It was good to see many of our faculty and staff at this year’s annual meeting on June 15. We had a chance to reflect on many of the exciting things going on in our department, and I will call out just a few of them here. Please refer to our annual meeting slides or a video of the meeting to learn about all of the fantastic work and opportunities that were mentioned.
Congratulations to our faculty who are being promoted this year and to faculty and staff who received awards for their outstanding work. Thanks again to all of our faculty and staff for your contributions to the department during another challenging pandemic year and for supporting each other in our work together!
We announced the launch of new Physician Scientist Training Program for residents and fellows interested in research in partnership with a faculty mentor, the launch of a new round of Innovation Grants supported by the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions focused on adolescent and young adult mental health, the development of a new fellowship training program in Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry, and the relaunch of our Staff Scholarship Award for individuals and teams to pursue professional development opportunities. We also announced the expansion at UWMC Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic at Roosevelt to accommodate faculty and residency growth and to serve more patients in need, the topping out ceremony of our new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility at UWMC Northwest, and several active faculty and staff recruitments to support our continued growth. I invite all of you to help us with networking to attract a great slate of potential candidates for these positions.
Mark Snowden, MD, MPH, Jamie Adachi, MPH, and Binyam Abraham provided an update on our department’s work on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Madeline Grant and Lauren Baba talked to us about government relations, and we will be scheduling a workshop to focus on our efforts in this area sometime in the fall. Paul Borghesani, MD, PhD, Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD, and Ty Lostutter, PhD, gave an overview of the new world of virtual recruitment and the strategies they are using to reduce disparities and bias in our training programs. Over the past week, we celebrated graduation for an outstanding group of psychiatry and psychology residents and fellows and we are welcoming a new cohort of residents and fellows who are joining us here at UW this summer.
We also announced that Ali Iqbal, MBA, is stepping down from his role as Vice Chair for Finance and Administration to start a new leadership position with UW Medical Center. I want to express my deep appreciation for all that Ali has done for our faculty, staff and programs during his six years with our department and I wish him all the best for his next steps.
I hope to see many of you at our department picnic on July 19 from 4-7 PM or at a second picnic scheduled for later this summer (September date to be announced). As in earlier years, we will take two months off from writing a newsletter this summer and we will resume once again this fall. I hope you and your families will have a great summer!
Jürgen
Christine Yuodelis-Flores to retire after 30+ years of service After 30+ years at the University of Washington School of Medicine, associate professor Christine Yuodelis-Flores, MD, will retire at the end of this month.
Dr. Yuodelis-Flores earned her MD at the University of Washington and is board certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. She has served over ten years as the medical director of Psychiatry at the Madison Clinic at Harborview which offers medical care and social services for persons living with HIV/AIDS, including psychiatric consultations, medication management and recommendations for continued psychiatric care. In this role, she has coordinated services from psychiatrists, psychologists, and integrated care managers. She has trained numerous psychiatry residents, fellows and junior faculty in the care of this complex patient population. Additionally, Dr. Yuodelis-Flores worked with the addictions program at Harborview, and with the recovery services program of the mental health center. She spent many years as the consultant psychiatrist with the Healthcare for the Homeless team working out of the Downtown Emergency Services Center shelter and at Pioneer Square Clinic. She is known for her ability to engage and partner with her patients who often don't trust behavioral health or medical providers and has treated some patients for decades. We are immensely grateful for her contributions as a wonderful clinician, colleague, and teacher on virtually every clinical service at Harborview Medical Center over the years.
Vice Chair transition Ali Iqbal, MBA, will be stepping down as Vice Chair of Finance and Administration of our department on July 24 and starting a new leadership position at UW Medicine Finance based at UW Medical Center on July 25. Ali has been an outstanding team member and a wonderful partner in our efforts to grow the department’s clinical, training and research programs over the past six years. Please join us in thanking and congratulating Ali on his new role! We are grateful to him for his contributions to the Department and the School of Medicine and we are pleased that he will continue as a valued member of the UW Medicine community.
We are launching a search for a new Vice Chair for Administration and Finance and we look forward to identifying an outstanding candidate for this important role over the coming months. During the transition period, we have asked Heather Glansbeek, MBA, Associate Director of Clinical and Education Finance, to serve in the role of Interim Vice Chair for Finance and Administration. Heather will work closely with the Chair’s Office and have additional support from Danae Hollowed in the Dean’s Office consulting group.
Please reach out to Dr. Unützer or Angela Moore, MPH, Associate Dean for Administration and Operations, if you have any questions or suggestions related to this search.
American Psychiatric Association honors Senator Manka Dhingra The American Psychiatric Association conferred the highest award it gives a public servant, the Jacob K. Javits Public Service Award, to Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) at an event jointly hosted by the Washington State Psychiatric Society, the Washington State Medical Association and NAMI Washington. Sen. Dhingra is being honored for her tireless dedication to ensuring patients, families, and communities have access to the best possible mental health care from well-trained, high-quality providers.
