May 14, 2026

NEW! Lane named to MSOPC Leadership Team

The Psychiatry Department has named another member of the new Multispecialty Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic (MSOPC) leadership team.

Dr. Chadrick (Chad) Lane, M.D.

Associate Medical Director 
Geriatric and Neuropsychiatry

Dr. Lane joined the faculty in 2021. He was the inaugural OBI Clinical Neuroscience Scholar, and he is the co-leader of the Functional Neurological Disorder Program at MSOPC. He has served as the Medical Student Clerkship Director and is currently the Associate Program Director of the Combined Neurology-Psychiatry Residency Program. This role will report to Dr. Arthur Westover, M.D., Medical Director for MSOPC.

Dr. Lane's new role will be effective on June 1. In announcing this new appointment, Dr. Kala Bailey, M.D., M.B.A., also thanked Dr. Molly Camp, M.D., for her many years of dedicated leadership and her significant impact on shaping Geriatric Psychiatry at UTSW.

NEW! Doximity Residency Navigator survey is live

The Doximity Residency Navigator survey, a primary source for U.S. News & World Report to rank residency programs, is now open. Last year the Psychiatry training program ranked 14th in the nation, moving up one spot while retaining the No. 1 ranking for Texas and the South. That ranking has a considerable impact on where medical students decide to apply. If you received a survey link in your email, voting for UT Southwestern Psychiatry will help ensure that the program's ranking continues to reflect its excellence.

Eligible physicians should have received a direct link to the survey via email but also can access the survey by logging in to the Doximity website.

NEW! UTSW opens joint research with Rabin Medical Center

UT Southwestern has announced the opportunity to engage in research projects with peers from Rabin Medical Center (RMC), affiliated with Tel Aviv University in Israel. 

As the country’s flagship university hospital, its staff of about 8,000 treats patients from all regions, backgrounds, and demographic groups with comprehensive medical care. RMC is accredited by the Joint Commission International and has 40 departments. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, women’s health, patient reported outcomes, surgery, imaging, heart health, brain health, and emergency medicine.  

Individuals who are interested in collaborating with RMC faculty on a joint project should submit their name and areas of research interest to Jennifer Azares by Monday, May 18. UTSW will review the list with RMC leadership to match collaborators from both institutions according to research areas. Collaborators will be given opportunities to develop joint proposal for review by a UTSW-RMC committee. A maximum of four research projects will be funded with up to $150,000.

NEW! The Style Council supports institutional communication

The UTSW Insider has introduced a recurring feature named The Style Council. This resource offers guidelines for clear and consistent communications that adhere to UTSW style.

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‌Each installment will highlight timely updates and/or refresher tips – from commonly misspelled terms to punctuation preferences that shape our voice. ‌ Consistency in style is an important dimension of UT Southwestern’s commitment to quality, helping our writing reflect the same care, accuracy, and professionalism we bring to other aspects of our work.

Wayne Young named VP, CEO of TBHC

UT Southwestern has appointed Wayne Young, M.B.A., M.Ed., as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Behavioral Health Center (TBHC) and Vice President of Behavioral Health Integration and Partnerships at UTSW, beginning on Aug. 3. ‌Mr. Young brings more than two decades of experience in behavioral health care and its leadership. In his current role as CEO of The Harris Center in Houston, he leads more than 2,600 team members who deliver behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disability services to more than 96,000 patients each year.

Prior to that position, Mr. Young was Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, which included a 20,000-visit psychiatric emergency room and inpatient psychiatric hospitals/pavilions with more than 130 total beds, along with multiple clinics and four partial hospitalization programs.

We are pleased to have Mr. Young join us and expect that he will do great things at TBHC. Dr. Hicham Ibrahim, M.D., M.B.A., Vice President and Senior Executive Officer for Ambulatory Services, will continue serving as Interim CEO until Mr. Young’s arrival. Please see Dr. Podolsky's announcement for more information on Mr. Young's appointment.

