NEW! It's a Match! See Psychiatry's new residents

Match Day 2026 is in the books! On March 20, 239 UT Southwestern Class of 2026 students learned where their medical educations would lead them next. Seven of those students matched with UT Southwestern Psychiatry and will be returning to start their residencies here next year. Psychiatry was the third-most matched into residency specialty for UT Southwestern students this year. Want to see where UT Southwestern's grads ended up? See a full list of matches broken down by specialty here.

NEW! Learn more about Promotion & Tenure process

The 2026 Promotion and Tenure (P&T) season is currently underway. The Medical School Faculty P&T Committee plans to review 224 declared candidates this year. To prepare faculty members for future promotion, Faculty Development provides recorded information sessions from previous years, including the "Demystifying the P&T Process Symposium" and track-specific workshops to explain the process.

A Clinical Scholar Track workshop has been announced for Wednesday, April 15 at Noon. Register for that workshop at the link below. Additional workshop dates should be announced soon. Visit the P&T webpage for the most up-to-date scheduling information.

NEW! Complete your compliance training by April 15

All staff/faculty are required to complete all four modules of annual compliance training by April 15. If you have not completed your training, please log into Taleo Learn > My Required Training > FY 2026 Annual Compliance Training Bundle and complete all four sections. Please note that you may have to go to the second page of the My Required Training to see the assigned training bundle. Each session takes about 30 minutes to complete, but the training can be paused and, once you log back in, it will return to your stopping point. 

Yolanda Barner-Thomas will be pulling a report for the Psychiatry Department later this week and reaching out to those individuals who haven't completed the training and their managers/administrators. Please keep in mind that there is a discipline matrix for those who don’t complete the training by April 15, and the department does not want any Psychiatry staff/faculty on that list. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Yolanda Barner-Thomas.

REMINDER 'Best Hospitals' survey closes soon

The U.S. News & World Report request for physician input as part of its process to rank the best hospitals in the country for 2026-27 ends on Saturday, March 28. If you are eligible and have not voted yet, please do so within the next few days.

As a reminder:

• You will need a Doximity profile to complete a survey (vote) to participate in the U.S. News ranking process for our specialty.
• If you have a profile, you should have already received a message from Doximity about the survey. If you don’t have one, you can still register and participate.
• For questions about the survey, please email usnwrvotingquestions@utsouthwestern.edu.

Thank you for completing the U.S. News survey this year. Even more, we appreciate your commitment to advancing an exceptional level of care to serve our UT Southwestern patients and their families.

Check the Standard Operating Procedures section on SharePoint regularly

Be sure to check the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) section of the Psychiatry Department SharePoint regularly for the latest updates on department procedures. Some of the SOPs added recently include the process and requirements for obtaining signatures from the Department Chair, Vice Chair, or Department Administrator, shift differential compensation for work in the Parkland Emergency Services, and guidelines for placing plant/flower orders, among others. The SharePoint page also has SOPs on a variety of other important subjects that you may find useful.

International Travel Questionnaire is required for UTSW trips out of the country

UT Southwestern is launching a streamlined process to review international travel for compliance with institutional policy, State of Texas requirements, federal funding agency requirements, and U.S. Department of State advisories.

All faculty, staff, trainees, students, and affiliates traveling to any international destination for UTSW business (including conferences, research, education, service, and global health programs) must complete the International Travel Questionnaire at least 30 days before finalizing travel plans. The questionnaire is also required for employees planning personal travel to countries designated as foreign adversaries.

A new international travel website (VPN or on-campus connection required) lists all the resources available to support anyone traveling internationally for business purposes or to high-risk destinations for personal reasons. You will find the questionnaire and how to track its approval status, as well as the most up-to-date list of restricted destinations and information on the process to request loaner devices.

Collaboration across institutions is intrinsic academic medicine, and this new effort is designed to facilitate UTSW’s continuous presence in international forums while maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations. If you have questions, contact the Research Security team. 