“Psychiatrists simply cannot be as effective as they are without the tireless work of mental health champions like Sen. Dhingra,” said Thomas Soeprono, MD, president of the Washington State Psychiatric Association. “She has strengthened community transitions, eased integration with the Involuntary Treatment Act, and established a statewide Office for Behavioral Health Ombuds, all huge accomplishments that empower our work to reach the vulnerable mentally ill.” Read more.
Help us recruit!
Over the next few years, we will have tremendous opportunities for growing our clinical, research and training programs, and we are asking for your help with identifying additional faculty and staff to join our team. Please reach out to Staci Guerrero or Becky Sladek if you have a chance to recruit at conferences or other venues or if you can help with networking to identify potential candidates for our active recruitments. Below is a partial list:
Garvey Family Endowed Professorship for Technology and Brain Health (focus on neuromodulation)
Tim B. Engle Endowed Professorship for Brain Health Innovations (focus on cognitive aging)
Schaie Endowed Professorship in Cognitive Aging
Faculty Director for new Clinician Scientist Training Program (internal search)
Psychiatry Residency Program Director
HMC: MD/DO faculty and PhD faculty, inpatient and outpatient programs
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: MD/DO faculty and PhD faculty
Seattle Children’s: up to 7 recruitments (TBA) for MD/DO faculty and PhD faculty
UW Primary Care: Collaborative Care psychiatrist(s)
Vice Chair, Finance and Administration, Department
Assistant Director, Communications, Department
Please help us welcome our new faculty and staff! Yesenia Navarro Aguirre joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Study Coordinator working with the Maternal-Child Mental Health program (MCMH). Yesenia will be helping with various research projects. Yesenia is a native Spanish speaker and will be using her language skills to support the MCMH program as needed. She is a graduate of the UW with majors in Human Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology of Globalization. Yesenia is passionate about infectious diseases specifically exploring how pathogens specialize through adaptation into high virulence throughout human history. In 2018, she was granted a Student Fulbright Research Fellowship Award to conduct Tuberculosis research in Lima, Peru. This experience expanded her understanding of antibiotic resistance and offered a newfound calling for infectious disease modeling. Yesenia is currently a PhD student in the Biological Anthropology Program at the UW. She is excited to work in the department as she wishes to broaden her knowledge of community-centered research, in the United States and globally. Outside of work, Yesenia enjoys going out to dance, specifically Latin dancing! Her favorites are cumbia and salsa dancing. If you would like to reach out to Yesenia and say hello, her email is yesenn@uw.edu.
Derek Ban joined the department in June 2022 as a Student Assistant in the Zweifel lab under post doc Barbara Juarez. This is the first lab Derek has worked with. Derek recently received his BS in Neuroscience from the University of Washington. He will be staying another two quarters to finish his minor in Global Health. Outside of work, Derek loves both dance and singing and is a songwriter in his free time, both great outlets emotionally and creatively. He also loves basketball and training MMA, both Muay Thai and Jiujitsu. If you would like to reach out to Derek and say hello, his email is derekban@uw.edu.
Lauryn Daniels joined the department in June 2022 as a Student Assistant at the CoLab where she will be helping with various current projects. Lauryn attended school in Washington state her entire life. She was born and raised in Lacey, Washington and attended Timberline High School. Then, of course, she decided to continue her post secondary education at the University of Washington in Seattle. Lauryn came into UW last year as a freshman with her heart set on Psychology. She has a passion for mental health work and social justice which led her to the Sociology Department, believing she would double major with the two. By the end of the year she was applying to the Social Welfare major, and now she has completed her first year in the BASW program which has proved a great fit that she thoroughly enjoyed. Interning with CoLab will be quite unlike any position she’s had before, and Lauryn is so thankful to have been given this opportunity to expand her experience and broaden her horizons with you all. Outside of work, Lauryn’s favorite things to do include running, watching movies, eating good food, writing, and spending time with her friends and family! If you would like to reach out to Lauryn and say hello, her email is danielau@uw.edu.
Adora Du joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Coordinator at the School Mental Health Assessment, Research and Training Center (SMART) Center. Adora graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2016 with a BS in Psychological and Brain Sciences. After graduating, Adora moved to Seattle where she gained clinical experience working as a mental health clinician in inpatient and outpatient settings. Adora is excited to join the department as a Research Coordinator to gain research experience in order to bridge her passion for clinical practice and development of effective mental health interventions. Outside of work, Adora enjoys reading books, exploring new cafes, and walking through neighborhoods with her corgi. If you would like to reach out to Adora and say hello, her email is adora123@uw.edu.
Abby Hall joined the department in June 2022 as a temporary Speech Language Pathologist assisting with a project in the RAB lab. A native Texan, Abby attended the University of Texas at Austin and is a proud Longhorn. She earned a Master of Science in Medical Speech Language Pathology at the University of Washington. Abby loves working with children and celebrating their growth and curiosity. She is thankful for a job that encourages progress, joy, and play! Outside of work, Abby likes to enjoy the great outdoors by hiking and skiing with friends. If you would like to reach out to Abby and say hello, her email is aeh2878@uw.edu.
