NEW! Welcome Back, Mariam Andersen!

We are delighted to announce that Mariam Andersen, M.A., CCRP has accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Clinical Research Infrastructure in the Department of Psychiatry and will join our Team on Nov. 1.

Mariam is no stranger to Psychiatry — in fact, this is where her UT Southwestern journey began in 2004 as a research coordinator. Since then, she has spent more than two decades building a career in clinical research leadership across neuroscience and academic medicine. Most recently, Mariam served as Associate Director of Research Administration within the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute and the Perot Foundation Neuroscience Translational Research Center (PNTRC), where she led large multidisciplinary research teams, advanced operational excellence, and helped launch institutional programs such as the Research Excellence Initiative to support collaborative and early-career investigator research.

In her new role, Mariam will partner with faculty, staff, and institutional leaders to strengthen our department’s clinical research infrastructure, promote collaboration, and support innovation across our diverse research programs.

Mariam shared, “It feels like coming home. Psychiatry is where I first discovered my passion for clinical research, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return and contribute to the next chapter of growth and discovery in this department.”

Please join us in welcoming Mariam back to Psychiatry!

NEW! A statement on the Faculty Senate being dissolved

Colleagues, it has been a pleasure serving as the department representative to the Faculty Senate for the past several years. In my time on the Faculty Senate, the group advocated for faculty on many important issues, including campus parking, streamlining HR processes, improving IRB timelines and clarity, and ensuring the voice of faculty was represented as the university transitioned from the older PTO system to the new “My Time” system. Consistent with a recently passed State Law, the UTSW Faculty Senate was disbanded effective Sept. 1, 2025. The UTSW administration is working closely with the UT System Board of Regents to create a new Faculty Senate consistent with the guidelines provided by the Legislature. Over the summer, the Faculty Senate worked to compile resources for faculty to utilize during this period without a Faculty Senate, and those resources are linked below. 

Best,

Dr. Adriane dela Cruz, M.D., Ph.D.

NEW! 2025 Faculty/Staff Retreat gets wild at the zoo

The Psychiatry Department Faculty/Staff Retreat at the Dallas Zoo was a smashing success, with 177 attendees bonding through teambuilding exercises, learning more about the essential work happening throughout the department, and enjoying a pleasant day outdoors. Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who planned this first-ever combined retreat.

NEW! Nutrition & Obesity Research Center (NORC) grant opportunity deadline is Nov. 12

In 2022, UT Southwestern was awarded a Nutrition and Obesity Research Center Grant (NORC) to support the large number of investigators at UT Southwestern conducting research in these important disease areas. As a part of this award, we have established a Pilot and Feasibility (P&F) granting opportunity for young investigators conducting research in fields related to obesity, metabolism, and nutrition. Four $50,000 awards are available. The deadline to submit a NORC grant application is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2025. For submissions and questions, contact UTSWNORC@utsouthwestern.edu.

NEW! Create a new email signature with this generator

The UTSW Brand Team has created a new email signature generation form. The purpose of an updated institutional email signature is to help maintain a consistent, professional brand image across the UT Southwestern community. The new signature will create a more professional and cohesive appearance, making it easier for recipients to find key contact details like your phone number, title, and mailing address. Please follow the instructions in the linked form below to generate your new signature via Redcap and upload it to Outlook. If you need assistance, please contact the UTSW Brand Team at brandidentity@utsouthwestern.edu. They are happy to help. Thank you for supporting brand continuity!

Texas medical license renewal includes new fingerprinting process

All doctors renewing their Texas medical licenses must follow a new fingerprinting process if they have not been fingerprinted since Jan. 15, 2018. Fingerprints must be processed by IdentoGo prior to renewal approval, which can take about 10 days, and a six-digit code created at the time of application must accompany their submission. Credentialing records cannot be updated until the new expiration date is reflected online, and the physician's ability to practice will be suspended if the license has not been renewed. The nearest IdentoGo location is at 1140 Empire Central Drive, Ste. 230, in Dallas, and is available by appointment only.

