Of course, I am delighted with these results, since medical students applying to psychiatry look at these lists, and this position will be a boon to our recruitment efforts. Thank you very much to every one of you who voted!

But I am also reminded that these surveys are measures of reputation, not of actual quality. The quality of the program is a continual work in progress that rests on the dedication of countless faculty and administrative staff listening and responding to the experience of the residents.

Those efforts are led by our Education Manager, Tameka Ellis, Associate Program Directors Tim Wolff, Lia Thomas, Molly Camp, Adriane Dela Cruz, and Pedro Fernandez, and Chief Residents Darlene King and Alexis Kropf. We constantly remind our residents to "never worry alone." I am grateful to have this amazing leadership team “worrying” about the program with me!

Karen Duong, D.O., Education Division, Rural and Public Mental Health Track

Lucy Palmer, Ph.D., Tamminga Lab

Michael Rafferty, M.D., University Hospital Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Katrine Christensen – Senior Administrative Assistant, Neuroscience

Heather Gerling – Public Education Community Outreach Coordinator

Brittany Wright, a Ph.D. student in the Applied Clinical Research Program, won the Best Student Translational Neuropsychology Poster from the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology.

Clinical psychology graduate student Monica Garza Saenz presented timely work from UT Southwestern and Children’s Health as an American Psychological Association Poster titled "Self-reported COVID-19 Impact on Maternal Visitation in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit."

BvB Dallas, a non-profit organization for young professionals that raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease research and supports organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was founded in 2008 to honor and remember loved ones who have suffered from Alzheimer’s and related diseases. Each year BvB Dallas hosts fundraising and educational events to help eradicate this grave disease, culminating in its flagship event: a football game between the Blue Crew and Pink Team (pictures below).

Laura Lacritz, Ph.D., has received funding from BvB Dallas since 2016 to support the UT Southwestern BvB Dallas Neuropsychology of Dementia Post-Doctoral Fellowship, which has graduated two fellows, Christian LoBue, Ph.D., and Anne Carlew, Ph.D., both now faculty in our department. Saranya Patel, Ph.D., is the current UT Southwestern BvB Fellow, receiving specialized training in neuropsychology, with an emphasis on dementia, and protected time for research.

The Panel Discussion Seizing the Opportunity: What the Pandemic Has Taught Us about Mental Health in Minority Populations and How to Continue the Conversation was held on July 27, 2021, as a starting point to mitigate the ongoing stigma, barriers, and access to mental health in minority populations. Click on the links below to watch a recording of the event and access Minority Mental Health Awareness tools.

The Clinical Research Engagement Workgroup (CREW) is a monthly meeting of clinical, as well as some preclinical, researchers. The meetings will resume in September. They will, for the time being, use Zoom and generally take place on the first Friday of the month 12:00-1:00pm (e.g., September 3). The format and content are flexible and designed to meet the needs of the presenter. Problems and ideas are presented (e.g., a grant or manuscript submission, initial research idea that needs development) and attendees provide feedback. It is a useful forum for receiving feedback on ideas about grants, manuscripts or other issues related to scholarly activity. Presenters are only asked to bring a problem they need help with. Attendees listen and provide feedback. Clinical researchers, as well as clinicians, trainees and others are all very welcome to participate. We only ask that participants try to attend the majority of meetings. If you are interested in joining this workgroup please contact Sherwood Brown, Vice Chair for Clinical Research.

The LEAD program is designed for junior faculty who aspire to develop their leadership skills. Assistant professors (all years in rank) and associate professors (less than 4 years in rank) are eligible to apply. Applications open September 7.

Recently appointed assistant professors in the tenure-accruing track present 10-minute lectures about their research. The forum introduces new faculty to the UTSW academic community and provides the opportunity to showcase research and spark interdisciplinary collaborations. The annual event takes place September 14, 1:00pm-4:15pm and September 29, 1:00pm-4:15pm.

The SUCCESS program helps clinician faculty build knowledge and skills for success in Clinical Excellence, Educational Effectiveness, Scholarly Productivity, and Professionalism and Institutional Citizenship. The two-part program is scheduled for September 21, 8am-12pm, and September 28, 12:30pm-5pm. For more information, contact the Office of Faculty Development.