Bryan Hannon joined the department in May 2022 as a Research Study Assistant working with Dr. Pravetoni’s lab at the Harborview Research and Training building. Bryan is currently on track to complete his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry this coming fall at Washington State University. He has been a general chemistry and organic chemistry teaching assistant which has allowed him to gain experience in not only working in a lab but working with various chemicals and procedures. Outside of work and studying, Bryan enjoys exercising because it allows him to take his mind off work and/or other stressful events. He also enjoys cooking as a pastime because trying to cook new dishes is a fun and creative outlet. If you would like to reach out to Bryan and say hello, his email is bhannon1@uw.edu.
Jonathan Kanter, PhD, joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Associate Professor and holds a primary appointment in psychology. Jonathan trained as a clinical psychological scientist with clinical and research expertise in behavioral activation, directs the UW Center for the Science of Social Connection, and is a Behavioral Scientist and core leadership team member of the Office of Health Care Equity of UW Medicine. Over the course of his 20+ year career, Dr. Kanter has collaborated closely with members of Black, Latino, Muslim, LGBTQ and other marginalized communities across both scientific and social activism efforts, including police brutality, voter engagement, culturally appropriate psychological treatments, and understanding and intervening on acts of bias and microaggressions. Dr. Kanter provides training and consultation on issues of bias and racism throughout the healthcare system through his position with the Office of Healthcare Equity, provides diversity, equity and inclusion consultation for organizations, and recently co-edited Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities: Promoting Equity and Culturally Responsive Care across Settings. Outside of work, Jonathan loves to spend time with his family and eat and cook good food with anyone willing to join him. If you would like to reach out to Jonathan and say hello, his email is jonkan@uw.edu.
Joshua Leblang rejoined the department in June 2022 after 14 ½ years as a Senior lecturer. Joshua is providing support to the gun violence initiative throughout Washington State - assisting with training/consultation with the credible messengers who are meeting with youth/families in efforts to decrease risk and increase protective factors. Joshua is working on a very part-time basis - and from his house near Greenlake. His background is in Marriage & Family Therapy (currently a LMHC/LCPC) predominately focused on youth and families involved in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare, as well as the systems around them. Joshua currently provides support to community mental health agencies in the US, UK and Norway via training and consultation using the evidenced-based model of Multisystemic Therapy (for the past 22 years). Outside of work, Joshua enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, hiking, walking his dog and reading. If you would like to reach out to Joshua and say hello, his email is jleblang@uw.edu.
Caelin Marum joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Coordinator for the Seven Directions Opioid Overdose Prevention in Tribes project. Caelin is Woodland Cree and a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan/Hidatsa). She recently graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Political Science and Native American Studies, and MA in Sociology. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family in Montana and creating beadwork. Caelin is new to the Seattle area and excited to get started. If you would like to reach out to Caelin and say hello, her email is caelind@uw.edu.
Tyler Phan joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Scientist working with Dr. Pravetoni’s lab at the Harborview Research and Training building. Tyler is specializing in vivo techniques. She has a bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry from University of California, San Diego. Tyler has extensive experience in vivo pharmacology from a CRO, academic lab, and Bristol Meyers Squibb, a big pharma company. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys riding her electric bike, exploring new places and hanging out with her two dogs and two cats. If you would like to reach out to Tyler and say hello, her email is typhan@uw.edu.
Jake Shoyer joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Assistant in the Trauma Survivors Outcomes & Support (TSOS) Lab. Jake recently graduated from the University of Southern California this past May with a degree in psychology. He spent his undergrad working in a lab exploring developmental social cognition, specifically Theory of Mind. Outside of work, Jake’s favorite activities include playing ultimate frisbee, cooking, skiing, and playing music. He is excited to begin his professional journey at Harborview! If you would like to reach out to Jake and say hello, his email is jsshoyer@uw.edu.
Teresa Winstead, PhD, (third from left, with Olympia Bupe Clinic evaluation collaborators) joined the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) team in June 2022 and her primary contributions will be related to supporting qualitative research design, protocol development, and data collection on three research projects focused on various aspects of the lived experience of people who are currently using opioids. Teresa is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, in the Department of Society and Social Justice at Saint Martin’s University. She is currently on temporary leave from her position there so that she may pursue more applied research. Over the last three years, Teresa has been working on a collaborative mixed methods evaluation with ADAI and the Olympia Bupe Clinic on the impact of buprenorphine treatment for people who have been using opioids. Teresa earned her PhD from Indiana University- Bloomington, in cultural anthropology, and her dissertation research focused on tribal sovereignty and educational policy in Washington State. Outside of work, Teresa enjoys hiking and has hiked several long-ish ~100 mile trails in the last ten years. Ideally, her teenagers, dogs and her husband all willingly load into the car to go on a hike with her! If you would like to reach out to Teresa and say hello, her email is twinstea@uw.edu.
Garvey Institute announces new funding opportunity in adolescent and young adult mental heath
The Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions (GIBHS) is launching a new round of Innovation Grant funding focused on improving access to effective mental health care for adolescents and young adults.