Presenting? Let the world know with this card

Presenting at a conference or other major event? Let others know about it by filling out a social media card. Social media cards are promoted through UT Southwestern's main channels and the Psychiatry X (Twitter) account. Share your information at least a week in advance to be sure that the card can be created in time for conference attendees to see it.

Children's Medical Center Dallas ranked among nation's top children's hospitals

Children’s Medical Center Dallas has once again been recognized among the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospital rankings. It is the only hospital in North Texas to be ranked in all 11 pediatric specialties evaluated by U.S. News, and one of only a select few nationwide to achieve this distinction. This marks the eighth consecutive year – and the 14th time since 2008 – that the hospital has earned recognition across every specialty area. The Behavioral Health program has again been ranked in the Top 50 programs nationally (no specific numerical ranking is provided for behavioral health programs).

UTSW Alerts share vital emergency information

Be prepared in case of an emergency event. UTSW Alert (Everbridge) is a tile in Employee Self Service that links to the external Everbridge website. Everbridge is a mass notification system used by UT Southwestern to notify registered employees to emergency events in and around campus. UT Southwestern has named this system UTSW Alert. On the Everbridge website, employees have the ability to view the current contact information registered with UTSW Alert, and to opt in and out of subscriptions specific to location and job role. Please note that you must log into the UTSW network to access these pages.

Have you donated to the State Employee Charitable Campaign? Time is running out for prizes

The State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) runs through Oct. 31. If you haven’t donated yet, now’s the perfect time to jump in. Not only will your contribution make a meaningful impact for the charity of your choice, but electronic donations through PeopleSoft or ConvergePay will enter you to win exciting prizes. You could win one of 50 prizes, including FC Dallas Fantasy Camp tickets, a Mavs facility tour, State Fair of Texas tickets, UT Southwestern branded items, and more! The earlier you donate, the better your chances of selecting your top prize from the lineup. Don't wait. Donate to your favorite cause now!

SOBP Junior Councilor nominations sought

The Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) will accept nominations for Junior Councilors through Monday, Oct. 20. Junior Councilors are non-voting members of SOBP's Council. They are integral to discussions during the monthly council conference calls and the extended in-person council meetings held in December and April/May of each year. Junior Councilors serve a two-year term which would begin on June 1 of the meeting year and end on May 31 two years later. The Council roster always includes two Junior Councilors. SOBP is looking to fill one position at this time. Contact the organization here with any questions about this position 

Apply for an O'Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Trainee Grant

Applications are now open for the O’Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant Program. The grants give trainees the opportunity to take an independent role in formulating and carrying out a new research question relevant to their ongoing study. Funding is intended to encourage creative, high-quality research that also advances the training of early career laboratory or clinical scientists. The maximum total funding per project is $25,000 and goes to support new ideas from trainees (graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, or clinical fellows) under the supervision of an OBI Investigator. All brain-related research areas are eligible. Preference will be given to proposals in the following areas:

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease
• Delineation and/or modulation of normal and disease-altered brain circuits

Covered individuals are required to complete mandatory research security training

Covered individuals listed on federal research and development awards are required to complete mandatory research security training by Dec. 1, 2025, or before submitting new Department of Energy (DOE) or National Science Foundation (NSF) applications. Individuals who must complete the training will be notified of specified training modules in Taleo. Those who are assigned must complete all four modules:

• Module 1: What is Research Security? 
• Module 2: International Collaboration 
• Module 3: Manage and Mitigate Risk 
• Module 4: Introduction to Export Controls 

Individuals who do not see the training modules in their Taleo learning plan requirements are not required to complete them at this time. For more information, please refer to the FAQ below, visit the Research Security webpage, or contact the team here with questions.

Faculty development opportunities abound

Faculty Affairs and Career Development offers multiple opportunities for faculty to improve their teaching and coaching skills, learn from other educators, network, and build on prior experience to succeed. The university's wellness initiatives may also be of interest. These efforts include support at a local level, self-care resources, well-being interventions, and coaching.