Health care practitioners must create a CE Broker account to comply with new Texas law

A new Texas law requires all health care practitioners to verify continuing education (CE) through CE Broker, which the Texas Medical Board has designated as the official tracking platform. Effective on Sept. 1, providers must have an active CE Broker account. 

Please do the following required actions for your UTSW CME Credits to be uploaded into CE Broker. 

• ‌Update your TMB license number in UTSW EthosCE: https://cme.utsouthwestern.edu/content/faq 
• ‌Create a CE Broker account: https://propelus.com/covered-professionals (the free version is all that is needed)

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The Office of Continuing Education has established a support service to assist you through this process. Please email your request to: CEOffice@utsouthwestern.edu.‌ Webinars providing step-by-step tutorials on using CE Broker to track, manage, and report CME, supporting audit readiness and ongoing compliance will be announced soon. Check the link below for more information 

Student internship/work opportunities abound

UT Southwestern offers a variety of programs for students (not in medical school) to work with the department and enhance the pursuit of their academic goals. In the programs listed in the table linked below, the students perform professional, field-related tasks under the supervision of department staff/faculty bridging their classroom learning with practical work experience. If you are interested in participating in one of these programs, Yolanda Barner-Thomas and Lidia Ortiz in the Psychiatry Chairman's Office can help navigate the process.

NAMIWalks North Texas is May 16

Join UTSW Psychiatry Team Confabulous at NAMIWalks North Texas from 8 a.m.-Noon on Saturday, May 16 at Grandscape in The Colony. In addition to its fundraising element, this Department of Psychiatry-sponsored event raises awareness about mental illness in North Texas and the work being done at UT Southwestern.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an organization advocating for access to services, treatment, supports, and research to help those in need. NAMI North Texas is the local affiliate providing services to Dallas, Rockwall, Denton, and Collin counties. Registration for the walk is at 8 a.m. The event's opening ceremony will start at 9 a.m., and teams will begin walking at 9:30 a.m.

NEW! What is Alt Text? Why is it important?

Alt Text, short for "alternative text," describes images embedded in email, Word and PDF documents, and websites. It is an important tool for screen readers and useful for communicating the content when images do not download automatically. Well-written alt text not only describes the image literally but conveys its meaning and purpose. Strive to make alt text as concise and accurate as possible. If an image is purely decorative, mark it that way, so the screen reader omits it. For a complex image like a chart or graph, a longer explanation in the text near the image may help more than extended alt text. This tip and others are available from the university's Digital Accessibility Core Concepts webpage. Visit this page to learn more strategies.

NEW! Use assistive tools to gain a new perspective at a Global Accessibility Awareness Day road show

UT Southwestern is offering a hands-on road show of assistive technologies in recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 21. Rotate through stations to explore real-world scenarios using assistive tools like screen readers, magnification, and keyboard only navigation and try common digital tasks, from accessing learning content to completing forms and navigating resources, through the lens of different users.

Complete all three stations for the opportunity to earn a Starbucks cup and gift card! The road show will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, near NG3 Commons, T. Boone Pickens Medical Education & Conference Center. Be sure to stop by, grab some snacks, and walk away with practical tips to create more accessible digital content in your daily work.

NEW! Dr. Marian Fagbemi, M.D. joins the psychiatry department as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Fagbemi obtained her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and her medical degree from the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. She completed psychiatry residency at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix. She will work in the psychiatric emergency center at Parkland Hospital.

NEW! Dr. Victoria Lutgen Gronau, Ph.D., joins the Psychiatry Department as a Senior Research Scientist in the Coughlin lab and will work to advance the molecular understanding of neuropsychiatric conditions using neuroimaging techniques. Dr. Lutgen Gronau graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Neuroscience.

NEW! Victoria Kilguss has joined the Psychiatry Department Financial Office as an Accountant II. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of North Texas at Dallas and a master’s degree in Forensic Accounting from Utica University. She is working toward her CPA license before pursuing a CFE license certificate in the long term. 

Noah Puente, M.P.H., B.S.P.H., recently joined the Psychiatry Department as a Clinical Research Coordinator for Dr. Jennifer Coughlin's team. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from The University of Texas at Arlington and his Master of Public Health from UT Southwestern. He has worked in health education and direct patient care.