These one-year grants of up to $100,000 are for the development of innovative, new ideas that have the potential to make a substantial impact on brain health and can be rapidly translated into clinical care and/or improvement. The idea must help advance the Institute’s goals to improve brain health at a population level, and proposals that foster new collaborations across UW schools and departments are strongly encouraged. UW faculty and fellows (if permitted by their school and department and supported by a faculty member) are eligible to apply. This round of Innovation Grants is focused on projects that aim to improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults. Full guidelines and a letter of intent (LOI) application form can be found on the GIBHS website. LOIs are dueAugust 15, 2022. Please email gibhs@uw.edu if you have any questions, and sign-up for the Garvey Institute newsletter to receive funding announcements and other news.
RIISE holds first annual Summer Institute Funded by a Methods Training grant from the Institute of Education Sciences and housed within the University of Washington’s SMART Center, the Research Institute for Implementation Science in Education (RIISE) is designed to develop the implementation research workforce in schools and improve outcomes for students and their families. While there is considerable evidence for the effectiveness of a wide variety of educational curricula and school-based programs, practices, and interventions, these innovations have been slow to enter typical education settings. This gap reflects a need for implementation research that addresses the unique characteristics of school settings and the programs and practices that are the focus of implementation in that context.
RIISE aims to (1) increase the number of educational scholars who conduct research on the most effective ways to support the use evidence-based practices in school settings and (2) build a collaborative network among those researchers to drive new research innovations. In June, RIISE welcomed its first cohort of 11 Fellows – faculty from institutions all around the nation to Seattle to attend the first annual RIISE Summer Institute. Fellows were joined by RIISE Core Faculty (including PBSCI faculty Aaron Lyon, PhD, and Eric Bruns, PhD) and Expert Faculty (including PBSCI faculty Freda Liu, PhD, and Michael Pullmann, PhD) who supported them in acquiring, building fluency with, and applying implementation research knowledge and skills in their education research via five days of presentations, grant development workshops, facilitated discussions, and one-on-one meetings. Fellows will participate in two years of mentorship and training as they develop high-quality implementation studies that bridge the “last mile” in which education research fails to reach the individuals for whom it was intended. RIISE is expertly coordinated by Jodie Buntain-Ricklefs, MPH, MSW, and Vaughan Collins, MSW, from the UW SMART Center.
ADAI to work at intersection of law enforcement, people who use drugs The Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute (ADAI) received legislative funding via the Washington State Health Care Authority to develop regional strategies to improve law enforcement interactions with people who use drugs. Led by Mandy Owens, PhD, ADAI and partners will work with at least three sites in Washington State. The goals of these regional strategies will ultimately be determined by sites, but likely will aim to: a) foster relationships among law enforcement, people who use alcohol and drugs, and other community members (e.g., service providers); b) decrease stigma toward people who use alcohol and drugs; c) create an environment for multidirectional learning; and d) develop a regional toolkit for law enforcement and first responders to help people who use alcohol and drugs (e.g., regional referrals for people who use alcohol and drugs). Site selection is in process.
UW GMH has a new name!
We are excited to announce that the UW Global Mental Health Program is now the UW Consortium for Global Mental Health. The University of Washington Consortium for Global Mental Health is an organized research unit whose mission is to provide a collaborative community for global research, capacity-building, learning and implementation of culturally congruent, sustainable community models for mental health interventions with domestic and international partners. Several centers across the university community share our interest in global mental health and cultural mental health needs in our region, specifically. The Consortium encourages collaboration among individuals and among centers, leveraging the experiences and capacities of multiple groups and expanding our potential for impact on mental health.
The UW Consortium for Global Mental Health is a joint effort of the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Global Health. Current members of the Consortium include the University of Washington Behavioral Research Center for HIV (BIRCH), the University of Washington AIMS Center, and the International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH). We invite faculty and staff as well as programs, centers and initiatives to become members. We value the participation of students and trainees in our research, practice, and educational activities. Please contact Patricia English, pxenglis@uw.edu, to learn more about becoming a member.
Topping out ceremony celebrates critical BHTF milestone Structural steel is complete on the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility at the University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest campus! Representatives from Clark|Abbott, the joint venture team leading design and construction efforts on the project, joined University of Washington Medical Center officials including Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, and Charity Holmes, RN, for a topping out ceremony earlier this month to celebrate this critical milestone. Since breaking ground in October 2021, the Clark|Abbott team has erected 1,752 tons of steel to bring the project to full height. With structural steel operations complete, construction crews will shift their focus to fireproofing, adding concrete to metal decks, and enclosure.
The building will ultimately support a full continuum of clinical services ranging from medication management and psychotherapies to state-of-the art neuromodulation treatments for adult and geriatric patients and patients who have a combination of medical, surgical, and psychiatric problems. The building will also house an interdisciplinary training and workforce development program that is focused on preparing and supporting the next generation of behavioral health providers for Washington State. The BHTF is expected to open its doors in 2024. Read more.
Congratulations to our Graduates! On June 24, we held a lovely graduation event at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. It was such a joy to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and educators in person with friends and family. We are proud of graduating such a fine group of new mental health professionals during this critical time. We wish our graduates all the best for their next steps and hope that we will all stay in touch.