Sign up to mentor residents

Would you like to be a mentor? As a mentor, you can provide guidance, direction, and support at all stages of a mentee's development, while also benefiting from your own professional development. 

The Psychiatry residency program has run a Resident Mentoring Program for several years now, under the purview of the Psychiatry Residency Organization (PRO). Dr. Lia Thomas, M.D., Associate Program Director for the General Residency, is seeking faculty who are interested in serving as a mentor to one or more residents. If you are considering mentoring, please take a moment to fill out the form linked below with your academic interests, your clinical work, and your availability. The form will close on April 10.

NEW! 'Accessibilty 101' is a great monthly resource

The UT Southwestern Accessibility Team is launching monthly "Accessibility 101" live virtual sessions to maintain momentum and build broad awareness across the organization, with a focus on new hires. "Accessibility 101” is an interactive, foundational session that provides a broad overview of accessibility in everyday work. Through real examples and guided discussion, participants explore why accessibility matters, what is expected by policy, and how to approach documents, presentations, and meetings. The session emphasizes simple, actionable improvements and how to access support resources.

These sessions will start on April 8 and will be held monthly on the second Wednesday at noon. Register for an upcoming session below.

NEW! Is your CV accessible and up-to-date?

It is easy to take a CV posted in your faculty bio for granted and let it fall out of date. You also may not have considered accessibility when designing or updating your CV. UT Southwestern's effort to improve accessibility across the institution will include an examination of public-facing CVs in faculty profiles in the coming weeks. If you have uploaded your CV to your faculty profile, it may be removed from the site if it is flagged for lack of accessibility.

If you choose to post a CV in your profile, be sure to run an accessibility check. When building or updating in Microsoft Word, you can use the automated accessibility tool - Tools > Check Accessibility. Other tips include choosing a simple format with text aligned to the left. Use standard size fonts and styles. Use clear headings and subheadings to organize information. Avoid graphics or tables that might cause issues in a screen reader. Simplify text where possible, using easily understood language, short sentences, and bullet points.

Accessibility is a must when sharing PowerPoint slides

Do you create PowerPoint slides for your role at UT Southwestern? If so, chances are good that you share them digitally with others in addition to giving presentations. Creating accessible files is an essential step in ensuring that everyone who uses them receives the message as intended. For instance, did you know that the screen reading order on a page can be affected by the order in which elements were added? What about videos embedded in your slides? A transcript can be very helpful for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Learn more quick tips on how to make your PowerPoint docs more useful with this UTSW accessibility page or take a deep dive into PowerPoint accessibility with best practices and specific advice for multiple operating systems.

Improve Excel document accessibility with these tips

Excel documents are challenging for people using screen readers. Knowing how screen readers behave with Excel documents will help you improve the accessibility of the document. This webpage offers several tips on how to ensure everyone gets the most out of your Excel documents, including color usage, labeling conventions, and the best way to create tables. Like Microsoft Word, Excel offers real-time advice for making your documents accessible by selecting Check Accessibility under the Tools menu.

Dr. Amanda LeBel, Ph.D., joins UT Southwestern's Department of Psychiatry as a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Anila D'Mello's lab, where she will investigate semantic and linguistic processing in autistic individuals using fMRI. Dr. LeBel earned her doctorate in Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, studying the role of the cerebellum in semantic processing using fMRI and naturalistic stimuli. Prior to that, she worked as a research assistant at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Jing Jin, Ph.D., joins the Psychiatry Department as a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Hamed Ekhtiari’s lab. Her current work focuses on conducting clinical trials for fMRI-informed individualized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) interventions in addiction and related conditions, while investigating the underlying neural mechanisms driving these therapeutic effects. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychiatry from Capital Medical University, China, where her research centered on neuroimaging analysis and the application of individualized TMS for depression.

Latasha "Tasha" Davis joins the Psychiatry Department as a Medical Assistant. She has worked at UTSW for seven years after starting in the call center as a CSA I&II. She worked there for three years and later transferred to the float pool as a Float Medical Assistant. As time permits, she works as a travel agent and loves to travel. She also enjoys arts and crafts. 

