Now that we have solidly moved into the New Year, I have been developing goals for the Department of Psychiatry in 2022.
Very high on the list is the development, with the State of Texas, of the plan for the new State-Funded Psychiatric Hospital at UT Southwestern. The delivery of a letter from Dr. Podolsky to join the Psychiatric Hospital Executive Committee concretized this process. You will hear me catching you up on the developments in this hospital over the course of the year.
Other Top-of-List Topics for Psychiatry in 2022:
- Elevating the Department’s reputation in US News and World Report
- Enhancing our forward-looking Education programs, including the Residencies and Fellowships for the new State-Funded Psychiatric Hospital and the new Triple Board Program in Pediatrics
- Increasing the publication record for our faculty overall
- Establishing the Department of Psychiatry Diversity Program with a new Vice Chair of Diversity. More information to come next month about this item!
--Carol A. Tamminga, M.D.
Department Chair
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In This Issue
Quarterly Town Halls -- Spotlight on Madabhushi and Kitamura Labs -- OBI Clinical Neuroscience Scholars Award -- Faculty Openings -- Meet the Psychiatry Department Finance Team -- Welcome New Faculty and Staff -- CL and CAP Fellowships Filled -- Awards and Accomplishments -- Call for Faculty Facilitators for Medical Student Clerkship Antiracism Workshop -- Upcoming Events
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Quarterly Town Halls in 2022 |
Our next Psychiatry Department
Town Hall will be held via Zoom at
12pm Wednesday, February 2.
Reach out with your ideas for topics to cover or questions to be addressed! Email Robbin by January 31 or click on the link to submit your items for discussion in February.
(Future dates May 4, August 3, November 2)
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Spotlight on Faculty Laboratories |
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The lab of Ram Madabhushi, Ph.D., studies how genome stability and chromatin dynamics affect neuronal functions (e.g., learning behaviors) and how disruption of these processes leads to brain diseases and cancer. They discovered that neuronal activity causes formation of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) at specific genomic sites. They identified two distinct mechanisms that control the timing and position of neuronal activity-induced DSBs. They have developed new methodologies to assess genome-wide distribution of torsional stress (which provides the impetus for key chromatin structural changes following neuronal activity), new methods to map genome-wide hotspots of topoisomerases (which manage torsional stress within the genome), and assays to assess mechanisms and repair fidelity of activity-induced DSBs. Insights gained from these studies have significant applications for understanding how chromatin configuration shapes neuronal functions in the aging brain, neurological disorders (e.g., addiction), and mechanisms that lead to recurrent gene fusions in various cancers. |
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The lab of Takashi Kitamura, Ph.D., examines a biophysically based and mechanistic understanding of neural process for episodic memory formation in the rodent brain by linking the elementary information processing and storage mechanisms of individual neurons and their microcircuits to animal behaviors in the entorhinal cortical hippocampal (EC-HPC) network. The formation and maintenance of long-term memories for episodes are important for daily life, and malfunctions of learning and memory represent well-described findings in human patients suffering from schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. In humans and animals, episodic memory requires the concerted association of objects, individual, space and time coordinated by the EC-HPC network. They are studying how the EC-HPC network completes episodic memory by using calcium imaging, viral-tracing, electrophysiological recording, and cell-type specific manipulation of neural activity both in vivo and in vitro and by examining the neural mechanisms of emotional empathy in mice. |
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OBI Clinical Neuroscience Scholars Award |
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The O’Donnell Brain Institute is accepting applications for the Clinical Neuroscience Scholars Award, which provides $1M in funding over 5 years to be used for teaching, patient-centered research, development of a specialized clinical program, or related activities. Applications can be submitted anytime between now and February 28, 2022. The candidate statement (recommended length 1-2 pages) should convey the candidate’s past/current interests and how these inform future goals/activities and be clear about the proposed training/research that the funding would support. |
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We have many opportunities!
for current openings.
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Meet the Psychiatry Department Finance Team |
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Left to right top: Beatriz Bueno -- Prapti Buch -- Melita Gonzales; bottom: Wei Song -- Rebecca Harder -- Prem Babbili -- Omar Plata Vargas -- Rachel Huang |
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Children's
- Juliana Alba-Suarez, Ph.D.
- Ranya Alnatour, Psy.D.
- Alicia Wheelington, Ph.D.
- Kristin Wolfe, Ph.D.
VA
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- Chandra Ferrell, Administrative Associate, Parkland Services
- Ana Castillo, Psychometrist I, Psychology
- Ingrid Tames, Clinical Data Specialist, Psychology
- Colton Clark, Clinic Staff Assistant I, NeuroPsych Clinic
- Aymun Rahim, Research Assistant II, NeuroScience
Mood Disorders
- Elizabeth Luginbyhl, Clinical Research Coordinator
- Karina Rikhani, Clinical Research Coordinator
- Eric Salas, Clinical Research Coordinator
- Shane Snyder, Clinical Research Coordinator
- Brindejett Sidhu, Research RN
- Mayra Ramos, Research Study Coordinator
- Amanda Campbell, Program Coordinator
- Carole Scott-Morgan, Program Coordinator
- Susan Siren, Program Coordinator
- Adrienne Mays, Learning Supervisor
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CL and CAP Fellowships Filled |
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We are excited to announce that we filled our two positions in the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Match on January 5, with two outstanding applicants! Juliann Tea completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine. She is the daughter of refugees who escaped Cambodia and a first generation college student in her family. She has been chief resident in psychiatry at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston, enjoys teaching and presenting academic work at conferences, and is interested in a career in academic CL psychiatry to continue teaching and doing research. Do Gwak completed medical school at the University of Vermont and residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington DC. He grew up in South Korea before immigrating to the US with his family. He has been chief resident in psychiatry and a representative to the GME Committee. He is interested in a career in academic CL psychiatry to continue pursuing his passion for learning, which he describes as being similar to how he felt as “an 8-year-old boy in a bookstore.” |
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We also filled all our positions in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Match! We will welcome 9 Fellows in the coming year (pictured below). Our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship is the largest in Texas and one of the five largest programs in the US! We look forward to profiling the new child fellows in a future issue of our newsletter.