Numerous trainees and faculty members received accolades at the graduation ceremony. Congratulations to all!
Psychology Resident Awards
The Making a Difference Joan C. Martin, PhD, Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Psychology Resident – Rebecca Williams, MS
The Director’s Prize: Dr. Nancy Robinson Award – Alisa Zhao, MS
The John E. Carr PhD Award for Outstanding Achievement in Empirically-Supported Psychotherapies – Mickeal Pugh, Jr, MS
Psychology Internship Faculty Recognition Awards for Teaching & Supervising Excellence
Adult Track – Kristen Lindgren, PhD and Barb McCann, PhD
Child Track – David Breiger, PhD and Freda Liu, PhD
Psychiatry Resident Awards
Outstanding Junior Resident – Zoe Renner, MD
Hoffmann Award – Jacob Goyden, MD, MS
Academic excellence – Molly Howland, MD
Clinical excellence – Elena Derkits, MD, MPH and Jesse Paulsen, MD
Outstanding resident – Amelia Wendt, MD
Outstanding Teaching Scholars – Molly Howland, MD
Excellence in Public Psychiatry and Social Dedication – Chris Nguyen, MD
Outstanding Chief Resident – Steven Philips, MD
Psychiatry Residency Faculty Recognition Awards
Deborah Cowley Psychiatry Chief Residents’ Award – Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD
Excellent Clinical Faculty Award – Chelsea Markle, PharmD
Excellent Academic Faculty Award – Laurel Pellegrino, MD
Clinician Teacher Faculty Pathway Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
Laurel Pellegrino, MD
Brain health educational opportunities survey
The Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions seeks to identify educational opportunities and training programs available at the University of Washington related to brain health. The goal is to develop a comprehensive list on the Garvey Institute website. We hope this will be a useful resource for students and faculty interested in brain health and will facilitate cross-campus collaborations.
We have created a short survey that asks about the program’s details such as the audience, affiliated faculty and eligibility requirements. Please complete the survey for programs you are involved with or you are familiar with and forward the survey to your contacts who know about relevant UW efforts. Please reach out to Andie Uomoto, MPA, (uomotoa@uw.edu) with any questions.
Faculty and staff department awards
At the department annual meeting, we honored several members of our faculty and staff who have contributed in various ways to the success of our department. A big congratulations to each of them!
Clinician Teacher Pathway Outstanding Mentor Award: Carol Rockhill, MD, PhD, MPH Carol is described as a tireless mentor with enormous patience. She has a range of mentorship skills and interests which help her connect with the wide variety of mentees she supports. She serves as a faculty mentor for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, General Psychiatry Residents, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows, and for many junior faculty. She has a gift for being able to help those who are doubting themselves to find their strengths and dig themselves out to a better and happier place.
Wayne J. Katon Outstanding Mentor Award: John Fortney, PhD The Wayne J. Katon Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates sustained commitment to the creative, scholarly, professional and personal development of research mentees. The award honors Wayne Katon, MD, a gifted and dedicated mentor who supervised medical students, psychiatry residents, research fellows and junior faculty across several departments, many of whom have become principal investigators of their own grant funded research programs. He directed an NIH-funded T-32 Fellowship Program in Primary Care Psychiatry for over 25 years that produced more than 30 successful researchers at the interface of medicine and psychiatry, including many members of our department. The award is funded by the Wayne Katon Memorial Fund for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Development. This year, the award was given to John Fortney, PhD.
A large group of colleagues and current and former mentees submitted an impressive nomination packet on Dr. Fortney’s behalf which detailed his embodiment of Dr. Katon’s spirit of mentoring. An excerpt from his nomination packet states, “Dr. Fortney is an impressive and highly successful researcher who provides invaluable guidance to everyone who is fortunate to work with him, especially mentees. The success of his mentees speaks to the strength of his mentorship style, which fosters independence and creativity while providing exceptional support for professional and personal development. We can attest to his incredible responsiveness and accessibility to his mentees, the extraordinary time he dedicates to mentorship, and his commitment to ensuring the success of his mentees.” Other excerpts said, “His deep commitment to mentorship is rivaled only by his commitment to scientific rigor and conducting research that has the potential to create real differences in the world” and that “he helps to shape strong science with compassion and humor, never losing sight of ways to expand the amount of good we can do with our work.”
Outstanding Clinician Teacher Junior Faculty Award: Laurel Pellegrino, MD Laurel is known for impeccable clinical skills particularly in the arena of outpatient psychotherapy. She has been a clear leader in residency education since joining the faculty and taking on the role as an assistant program director. Representative quotes from resident evaluations include, “Laurel is an outstanding attending who always finds a great balance between allowing autonomy and providing supervision; We are able to discuss our cases candidly and share our thoughts without fear of criticism or censure. Her skills should be used as a model as to how to create an effective and supportive learning environment.”