Applications open for Inspiring Careers in Mental Health internship program

Applications are now open for Inspiring Careers in Mental Health, a two-week summer internship for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and rising college first-years. The program provides students with overviews of a range of careers available in mental health. Participants learn about the breadth of work available in mental health in areas like psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and community psychiatry. 

NEW! Dr. Derek Bartlett, Ph.D., will serve in multiple roles in the UT Southwestern Psychiatry Department, including providing outpatient care in MSOPC, serving on the solid organ transplant teams (heart, liver, kidney, and lung), and working as a consult liaison psychologist at CUH. Dr. Bartlett earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Brigham Young University and completed both his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. His clinical background is in health psychology, with particular interests in transplant, chronic pain, biofeedback, insomnia, and cardiac conditions — including congenital and heart failure populations. He enjoys an eclectic mix of hobbies — from cooking and exploring new cuisines to playing music. He’s also an avid participant in recreational sports and physical activities, including swimming, aerial silks, volleyball, pickleball, and rock climbing. Dr. Bartlett recently relocated to Dallas with his spouse, 21-month-old son, and corgi.

NEW! Brianna Patricia Tancinco is a Licensed Master Social Worker and joins the department as a Clinical Social Work Fellow. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Dance in 2023 and master’s of Social Work in 2024 from Baylor University. She has experience in medical social work and clinical counseling settings. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, before to moving to Texas in 2019, she enjoys attending ballets and other performing arts, long walks, visits to coffee shops, and soaking up time with her friends and family.

NEW! Alexandra Davis is a Licensed Master Social Worker and joins the department as a Clinical Social Work Fellow. She earned a Master of Social Work with a specialty in Direct Practice with Children and Families from the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her Bachelor of Social Work in 2018 from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. Her experience includes child and family counseling, as well as case management roles in child welfare, adoptions, and adult mental health. Originally from Fort Worth, she is happy to be moving back to the DFW area to begin this new opportunity. 

NEW! Katie Blomberg graduated in August with her Master of Science in Psychology from Arizona State University. Her past research experience includes working with a private practice group in Arizona, focusing on compiling and presenting findings on ADHD in children. She has joined Dr. Graham Emslie's lab as a Clinical Research Assistant for TX-YDSRN and said she is excited to contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference!

Dr. Destiny Price, M.D., joins the department as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. She received her medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport and completed her General Psychiatry residency at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, followed by her Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia & Cornell. She will serve as an Adult Psychiatrist in the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Clinic in the Multispecialty Psychiatry Clinic at Empire Central. 

KE'Marvin (Kee) Pitts, LCSW, earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Troy University, where he also played Division I football for four years. He then completed his master's degree in Social Work at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. He worked as a therapist on the University of Southern California Sport Psychology team as well as a generalist therapist, supporting student-athletes and the wider student body. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, basketball, hiking, traveling, and dancing. He draws strength and direction from his faith and core values.

Sharon Davis, RN, graduated from South Plains College with an Associate Degree in Nursing in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through The University of Texas in Arlington. At UT Southwestern, she will work with the Multispecialty Psychiatric Clinic. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, and watching movies. She has a daughter who is currently in middle school.

NEW! A UT Southwestern news release recognized Dr. Jeffrey Zigman, M.D., Ph.D., for his study focused on nighttime hunger. The study findings, which were published in Cell Reports, indicate that activating specific neurons in a part of the brain that serves as the body's master circadian pacemaker causes mice to eat significantly more during a time of the day when they would normally be at rest.

Dr. Kipp Pietrantonio, Ph.D., ABPP, and Dr. Collin Vas, M.D., were featured in a MedBlog titled "Effective OCD treatment to quiet intrusive thoughts, control repetitive behaviors." The MedBlog includes information about causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder.