New 2022 CAP Fellows
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Awards and Accomplishments |
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Joseph Guillory, M.D., a recent graduate of the UT Southwestern adult psychiatry residency program and a current fellow in the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship program, has been elected to serve as Vice President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness North Texas Board of Directors. |
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NIDA Start-Up Challenge Winners
The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded Drs. King and Marambage a $10,000 grant for a “Tamper-Resistant IV Line Clamp to Prevent Diversion”
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Laura Howe-Martin, Ph.D., was elected Vice Chair / Chair-Elect for the American Psychological Association (APA) Continuing Education Committee, which develops policy and program recommendations for APA's continuing professional education program and works with the APA Office of Continuing Education Sponsor Approval to implement recommendations. The APA Continuing Education Committee also is seeking psychologist nominations for four open terms that will begin in 2023 and last 3 years ( more information). |
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The following faculty members all received the Texas Psychological Association's President's Award for their work as TPA Committee Chairs. |
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Alice Ann Holland, Ph.D., Chair of TPA Elections Committee |
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Christian LoBue, Ph.D., Chair of TPA Science Committee |
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Kimberly Roaten, Ph.D., Chair of TPA Governance Committee |
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The Milbank Quarterly, a leading international health policy journal, has recognized John Sadler, M.D., as an Outstanding Reviewer. This award honors reviewers who have provided high quality, thoughtful, and timely comments for the Quarterly, chosen by consensus of the editors. |
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Never Too Old for Fun and Games |
Molly Camp, M.D., was interviewed for an article by the Silver Century Foundation.
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Call for Faculty Facilitators for
Medical Student Clerkship Antiracism Workshop
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October 2021 retreat attendees had the opportunity to participate in the antiracism workshop Racism: A Black Mental Health Crisis, which was an abridged version of the mandatory workshop that runs in the Psychiatry Clerkship. Faculty, fellows, residents, and students help facilitate the workshop, and we invite more faculty to sign on as facilitators.
The workshop runs about every 6 weeks, on cycle with the clerkship rotation, Tuesdays, 2-4:30pm in the D Auditoriums on South Campus (the February session will run virtually given the pandemic's surge). Interested faculty would receive the scheduled dates in order to select sessions that work with their schedules.
Facilitator Responsibilities:
• Before the workshop, read and prepare content using the Facilitator Manual (all content, prep work, and support resources are provided)
• Before the workshop, complete pre-workshop material about a week before assigned session (outlined in the facilitator manual)
• During the workshop, guide participants in small groups (about 7-10 participants) during the two breakout sessions of the workshop. There will usually be two facilitators per small group (all content and guiding questions are provided)
• *Optional: you can choose to lead the entire workshop
If you are interested in signing on as a facilitator, please email Drs. Rachel Russo, Sarah Baker, and Dani Morelli. A facilitator orientation/refresher will be arranged, and faculty are welcome to attend any of the remaining workshops as a participant to see how it runs before they would facilitate.
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Join facilitated conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster anti-racism, mutual growth, empowerment, respect, and empathy within the Department of Psychiatry.
Registration is requested for planning purposes.
Next Session:
Thursday, January 20, at 1 PM
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Future Sessions
February 17, 2PM -- March 18, 12PM -- April 21, 1PM -- May 19, 2PM
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The application period for the 2022 High School Student Internship "Inspiring Careers in Mental Health" will end February 7.
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January 24 and 31 Psychiatry Neuroscience Recruitment Seminars |
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Prefrontal Top-Down Regulation of Hippocampal Circuit Dynamics
Speaker: Ruchi Malik, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California San Francisco
When: Monday, January 24, 9am
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High Society and Hormones: Control of Caste Identity in Ants
Speaker: Janko Gospocic, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, Medical Center-University of Freiburg
When: Monday, January 31, 9am
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January 26 Psychiatry Grand Rounds |
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Augustus John Rush, M.D., presents a Faculty Development session on Case Reports: Why, How, and Why Not via Zoom at noon. More details coming soon! |
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February 8 Ethics Grand Rounds |
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What Makes the Use of Biospecimens (and Other Health Data) Ethical?
Let the Public Speak
Raymond De Vries, Ph.D.
Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine
University of Michigan Medical School
While there is no registration fee, participants must register to attend. The Zoom event ID and link to join the webinar will be emailed upon registration.
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February 10 Virtual Symposium
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Havana Syndrome: Medical, Scientific, and Policy Perspectives will examine the role of clinical and basic science research in understanding Havana Syndrome and highlight the importance of partnerships between US government entities and academic medical centers in addressing complex, 21st-century biomedical challenges. (Illustration by Adrià Fruitós)
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Save the Date
UTSW Psychiatry Team Confabulous
NAMI North Texas Walk
Saturday, May 21, Rough Riders Stadium, Frisco, 9-11:30am
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Tentatively scheduled for in person but subject to change based on public health conditions. More details on how to join the department's team coming in March! |
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THURSDAY, JAN 20
O'Donnell Brain Institute Seminar
Title: "Intracortical brain-computer interfaces to restore arm and hand function"
When: Thursday, January 20, 10 a.m.
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