Tracey Moore recently joined the Psychiatry Department as a Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist. She has worked in research administration at UTSW for 20 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, and working on craft projects. 

María I. del Villar Basauri has joined the Neuropsychology Clinic as a Psychometrist II. She earned her bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology at Universidad de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, and participated in an exchange program in Madrid, Spain where she learned about Clinical Neuropsychology. She enjoys spending most of her free time surrounded by music. She also loves spending time with her cat, whose name is inspired by the Mayan deity of music (Macuilxochitl).

Tekuria Sowels is the new Credentialing Specialist for the Psychiatry Department. She brings more than 10 years of experience in health care to her role, with a strong background in administrative support, patient services, and compliance. She also holds an M.B.A. in Human Resources Management from Capella University.

Andrew Dalley, LPC, joins the Psychiatry Department as a Clinical Therapist in substance use disorder services at the Multispecialty Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. He has worked in addiction group therapy and inpatient/outpatient settings. Born and raised in Texas, he graduated from Texas Woman's University with a master's degree in Clinical Psychology. In his free time, he enjoys trying new coffee, walking in nature, traveling, and spending time with his friends.

Farra Kahalnik, M.P.H., M.S.S.W., recently joined the Department of Psychiatry as a Clinical Research Manager. She will support Dr. Tarek Rajji, M.D., in building and managing his research lab while collaborating closely with the Clinical Research Infrastructure. Farra began her UT Southwestern career in May 2015 in the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care under Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., where she managed the VitalSign6 program and contributed to the Center's grant-writing efforts. From January 2022 to April 2026, she served as Program Manager for the CTSA Program's Office of Community Health and Research Engagement within the O'Donnell School of Public Health.

NEW! Dr. Manish Jha, M.D., was interviewed for a Time Magazine article titled, "6 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting a Mental-Health Drug." Read the article here.

Dr. Andre Russowsky Brunoni, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., was interviewed for a New York Times article titled, "Could At-Home Brain Stimulation Reduce Psychiatry's Reliance on S.S.R.I.s?" Read the article here (If you encounter a paywall, you may access the New York Times via the UT Southwestern Library).

Dr. Maria Chahrour, Ph.D., was featured in a UT Southwestern news release on studies about genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Read more here.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) recently published a news release on a study in The Lancet Psychiatry regarding magnetic seizure therapy (MST). The article, "Confirmatory efficacy and safety trial of magnetic seizure therapy versus right unilateral ultra-brief electroconvulsive therapy in depression (CREST–MST): a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial in Canada and the USA," followed a trial with more than 200 participants conducted by CAMH, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and University of California San Diego. UTSW researchers who worked on the trial and who were listed as co-authors of the paper included Dr. Shawn McClintock, Ph.D., Dr. Carol Tamminga, M.D., Dr. Kala Bailey, M.D., and Dr. Joshua Hubregsen, M.D.

Dr. Dwight German, Ph.D., was recently quoted in a Technology Networks article titled "Autism Diagnosis and Proteomics: Are Blood-Based Biomarkers Within Reach?" Read the story here.

NEW! Dr. Mallory Cash, M.D., has been honored with the Excellence in Clinical Ethics Award at Parkland Health. This recognition reflects her exceptional leadership, compassion, and dedication to addressing the complex ethical challenges that arise in patient care. Dr. Cash was honored for exemplifying excellence in education and communication surrounding clinical ethics.

Dr. Andrew Contreras

Dr. Nicholas 
Champagne-Aves

Dr. Sarah Elmer

Dr. Isreal "Blad" Munoz

Dr. Jennifer Oruebor

Dr. Thomas Pak

NEW! Six UT Southwestern Psychiatry Residents were selected for fellowships by the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Andrew Contreras, M.D., and Nicholas Champagne-Aves were selected for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Blad Munoz, M.D., was selected for the Diversity Leadership Fellowship. Dr. Sarah Elmer, M.D., was selected for the APA's Leadership Fellowship. Dr. Jennifer Oruebor, M.D., M.M.S., and Dr. Thomas Pak, M.D., Ph.D., were selected for the APA's SAMHSA/Vanguard Fellowship.