Amity Whitfield has joined the Chair's Office as a Program Coordinator working with the Faculty Affairs team. She graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. After graduation, she taught middle school English for several years before joining UTSW as an Administrative Associate in 2025. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.

NEW! Dr. Jane Foster, Ph.D., was recently mentioned in a UT Southwestern overview of new research. Dr. Foster was noted in a section on poor sleep quality being linked to relapses in major depressive disorder. Read more about the subject here.

Dr. Foster was also recently interviewed for an article in The Economist, titled "Faecal transplants - a treatment for bipolar disorder?" Read the story here (may be subject to a paywall).

NEW! Dr. Sarah Baker, M.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, was quoted in a Match Day 2026 article in Center Times Plus.

Dr. Meitra Doty, M.D., was recently profiled for a departmental article about a growing interest among residents in women's mental health training. Read the article here.

NEW! Five residents were inducted into honor societies last week. Dr. William Burton, M.D., was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society on March 18. The Gold Humanism Honor Society is a community of medical students, physicians, and other leaders who have been recognized for their compassionate care. 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., were all officially inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society on March 19. Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. 

UT Southwestern’s APP Fellowship Program, including Adult Psychiatry, has earned APPFA Accreditation with Distinction, the highest honor granted by the Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Association. This accreditation reflects a rigorous external review of our curriculum, outcomes, and learner experience, and affirms UTSW as a leading destination for advanced practice training. For more information about the APP Fellowship Program or collaboration opportunities, contact Amanda Ben Simon, PA-C.

Dr. Lia Thomas, M.D., has completed her three-year term as chair of the Recruitment committee at the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT).

Davon Breedlove, a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program, was appointed to serve as the Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (EJI) Representative on the Programs Committee for the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (APA Division 40).

Several faculty and residents presented at the American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA) 36th Annual Meeting in March. Pictures from the meeting include (clockwise from top left): Dr. Victoria Ragland, M.D., presented "Role of Habenula-Striatum Circuit in Anticipatory versus Consummatory Anhedonia"; Dr. Victor Liaw, M.D., presented "Cognitive Impairment in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome"; Dr. Kathy Niu, M.D., pictured with Dr. Jaclyn Hozumi, M.D., presented "Post Stroke Psychosis Following L ACA Medial Frontal Lobe and L MCA Cortical Infarcts"; and Dr. Moez Bashir, M.D., pictured with co-author Dr. Chadrick Lane, M.D., and Dr. Niu, presented "A Feasibility Analysis of Using Quantitative Pupillometry in Evaluating Functional Neurological Disorder."

Several faculty and residents presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT). Dr. Lia Thomas, M.D. (right side, top left photo), presented twice at the annual meeting – "Are We Playing on the Same Team? Navigating the Boundaries and Allegiances in Advising and Recruiting" and "The Reviews Are In! Learning the Art and Science of Peer Review." Dr. Bernice Yau, M.D. (second from left, top left photo), presented "No Publications, No Problem!: A Case-Based Guide to Publishing (for You and Your Trainees)." Dr. Will Burton, M.D., and Dr. Rachel Beck, M.D., both residents, and Dr. Josh Hubregsen, M.D. (pictured from left in the top right photo) presented during the Innovation Showcase. Dr. Burton presented "Introduction to Templates: The No-Stress Scheduling Success." Dr. Beck and Dr. Hubregsen co-presented "Concentrating on Interventional Psychiatry." Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D. (bottom right photo, left side), presented "Meaningfully Engaged: IGNITE Community Partnerships in Training Programs" at the meeting. Dr. Kathlene Trello-Rishel, M.D. (second from right, bottom right photo), presented "This QI Project Is Fire! Inspiring GenZ Residents' Enthusiasm for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety."  

NEW! Leadership Series covers 'Coaching vs. Managing'

The next session in the Psychiatry Department Leadership Series will be held from Noon-1 p.m. on Monday, April 13. This month's topic is "Coaching vs. Managing," and will be presented by Dr. Mona Robbins, Ph.D., ABPP. 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).

