U.S. News and World Report Survey and Voting

The USNWR Best Hospitals survey is now available on Doximity.

Key details:

• Voting is open to board-certified physicians in psychiatry (as well as the other adult and pediatric specialties).
• To begin the survey, log in to your profile through doximity.com or the Doximity app and click the U.S. News icon or button.
• If you are not registered on Doximity, please claim your profile. An email should then be sent inviting you to vote. If you do not receive a message, you can still log in through doximity.com or use the app to participate.
• Keep in mind that, based on the methodology U.S. News applies, voting for a single hospital has a greater impact than choosing more than one.

TCMHCC New and Emerging Children's Mental Health Researchers Initiative Funding Opportunity

The New and Emerging Children’s Mental Health Research (NECMHR) initiative is designed to foster and mentor junior researchers and trainees at TCMHCC institutions so that they can become successful mental health researchers. Pre-application instructions will be coming soon. Below are the 3-types of grant opportunities that will be available for FY2026/27:

1. Post-doctoral Fellow and Trainee
2. Research Career Development
3. Research Project

Key Dates:

• RFA Release date – Monday, March 3, 2025
• Grant Software Available – Monday, March 10, 2025
• Deadline for pre-application – Friday, March 28, 2025
• Full Application invitations – Monday, April 7, 2025
• Application deadline – Friday, May 16, 2025
• Notify candidates of conditional award – Friday, July 25, 2025

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Grant

The BBRF Young Investigator Grant program offers up to $35,000 a year for up to two years to enable promising investigators to either extend their research fellowship training or to begin careers as independent research faculty.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants may apply twice for their first YI Grant and only once more if previously awarded.
• A maximum of two YI Grants can be awarded per researcher.
• Applicants must hold a doctoral-level degree (e.g., M.D., Ph.D., Psy.D.) and be in advanced postdoctoral training or a faculty position.
• Research must primarily focus on psychiatric disorders (transdiagnostic designs welcome).
• Some disorders such as Autism, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease are supported by BBRF only if primary psychiatric disorders are included in the research design. Transdiagnostic designs involving several disorders are welcome.

Application deadline: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Grant Review Workshop

UTSW currently offers workshops for new investigators applying for R01 (SOAR) and K awards (SEAK). These programs include approximately eight virtual sessions and a mock study section, with grant sections reviewed collaboratively by facilitators and peers. We encourage faculty to consider applying to these programs. However, enrollment is limited due to the structure of the programs.

To address the need for more Psychiatry investigators to participate in this type of program, the department will introduce a similar workshop tailored for its investigators. This initiative aims to increase participation and provide support for a broader range of grant types, including those submitted by more experienced investigators.

Key details:

• Eight 90-minute sessions, beginning the week of March 17, 2025.
• The exact day and time will be arranged after participants have been identified. The sessions will include review of specific aims, research strategy, training plans for K award applicants, NIH biosketches and other sections, culminating with a mock study section review of the applications
• Applicable to NIH, DOD, and other federal or foundation grants submitted on or after June 1, 2025. Investigators submitting other types of grants who want to participate will also be included on a case-by-case basis.
• Participants will submit grant sections (e.g., background, research strategy) to the facilitator and a peer reviewer at least 48 hours before each session.
• Both verbal and written feedback will be provided by a facilitator and peer (another participant).

Internal Grant Review for New Applications

Receiving constructive feedback on grant applications prior to submission is invaluable for all investigators, particularly for those new to the process. Departments of Psychiatry with the highest levels of NIH funding often employ similar practices. To foster success, our department will implement a formal review process. This review will be mandatory for those meeting the definition of a NIH New Investigator (grant applicants who have not yet competed successfully for a substantial, competing NIH research grant) and optional for others.

Key details:

• Applicable to NIH, DOD, and other federal grants submitted on or after June 1, 2025.
• A nearly complete application (not a rough draft) must be submitted electronically at least 30 days prior to the grant's due date.
• Relevant grant details (e.g., PAR or other guidance documents) should accompany the submission.
• Applications will undergo peer review by at least two faculty members in Psychiatry. Based on the topic, reviewers may also include faculty from other UTSW departments or external institutions.
• A written critique will be provided within 10 calendar days.

Note: Participation in the Grant Review Workshop above satisfies the pre-submission review requirement for new investigators. However, investigators are encouraged to engage in both for comprehensive support.

View Our Open Faculty Positions

Temitope Adedolapo, M.D., was selected to present at the 2025 Dewitt C. Alfred, MD Psychiatric Symposium at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Molly Camp, M.D. was elected to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Board of Directors.