Gary J. Tucker Career Teaching Award: Rick Ries, MD The Gary J. Tucker Career Teaching Award, named in honor of the Chair of our department from 1985 through 1997, recognizes exceptional career achievement in teaching and education and honors Dr. Tucker's significant contributions to our academic programs, his leadership and dedication as a teacher, clinician, and scholar, his love of teaching, and his ability to inspire and encourage trainees.
The award is given to a member of the academic or clinical faculty who has demonstrated, throughout his or her career, outstanding skills as a teacher and dedication to education. This year, the award was given to Rick Ries, MD.
Rick is an institution at the University of Washington. He tirelessly works as an educator and advocate for mental health and substance use treatment. He has been involved in hundreds of research projects, but his educational efforts likely equal his research efforts and may even eclipse them. These educational efforts are clear at the University of Washington, and across the state and the country. This effort takes the shape of countless presentations, but probably more notably, through the relationships and education he has provided to hundreds of providers who have his mobile phone number and call him at any time of the day or night. In addition, Dr. Ries has embodied many of the characteristics of a great teacher by being approachable, interactive in his talks, humble, challenging and honest.
Exceptional Staff Award: Lori Ferro, MHA, PMP & Kelcey Schmitz, MSEd The Exceptional Staff Award honors and celebrates the valuable efforts staff members make toward supporting the mission of the department and upholding our core values of collaboration, continuous learning and mentorship, and integrity and accountability. This year’s Exceptional Staff Award went to Lori Ferro, MHA, PMP, Research Project Manager in the Division of Population Health, and Kelcey Schmitz, MSEd, Assistant Director of Training and TA, at the SMART Center and the School Mental Health Director at NW MHTTC. The below excerpts from their respective nomination packets give a hint at their exceptional service.
“Perhaps Ms. Ferro’s greatest talent is her ability to make people feel welcome and that they are a part of something truly important. Her ability to listen and understand people allows her to create a research environment where people feel free to be honest and to take risks.”
“It is Kelcey’s magnetic personality, keen wit, tireless commitment, and clear vision that ignite passion for the work among her team. As a result, we each strive daily to fulfill our roles, ensuring a fine-tuned, effective and efficient unit that delivers repeatedly for school districts, state education agencies and individual school mental health professionals.”
We would like to recognize Exceptional Staff Award nominees Jamie Adachi, Juliann Salisbury and Emily Taylor for their incredible contributions to our department!
Exceptional Team Award: Staff EDI Committee
Started last year, the Exceptional Team Award was born from the recognition that we have an incredible number of effective teams that support our work and that no one person acts in isolation. The winner of this year’s Team Award is the newly formed Staff EDI Committee. Launched in October 2021, the committee works to create a safe, inclusive, and diverse environment that supports department staff personally and professionally. The group champions organizational change and brings an EDI and anti-racism lens to the department’s work. Members include Semhar Abraha, Co-Chair Binyam Abraham, Co-Chair Jamie Adachi, Casey Chandler, Christina Clayton, Vaughan Collins, Laura Cooley, Alan Gojdics, Staci Guerrero, Ali Iqbal, Jennifer Magnani, Chris McCain, Alison Newman, Nicole Sams, Becky Sladek and Andie Uomoto. An excerpt from their nomination says, “They all are passionate about the work and goals of the EDI work and what is even more impressive is they truly listen to each other’s ideas and provide feedback in a way where everyone is comfortable in sharing to reach consensus.”
Myra Parker and Seven Directions receive Prevention Science Award Myra Parker, PhD, JD, MPH, and Seven Directions received the Prevention Science Award at the Society for Prevention Research this month. The Prevention Science Award is given to an individual or team of individuals for a significant body of research that has applied scientific methods to test one or more preventive interventions or policies. This is an amazing honor, highlighting their important work across the country.
Debby Tsuang honored with Award for Achievement Debby Tsuang, MD, MSc, was honored by the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine with a Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement. The Award for Achievement honors alumni for significant professional accomplishments in science, medicine, and/or education. Dr. Tsuang has made critical contributions to the understanding of dementia and related disorders through her research on their genetic, clinical, and neuropathological underpinnings. Read more.
University of Washington
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Seattle, WA 98195
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
After 30+ years at the University of Washington School of Medicine, associate professor Christine Yuodelis-Flores, MD, will retire at the end of this month. 
The American Psychiatric Association conferred the highest award it gives a public servant, the Jacob K. Javits Public Service Award, to Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) at an event jointly hosted by the Washington State Psychiatric Society, the Washington State Medical Association and NAMI Washington. Sen. Dhingra is being honored for her tireless dedication to ensuring patients, families, and communities have access to the best possible mental health care from well-trained, high-quality providers.