NEW! 2026 Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Symposium planned for late April

"Interconnected Pathways: Exploring Brain–Mind–Body Interface Disorders beyond FND," the 2026 Virtual Functional Neurological Disorder Symposium, is scheduled for 8 a.m.-3:10 p.m. on Friday, April 24 via Zoom. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Click the button below to register.

Key Topics Include: POTS and Dysautonomia in FND, Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction, Bladder Dysfunction in FND, Chronic Pain and Alexithymia in FND, Virtual Reality and Neuromodulation in FND, Psychedelics and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches, and The Lived Experience of Recovery in FND. Q&A sessions with the speaker panel are also scheduled.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This live activity is approved for 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. 

NEW! Ethics Grand Rounds focuses on end-of-life sedation

The next Ethics Grand Rounds lecture will feature Dr. Joseph Raho, Ph.D., a Clinical Ethicist at the UCLA Health Ethics Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He will present "Continuous Sedation at the End of Life: When Is It Ethical?" by Zoom from Noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.

Details on this lecture can be found on the University events calendar. For additional information about this lecture, email Ruth Vinciguerra.

NEW! Registration for DFW Alliance in Mental and Behavioral Health Research Symposium ends March 30

Hosted by Metrocare, the DFW Alliance in Mental & Behavioral Health Research Symposium connects clinicians, trainees, and leading researchers across North Texas working in development, mood disorders, psychosis, and addiction. The symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday, April 10 in the Scottish Rite Hospital T. Boone Pickens Training and Conference Center. Registration for the symposium will close on March 30.

Researchers will share emerging findings. Frontline clinicians can explore how new evidence may translate to practice and scale within large public health systems to improve client care. The symposium also provides an opportunity to discuss new collaborations and prospective studies within Metrocare's clinical system.

Metrocare serves as the host of this collaborative event. Highlights include:

• Keynote from Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., President Emeritus of NAMI North Texas

• Competitive oral and poster research presentations

• Optional 1:1 mentorship program, pairing trainees with university faculty or clinicians from other institutions.

Contact Dr. Kyle Blidy at ACERresearch@metrocareservices.org with questions. 

NAMIWalks North Texas is set for May 16

Join the UT Southwestern team at NAMIWalks North Texas, a community event dedicated to raising awareness and support for mental health from 8 a.m.-Noon on Saturday, May 16 at Grandscape in The Colony.

Ways to get involved:

• Walk with our team
• Volunteer on walk day

A kickoff party is planned from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 at Heritage Pizza and Taproom, 3750 Plano Pkwy., in Plano. Come enjoy pizza, conversation, and Walk Day poster decorating as the group prepares for the 2026 walk.

OBI Physician-Scientist Trainee Symposium set

Medical students from UT Southwestern and institutions around the U.S. will present their neuroscience research at the updated OBI Physician-Scientist Trainee Symposium, from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m., July 17, in the T. Boone Pickens Auditorium (NG 3.112). Join us to hear about their exciting original work and network with our clinician/scientist community. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Full talk titles are included in the calendar invitation, which will be sent to individuals who complete the RSVP link below. Have questions? Contact Mary-Colette at Mary.Lybrand@utsouthwestern.edu. 

In-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds continue

Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., of the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, will present "Understanding the opioid effects of ketamine: implications for treatment development" at an in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds from Noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. The presentation will be held in NG3.112 with a reception and food in NG3.108.

This is the latest in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds. Don't miss your opportunity to learn from visiting physicians and educators when they come to UT Southwestern. In-person attendance reflects well on the Psychiatry Department and offers you the opportunity to interact directly with the visiting speaker. The final in-person grand rounds of this year is listed below.

May 22

Dr. Frederick Nucifora Ph.D., D.O., M.H.S., Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Presenting "Schizophrenia, subtyping and treatment resistance"

Please watch for more information about all Grand Rounds via calendar invitations or by checking the UT Southwestern Events Calendar.