Oscar Kronenberger, a graduate student in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, received a Best Research Award for his poster Montreal Cognitive Assessment Memory Scores and Alzheimer's Disease Pathological Change at the TARCC Symposium.

The Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology held its annual interview day where top-ranked applicants are invited to visit. It was a highly competitive process, and we received more than 330 applications. The admissions committee, led by Drs. Laura Lacritz and Alex Foxwell, is in the process of making offers to the top candidates. The program, now in its sixth decade of training outstanding clinical psychologists, is directed by Richard C. Robinson, PhD, and the Director of Clinical Training is Veronica Bordes Edgar, PhD. Thanks to all faculty, staff and current students who volunteered their time to make the 2025 interview day a success!

Tammy Young, M.B.A., graduated from the UT Southwestern Aspiring Leaders Program on February 7.

Kathy Niu, M.D., is a dual-boarded Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Niu is the Program Director of the Neurology-Psychiatry Combined Residency Program at the medical school and has a strong interest in neuropsychiatry education. After medical school at Vanderbilt University, she completed residency at the Combined Neurology/Psychiatry program at UMass Chan. Her clinical work includes a neuropsychiatry clinic at Empire Central and a general neurology clinic at Aston, where she supervises residents and medical students.

Brianna Minshall, Ph.D., graduated from Miami University with degrees in Psychology and Neuroscience. She is a Scientific Research Writer and will be working to help researchers get their manuscripts published in scientific journals and obtain grant funding for the Texas Youth Depression & Suicide Research Network and the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care.

Shannon Davis is the new Education Coordinator who will be working directly with Dr. Brenner as his executive liaison. Shannon has an extensive background as a healthcare administrative professional, as well as in clinical training and development.

Kitzia Moreno, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in counseling psychology at Texas Woman's University. During her clinical internship at the University of Buffalo, she worked with patients across the lifespan, addressing serious mental illness in outpatient, inpatient, and forensic settings. She completed a fellowship focused on the psychological assessment of diagnostically complex youth at Children’s Health. At Parkland Health, she will serve as a Clinical Psychologist in the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.

Camara Watson has a bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern University in Business andAccounting, an MBA from Oklahoma City University, and is an Air Force veteran. Her career began in corporate finance and training. She then transitioned into teaching where she taught middle school math and science for over 15 years. She joined UT Southwestern’s Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) team as a training specialist where she will be helping to facilitate groups and educate young people about the importance of good mental health.

Nana Agyemang, LMSW, graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work and a minor in substance use treatment from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2021. In 2023, she earned her Master of Social Work. At UTSW, she will be working with the social work team as a case manager. Nana is detail-oriented and seeks knowledge through continuous learning, professional development, and educational opportunities in her field. She is happily married and is a mother to two young adults. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, trying new recipes, and dancing.

Donald Egan, M.D., Darlene King, M.D., Tarek Rajji, M.D., and Joseph Guillory, M.D., attended the American College of Psychiatry Annual Meeting in Kauai, Hawaii. Dr. King served as an expert panelist for the Ethics of Using AI in Psychiatry discussion.

Our department had another impressive showing at the International Neuropsychological Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans, with multiple posters and invited talks by faculty as well as psychology graduate students, interns, and postdoctoral residents. View the photos.

Mental Health Advocacy Day

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Austin, Texas

This event is a great way to learn about advocacy and to meet with state representatives during the 2025 Texas legislative session about issues related to psychiatry. 

This event will be all day and starting early in the morning (time TBD). Email Dr. Lessley Chiriboga for more information and details regarding transportation.

Ethics Grand Rounds

Tuesday, March 11, 2025; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

Polygenic Embryo Screening: Ethical Challenges

Vardit Ravitsky, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of The Hastings Center

Metrocare Inaugural Research Symposium

Friday, April 11, 2025; 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Pegasus Park

As a part of Metrocare, The Altshuler Center for Education and Research (ACER) conducts and supports clinical research in real-world settings, driving treatment innovations that bring renewed hope to those in public mental health. The Symposium is open to students and professionals interested in sharing their research projects with the community.

Women's Health Research Initiative Spring Forum

Thursday, April 17, 2025; 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

South Campus: D1.602

The Women’s Health Research Initiative is a new interdisciplinary effort designed to connect basic, translational, and clinical researchers around common themes in women’s health. This forum is an opportunity to showcase the ongoing work in Women’s Health Research and provide a chance for members of the community to interact.