Yesenia Navarro Aguirre joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Study Coordinator working with the Maternal-Child Mental Health program (MCMH). Yesenia will be helping with various research projects. Yesenia is a native Spanish speaker and will be using her language skills to support the MCMH program as needed. She is a graduate of the UW with majors in Human Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology of Globalization. Yesenia is passionate about infectious diseases specifically exploring how pathogens specialize through adaptation into high virulence throughout human history. In 2018, she was granted a Student Fulbright Research Fellowship Award to conduct Tuberculosis research in Lima, Peru. This experience expanded her understanding of antibiotic resistance and offered a newfound calling for infectious disease modeling. Yesenia is currently a PhD student in the Biological Anthropology Program at the UW. She is excited to work in the department as she wishes to broaden her knowledge of community-centered research, in the United States and globally. Outside of work, Yesenia enjoys going out to dance, specifically Latin dancing! Her favorites are cumbia and salsa dancing. If you would like to reach out to Yesenia and say hello, her email is 
Derek Ban joined the department in June 2022 as a Student Assistant in the Zweifel lab under post doc Barbara Juarez. This is the first lab Derek has worked with. Derek recently received his BS in Neuroscience from the University of Washington. He will be staying another two quarters to finish his minor in Global Health. Outside of work, Derek loves both dance and singing and is a songwriter in his free time, both great outlets emotionally and creatively. He also loves basketball and training MMA, both Muay Thai and Jiujitsu. If you would like to reach out to Derek and say hello, his email is 
Lauryn Daniels joined the department in June 2022 as a Student Assistant at the CoLab where she will be helping with various current projects. Lauryn attended school in Washington state her entire life. She was born and raised in Lacey, Washington and attended Timberline High School. Then, of course, she decided to continue her post secondary education at the University of Washington in Seattle. Lauryn came into UW last year as a freshman with her heart set on Psychology. She has a passion for mental health work and social justice which led her to the Sociology Department, believing she would double major with the two. By the end of the year she was applying to the Social Welfare major, and now she has completed her first year in the BASW program which has proved a great fit that she thoroughly enjoyed. Interning with CoLab will be quite unlike any position she’s had before, and Lauryn is so thankful to have been given this opportunity to expand her experience and broaden her horizons with you all. Outside of work, Lauryn’s favorite things to do include running, watching movies, eating good food, writing, and spending time with her friends and family! If you would like to reach out to Lauryn and say hello, her email is 
Adora Du joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Coordinator at the School Mental Health Assessment, Research and Training Center (SMART) Center. Adora graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2016 with a BS in Psychological and Brain Sciences. After graduating, Adora moved to Seattle where she gained clinical experience working as a mental health clinician in inpatient and outpatient settings. Adora is excited to join the department as a Research Coordinator to gain research experience in order to bridge her passion for clinical practice and development of effective mental health interventions. Outside of work, Adora enjoys reading books, exploring new cafes, and walking through neighborhoods with her corgi. If you would like to reach out to Adora and say hello, her email is 
Abby Hall joined the department in June 2022 as a temporary Speech Language Pathologist assisting with a project in the RAB lab. A native Texan, Abby attended the University of Texas at Austin and is a proud Longhorn. She earned a Master of Science in Medical Speech Language Pathology at the University of Washington. Abby loves working with children and celebrating their growth and curiosity. She is thankful for a job that encourages progress, joy, and play! Outside of work, Abby likes to enjoy the great outdoors by hiking and skiing with friends. If you would like to reach out to Abby and say hello, her email is 
Bryan Hannon joined the department in May 2022 as a Research Study Assistant working with Dr. Pravetoni’s lab at the Harborview Research and Training building. Bryan is currently on track to complete his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry this coming fall at Washington State University. He has been a general chemistry and organic chemistry teaching assistant which has allowed him to gain experience in not only working in a lab but working with various chemicals and procedures. Outside of work and studying, Bryan enjoys exercising because it allows him to take his mind off work and/or other stressful events. He also enjoys cooking as a pastime because trying to cook new dishes is a fun and creative outlet. If you would like to reach out to Bryan and say hello, his email is 
Jonathan Kanter, PhD, joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Associate Professor and holds a primary appointment in psychology. Jonathan trained as a clinical psychological scientist with clinical and research expertise in behavioral activation, directs the UW Center for the Science of Social Connection, and is a Behavioral Scientist and core leadership team member of the Office of Health Care Equity of UW Medicine. Over the course of his 20+ year career, Dr. Kanter has collaborated closely with members of Black, Latino, Muslim, LGBTQ and other marginalized communities across both scientific and social activism efforts, including police brutality, voter engagement, culturally appropriate psychological treatments, and understanding and intervening on acts of bias and microaggressions. Dr. Kanter provides training and consultation on issues of bias and racism throughout the healthcare system through his position with the Office of Healthcare Equity, provides diversity, equity and inclusion consultation for organizations, and recently co-edited Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities: Promoting Equity and Culturally Responsive Care across Settings. Outside of work, Jonathan loves to spend time with his family and eat and cook good food with anyone willing to join him. If you would like to reach out to Jonathan and say hello, his email is 
Joshua Leblang rejoined the department in June 2022 after 14 ½ years as a Senior lecturer. Joshua is providing support to the gun violence initiative throughout Washington State - assisting with training/consultation with the credible messengers who are meeting with youth/families in efforts to decrease risk and increase protective factors. Joshua is working on a very part-time basis - and from his house near Greenlake. His background is in Marriage & Family Therapy (currently a LMHC/LCPC) predominately focused on youth and families involved in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare, as well as the systems around them. Joshua currently provides support to community mental health agencies in the US, UK and Norway via training and consultation using the evidenced-based model of Multisystemic Therapy (for the past 22 years). Outside of work, Joshua enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, hiking, walking his dog and reading. If you would like to reach out to Joshua and say hello, his email is 
