.

Dr. Victoria "Vika" Ragland, M.D., a PGY6 neurology-psychiatry combined resident, was featured in a MedLink^® Neurology content spotlight for her article, "Neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with neurologic diseases."

Log in to MedLink® Neurology to read the article.

NEW! 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. 

NEW! 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. 

NEW! 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.

Dr. Shawn McClintock, Ph.D., was awarded the Mary Rosedale Patient Advocacy Award from the International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation at the organization's annual meeting, May 16. The award recognizes individuals who are advocates for patients and those who educate the public about brain stimulation and endeavor to decrease stigma surrounding chronic mental illness.

Dr. Cheyenne Grubbs

Dr. Mohammad Khan

Dr. Bilal Rehman

Three UT Southwestern Medical School graduates and future UTSW Psychiatry Department residents were recognized for their work in the leadup to graduation on May 15. Dr. Cheyenne Grubbs, M.D., was honored with the North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Award for Outstanding Medical Student in Psychiatry. The award honors a student for excellent work in psychiatry and mental health. Dr. Mohammad Khan, M.D., M.P.H., was presented with the Rolland C. Reynolds Pathology Award. The Reynolds Award recipient is selected based on humanitarian qualities. Dr. Bilal Rehman, M.D., M.T.S., was recognized with the Iatros Award. The Iatros Award was established by the UT Southwestern Medical School Class of 1984 to honor a graduate who most emulates the complete qualities of a physician. 

Please join us in thanking Dr. Molly Camp, M.D., for her many years of service to the UT Southwestern Psychiatry Department as she embarks on the next stage of her career journey. Dr. Camp earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She completed residency training in psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and UT Southwestern, followed by advanced training in geriatric psychiatry through a UT Southwestern fellowship. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2012. She was named Interim Division Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry in 2025.

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry, Dr. Camp is the Director of the Neurocognitive and Geriatric Psychiatry Program in the UT Southwestern Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Her clinical work focuses on the mental health of older adults, including cognitive concerns, mood disorders, caregiving stress, grief, and life changes related to aging.

Dr. Camp has been recognized for her teaching efforts several times in her career, including being named an Outstanding Clinical Educator by the Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) in 2016, a group into which inducted into in 2024. She was awarded the American Psychiatric Association Irma Bland Award for Excellence in Teaching Residents in 2020 and was named the Geriatric Psychiatry Educator of the Year by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry in 2023. Dr. Camp holds the endowed title of the Jake Tobolowsky Professorship in Psychiatry, in Memory of Helen B. Tobolowsky and in Honor of Dr. David M. Tobolowsky, an honor she earned in 2020. 

She has been named to the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry through 2028, in addition to serving on its Teaching for Training Committee and its Mentor for Scholars program.

A sought-after lecturer on neuropsychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and medical education, Dr. Camp has presented at conferences and grand rounds nationwide and in Canada. She has published a variety of academic articles and book chapters on geriatric psychiatry and medical education. Her most recent peer-reviewed publication is on an improv-based approach for teaching psychiatry residents to communicate with patients with dementia. 

She plans to remain in Dallas, working in private practice. We offer her congratulations and best wishes on the next step in her career.

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.

Dr. Kayla Murphy, M.D., and Shalini Maharaj, PA-C, presented posters at the International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation Annual Meeting. Dr. Murphy received an ISEN travel award and presented a poster titled, "ECT in an Era of GLPs: Developing an Institution-Specific ​Protocol for Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients Treated with GLP-1 Receptor Agonist." Ms. Maharaj (pictured) presented a poster titled, "When Repetition Reduces Reliability: Expanding Cognitive Screening Tools for Frequent Monitoring During ECT."

Several UTSW faculty presented at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, May 16-20. Pictured are Dr. Manish Jha, M.D., who served as the course director and Dr. Joshua Hubregsen, M.D., was a co-presenter for "Diagnosing and Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD): What’s Available and What’s on the Horizon?" Also presenting at the meeting were: Dr. Adam Brenner, M.D., Dr. Sherwood Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., Dr. Abhisek Khandai, M.D., Dr. Darlene King, M.D., Dr. Alyson Nakamura, M.D., Dr. Thomas Pak, M.D., Ph.D. (PGY4), Dr. Diana Robinson, M.D., and Dr. Carol A. Tamminga, M.D.

A cohort of nine second-year Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows presented their final research projects in person to a live audience of staff and faculty on May 12 and 19. Throughout the academic year, Dr. Graham Emslie. M.D., mentors the fellows through weekly research meetings, providing guidance in the development and completion of their individual research projects. Dr. Emslie would like to recognize this year’s annual CAP Fellow Research Presentations and highlight the scholarly work of the fellows.

NEW! 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

NEW! 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.

NEW! 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.

Men's Mental Health Month panel discussion set

Dr. Michael Selders, Ph.D., and Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., will be panelists at "Breaking the Silence: Why Men Struggle to Talk About Mental Health," on Thursday, June 4 from Noon-1:15 p.m. on Zoom. The panel discussion will be presented by the Office of Faculty Wellness and Engagement and is being held in celebration of Men's Mental Health Awareness Month.

Leadership series continues in June

The next session in the Psychiatry Department Leadership Series will be held from Noon-1 p.m. on Monday, June 8. This month's topic is "Recognition, Motivation, & Retention," and will be presented by Dr. Alyssa Hasty, Ph.D. Watch for an Outlook calendar invitation for the session.

Recordings of past sessions are available on the Psychiatry Department SharePoint site, along with a listing of upcoming topics. Future sessions are planned from Noon-1 p.m. on the second Mondays of each month from January through October 2026 (excluding August).

OBI Physician-Scientist Trainee Symposium planned

The O'Donnell Brain Institute Physician-Scientist Trainee Symposium will bring M.D./Ph.D. students from around the country to deliver talks on their research and to network with the UT Southwestern neuroscience community. The event is set for July 17 from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. in NG3.112, the T. Boone Pickens Medical Education & Conference Center.