NEW! Reagan Volzer, CRC Lead for Dr. Sherwood Brown's team, received the Rising Star award at Clinical Research Professionals Day. The Rising Star award is given to a clinical researcher who shows exceptional growth, enthusiasm, and dedication in their role as a clinical research professional, demonstrates initiative and a willingness to take on new responsibilities or challenges, and has achieved notable milestones or accomplishments early in their career that reflect their potential as a future leader in clinical research. Her award was presented by Dr. Robert Toto, M.D.

NEW! Dr. Tope Adedolapo, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., has been appointed to two positions in the Texas Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section (TMA-RFS). He is now a TMA-RFS Representative on both the Council on Legislation and the Patient-Physician Advocacy Committee.

Dr. Adedolapo was also recently elected Chair of Assembly Committee of Resident-Fellow Memberss (ACORF) at the American Psychiatric Association.

NEW! This month's Golden Heart Award for Clinical Excellence goes to Libby Kay, M.S.S.W. The Golden Heart Award honors providers for their clinical excellence in service to meeting the needs of our patients.

NEW! Melita Gonzales, an acccountant with the Psychiatry Department, recently graduated Cum Laude from University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree (B.A.A.S.) with concentrations in Administration and Organizational Supervision.

NEW! Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., has been elected to the Momentous Institute's Board of Directors.

NEW! Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students Briana Johnson and Cecilia Lazcano have been awarded Erin Bain Jones Scholarships from the Dallas Woman’s Club Foundation.

Dr. Joel Elmquist, D.V.M., Ph.D., was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). This well-deserved honor is one of the highest forms of recognition for scientists in the United States. The NAS advises the federal government on matters of science and technology, and its members are active contributors to the international scientific community.

Dr. Elmquist is a Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Internal Medicine with secondary appointments in Psychiatry and Pharmacology. The Director of the Center for Hypothalamic Research, Dr. Elmquist has had a long-standing relationship with the Psychiatry Department since 2006. He worked alongside fellow NAS member Dr. Eric Nestler, M.D., Ph.D., the then-Psychiatry Chair and Drs. Jeffrey Zigman and Michael Lutter.  The team studied neuropeptides and peripheral hormones including ghrelin and leptin that control feeding behavior and mood. Dr. Elmquist has maintained his Psychiatry appointment since that time and his staff regularly attend Psychiatry Neuroscience WIPS.

Dr. Elmquist is an exceptional scientist and the Chair’s Office extends its formal congratulations to him on this honor. For those unfamiliar with Dr. Elmquist’s work and his history at UT Southwestern, please see this news release announcing his election to the NAS.

Dr. Jeff Schaffert, Ph.D., achieved American Board of Professional Psychology Specialty Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Dr. Adam Brenner, M.D., was recently elected Vice Chair of the Psychiatry Review Committee at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Savannah Dieste was honored with the 2026 Outstanding Student Dissertation Award at the Dallas Psychological Association's 70th Anniversary Gala. This award recognizes excellent scholarly achievement and the significance of her dissertation project titled "A Mixed Methods Study of Trauma and Family Factors in an Intensive Outpatient Program for Suicidal Adolescents." She is pictured here with fellow UTSW doctoral candidates Matt Hutnyan, Sarah Taghavi (current DPA Student Representative), and Vanessa Le. 

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Training Program in Clinical Psychology received the Dallas Psychological Association Pam Blumenthal Community Service Award on April 17. The DBT Clinical Training Program prepares doctoral students to provide Dialectical Behavior Therapy through the UT Southwestern Psychotherapy Clinic. Since its launch, approximately 36 trainees have completed their rotations and provided DBT interventions to more than 130 patients. Special thanks were given to program supervisors Dr. Brittany Hall, Ph.D., Dr. Jenny Hughes, Ph.D., M.P.H., Dr. Alex Foxwell, Ph.D., Dr. Chris Glowacki, Psy.D., Dr. Charlotte Haley, Ph.D., Dr. Kristin Wolfe, Ph.D., Dr. Angela Beard, Psy.D., and Dr. Christine Warren, Psy.D., as well as Dr. Betsy Kennard, Psy.D., and Dr. Richard Robinson, Ph.D., for their support as Program Directors.