NEW! Dr. E. Sherwood Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., has been selected as a recipient of UT Southwestern's Special Grant Incentive (SGI) Award, which provides funding of $10,000. His sponsor agency is the NIH-National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Dr. Jane Foster, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2025 Charles Donovan Microbiome Prize at the APC Microbiome Ireland Annual Symposium in Cork, Ireland. The Donovan Prize was established in 2015 to acknowledge individuals who have made a significant contribution to microbiome science. Dr. Foster presented the Distinguished International APC lecture, “Microbes & mental health: Translating preclinical findings to the clinic,” at the symposium.

Psychology graduate student Leah Bullinger was awarded a National Academy of Neuropsychology 2025 Student Poster Award for "Sleep Difficulties After Concussion: Do Parents and Adolescents Agree?" It was one of the six highest rated posters this year. Congratulations to Leah, her research mentors, Dr. Munro Cullum and Dr. Stephen Bunt, Ed.D., and the ConTex research team!

The winner for the Golden Heart Award for Clinical Excellence for October is Ashanti Thomas, LMSW.

UT Southwestern's Neuropsychology testing team, including Dr. Munro Cullum, Ph.D., and his crew, led by Chief Psychometrist Leigh Hornberger, have been providing neuropsychological services for the Dallas Stars for more than 25 years. Recently, part of the team performed baseline testing as part of the NHL concussion program. 

Dr. Adriana Cabrales, Ph.D., a 2025 graduate of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, received the Texas Psychological Foundation's (TPF) Honoree Award, which recognizes outstanding original research projects. The award includes $1,000 to support research and academic pursuits.

Dr. Jennifer Coughlin, M.D., has been awarded a $4 million grant by the National Institute of Mental Health to study the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) in the brains of people with virally suppressed HIV. The CSF1R is a marker expressed by microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, and can be quantified across the brain using positron emission tomography (PET). This proposal will study the relationship between the neuroimmune response in select brain regions and performance in measures of cognitive control in treated HIV. 

Dr. Robin B. Jarrett, Ph.D., ABPP, has been named a 2025 Distinguished Alumnus by the Psychology Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In a congratulatory letter, the UNC Greensboro Psychology Department noted that the honor goes to those whose work has been visionary and transformative, specifically referencing Dr. Jarrett's work helping facilitate advances in the treatment of depression and relapse prevention in adults and youth, along with her scholarship, mentoring activities, global collaborations, and impact.

Dr. Abhisek Khandai, M.D., has been elected to Fellowship in the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Fellowship in the ACLP is one of the academy’s highest honors, recognizing members who have demonstrated sustained commitment to the academy and contributions to the field of consultation-liaison psychiatry as educators, researchers, administrators, and leaders. 

Lidia Ortiz, a Program Coordinator for the Psychiatry Department, won first place in the Creative Nonfiction Literary Work category of the 2025 On My Own Time™ (OMOT) Employee Art Show for her story "Nopalitos." She and the other winners have been invited to read their works aloud at Literary Night on Oct. 9 at the Dallas College Brazos Gallery. For more information about the contest, see the winning entries, and view more than 40 submissions, click on this link.

Bradley Cleaver, an Administrative Associate in the Psychiatry Department, was awarded first place in the Ceramics, Wood, & Glass-Professional category of the 2025 On My Own Time™ (OMOT) Employee Art Show for his sculpture, "Garden of Eyes." The piece is on display at an exhibition of OMOT work sponsored by the North Texas Business Council for the Arts at Northpark Mall in the Macy's courtyard area until Oct. 5.

NEW! Multiple UT Southwestern residents made presentations at the Association of Medicine and Psychiatry annual meeting, Oct. 9-11 in Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Melissa Dong, M.D., and Dr. Juan Carlos Zarate Jarquin, M.D., presented a poster titled, "Challenges to liver transplant in borderline personality disorder: A trauma response to a failed donor offer resulting in removal from the waitlist." Dr. Dong also served on a resident panel answering medical student questions about med/psych.