NEW! Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists Drs. Kaylee Davis-Bordovsky, M.D., and Katherine Kerr, M.D., were two of the three delegates representing Texas at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Assembly in Washington D.C. They reported on current challenges facing Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in Texas to the AACAP Executive committee and collaborated with other states on opportunities for change and solutions to better serve patients.  

The Psychiatry Department was well-represented at the O'Donnell Brain Institute Annual Research Day on April 29. Dr. Anila D'Mello, Ph.D., gave the keynote address, "Little Brain, Big Impact: The Cerebellum in Health and Disease." Ekene Nwosisi-Oluwadamisi (pictured), a graduate student in Clinical Psychology, presented, "Mental Health Outcomes in Black and Latine Mothers of Autistic Children: Risk & Protective Factors.” Dr. Joseph Guillory, M.D., presented, “Peer-Led Recovery Support Following Psychiatric Discharge for Transitional Age Youth: A Randomized Pilot Study.”

Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, M.D., recently gave two presentations. He presented “Role of the Addiction Psychiatrist in the Transplant Process” at the 2026 UT Southwestern Liver Disease and Transplant Symposium Fort Worth, and “Addiction Medicine for the Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist” at the UT Southwestern 9th Annual Hepatology Update.

Dr. Hamed Ekhtiari, M.D., DFISAM, and Dr. Manish Jha, M.D., presented "TMS for Treatment of Addiction and Its Psychiatric Comorbidities: Safety and Efficacy" at the American Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Conference in San Diego on April 24.

Dr. Kehinde Obikoya, M.D., and Dr. Tope Adedolapo, M.D., M.B.A., recently presented on jail diversion and conducted workshops on solutions to the workforce shortages in Nebraska at the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) "B-Con" 2026 conference in Omaha, Nebraska. The pair addressed gaps in current jail diversion models including Sequential Intercept Model (SIM). Dr. Adedolapo credited Dr. Andrew Contreras, M.D., as "instrumental in contributing to the project." 

Dr. Adedolapo also gave a talk at the Metrocare ACER Spring Retreat titled "Beyond Passions – Why Desire Isn't Enough – And What actually D.R.I.V.E.S. Success," in which he described a model that helps achieve sustainable success while avoiding burnout.

Successfully Earn a K Award Workshop planned

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program will offer its Successfully Earn a K Award (SEAK) Workshop this summer and has opened up applications. The workshop will run from June 15 through Aug. 31. Applicants should have a K award under development with a mentor in place or a K award that is being revised for re-submission.

Participants will write sections of their grant application for review at each session, turning in a completed grant at the conclusion of the workshop, and taking part in a mock study section. The program is designed for early career faculty submitting a K01, K08, or K23 application in October 2026. Participants will need to be prepared to write the grant application at the beginning of the workshop. Space is limited. The application deadline is May 29.

Accessibility 101: The Why Behind the What

Accessibility 101 is an interactive, foundational session that broadly overviews accessibility in everyday work. Through real examples and guided discussion, explore why accessibility matters, what is expected by policy, and how to approach your documents, presentations, and meetings. The Zoom session repeats monthly at Noon on Wednesdays, and the grand rounds hiatus during the summer months may be a perfect opportunity for you to attend and grow your skills: June 10, July 8, and Aug. 12.

In-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds continue

Dr. Frederick Nucifora Ph.D., D.O., M.H.S., an Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, will present "Schizophrenia, subtyping and treatment resistance" at an in-person Psychiatry Grand Rounds from Noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. The presentation will be held in NG3.112 with a reception and food in NG3.108.

Don't miss your opportunity to learn from a visiting physician and educator. In-person attendance reflects well on the Psychiatry Department and offers you the opportunity to interact directly with the visiting speaker.