Dr. Stephanie Byun, M.D., presented a poster titled, "When estrogen goes awry: A case of perimenopausal psychosis," created in cooperation with Dr. Nicholas Champagne-Aves, M.D., and faculty member, Dr. Nikhil Dhawan, M.D. 

Dr. Ashley Ernst, M.D., presented a med/psych case titled, "An itch you can't scratch." This was one of the main conference sessions presented to all conference attendees. 

NEW! Dr. T. "Abby" Ortiz, M.D., presented "Bipolar Disorder as an Example of Nonlinear Dynamics of Mood Fluctuations," to more than 500 participants at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) in Amsterdam on Oct.12. The presentation was part of a symposium on network neuroscience and individualized medicine.

NEW! Dr. Kitzia Moreno, Ph.D., presented “Culturally Responsive Inpatient Interventions for Spanish-Speaking Patients” at the World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Dr. Tarek K. Rajji, M.D., joined a high-impact panel at the UN Science Summit on advancing mental health policy on a global stage in late September. The session was hosted by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. 

Dr. Snoben Kuruvila, DMS, MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psy presented at the THR Behavioral Health Grand Rounds in October on the topic "Novel Therapies for Individuals with Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use Disorder."

Dr. Elena Ivleva, M.D., Ph.D., chaired a session and delivered an invited presentation, “An Evidence-Based Roadmap to the Initial Management of First-Episode Psychosis (FEP): Focus on Early Interventions in Schizophrenia,” at the Psych Congress, 2025 in San Diego. The session provided a structured, evidence-based approach to the identification and management of first-episode psychosis, focusing on critical first patient encounters following diagnosis. Dr. Ivleva discussed up-to-date pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions, relapse prevention, and strategies for care coordination, ensuring that clinicians can deliver effective early intervention to support long-term recovery and functional stability. In addition, in partnership with Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance, the session incorporated a panel discussion with individuals with lived experience. Psych Congress 2025, the largest independent mental health conference, draws annually over 3,500 mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other mental health professionals who attend the event for practical, up-to-date psychopharmacology education.  

Dr. Alaa Hajeissa, M.D., a first-year Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, was selected to participate in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's (AACAP) System of Care Special Program Clinical Poster Award and Fellowship. He will be studying how legislation prohibiting the use of smartphones during instructional time impacts schoolchildren's academic performance and mental health. 

NEW! Ethics Grand Rounds: Katie Watson

The next Ethics Grand Rounds lecture will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from Noon-1 p.m. (CDT). The speaker will be Katie L. Watson, J.D., Professor of Medical Education, Medical Social Sciences, and Obstetrics and Gynecology and faculty for the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Graduate Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She will present "The Ethics of Access: Obstetrics Emergency Care and Reproductive Counseling after Dobbs." Click here for details about the lecture. For additional information about these lectures, please contact Ruth Vinciguerra 

From question to query: How to find and manage data at UTSW 

Have data questions but not sure where to begin? This Nov. 18 didactic session from noon-1 p.m. will walk you through the basics of finding, requesting and managing data at UTSW so you can spend less time feeling stuck and more time moving your research forward. You will learn what types of data are available at UTSW and who to ask about them. It will help you understand the basic process for requesting data and getting support. Get familiar with campus resources that can help manage and organize your data. Get tips on how to properly manage your data. The organizers say the session is perfect for researchers at any stage who want to make the most of the data resources around them. A recording will be available for those who register but cannot attend.

Introducing the ENACT Network: Powering the next wave of multisite research

The Clinical and Translational Science (CTSA) Award program will present a webinar about the ENACT Network on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from Noon-1 p.m. The webinar will focus on ways that the platform can assist principal investigators, research coordinators, statisticians, and clinical research staff in developing and managing multisite research studies. Discussion topics include navigating the platform, building cohorts, and executive data queries for collaborative research.

Psychiatry Department Town Hall Meeting

The next Psychiatry Department Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3, Noon-1 p.m. via Zoom. Watch your calendar for the Zoom link.