Caelin Marum joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Coordinator for the Seven Directions Opioid Overdose Prevention in Tribes project. Caelin is Woodland Cree and a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan/Hidatsa). She recently graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Political Science and Native American Studies, and MA in Sociology. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family in Montana and creating beadwork. Caelin is new to the Seattle area and excited to get started. If you would like to reach out to Caelin and say hello, her email is 
Tyler Phan joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Scientist working with Dr. Pravetoni’s lab at the Harborview Research and Training building. Tyler is specializing in vivo techniques. She has a bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry from University of California, San Diego. Tyler has extensive experience in vivo pharmacology from a CRO, academic lab, and Bristol Meyers Squibb, a big pharma company. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys riding her electric bike, exploring new places and hanging out with her two dogs and two cats. If you would like to reach out to Tyler and say hello, her email is 
Jake Shoyer joined the department in June 2022 as a Research Assistant in the Trauma Survivors Outcomes & Support (TSOS) Lab. Jake recently graduated from the University of Southern California this past May with a degree in psychology. He spent his undergrad working in a lab exploring developmental social cognition, specifically Theory of Mind. Outside of work, Jake’s favorite activities include playing ultimate frisbee, cooking, skiing, and playing music. He is excited to begin his professional journey at Harborview! If you would like to reach out to Jake and say hello, his email is 
Teresa Winstead, PhD, (third from left, with Olympia Bupe Clinic evaluation collaborators) joined the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) team in June 2022 and her primary contributions will be related to supporting qualitative research design, protocol development, and data collection on three research projects focused on various aspects of the lived experience of people who are currently using opioids. Teresa is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, in the Department of Society and Social Justice at Saint Martin’s University. She is currently on temporary leave from her position there so that she may pursue more applied research. Over the last three years, Teresa has been working on a collaborative mixed methods evaluation with ADAI and the Olympia Bupe Clinic on the impact of buprenorphine treatment for people who have been using opioids. Teresa earned her PhD from Indiana University- Bloomington, in cultural anthropology, and her dissertation research focused on tribal sovereignty and educational policy in Washington State. Outside of work, Teresa enjoys hiking and has hiked several long-ish ~100 mile trails in the last ten years. Ideally, her teenagers, dogs and her husband all willingly load into the car to go on a hike with her! If you would like to reach out to Teresa and say hello, her email is 
Funded by a Methods Training grant from the Institute of Education Sciences and housed within the University of Washington’s SMART Center, the 
The Addictions, Drug and Alcohol Institute (ADAI) received legislative funding via the Washington State Health Care Authority to develop regional strategies to improve law enforcement interactions with people who use drugs. Led by Mandy Owens, PhD, ADAI and partners will work with at least three sites in Washington State. The goals of these regional strategies will ultimately be determined by sites, but likely will aim to: a) foster relationships among law enforcement, people who use alcohol and drugs, and other community members (e.g., service providers); b) decrease stigma toward people who use alcohol and drugs; c) create an environment for multidirectional learning; and d) develop a regional toolkit for law enforcement and first responders to help people who use alcohol and drugs (e.g., regional referrals for people who use alcohol and drugs). Site selection is in process.
Structural steel is complete on the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility at the University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest campus! Representatives from Clark|Abbott, the joint venture team leading design and construction efforts on the project, joined University of Washington Medical Center officials including Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, and Charity Holmes, RN, for a topping out ceremony earlier this month to celebrate this critical milestone. Since breaking ground in October 2021, the Clark|Abbott team has erected 1,752 tons of steel to bring the project to full height. With structural steel operations complete, construction crews will shift their focus to fireproofing, adding concrete to metal decks, and enclosure.
On June 24, we held a lovely graduation event at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. It was such a joy to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and educators in person with friends and family. We are proud of graduating such a fine group of new mental health professionals during this critical time. We wish our graduates all the best for their next steps and hope that we will all stay in touch.
Carol is described as a tireless mentor with enormous patience. She has a range of mentorship skills and interests which help her connect with the wide variety of mentees she supports. She serves as a faculty mentor for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, General Psychiatry Residents, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows, and for many junior faculty. She has a gift for being able to help those who are doubting themselves to find their strengths and dig themselves out to a better and happier place.
The Wayne J. Katon Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates sustained commitment to the creative, scholarly, professional and personal development of research mentees. The award honors Wayne Katon, MD, a gifted and dedicated mentor who supervised medical students, psychiatry residents, research fellows and junior faculty across several departments, many of whom have become principal investigators of their own grant funded research programs. He directed an NIH-funded T-32 Fellowship Program in Primary Care Psychiatry for over 25 years that produced more than 30 successful researchers at the interface of medicine and psychiatry, including many members of our department. The award is funded by the 
Laurel is known for impeccable clinical skills particularly in the arena of outpatient psychotherapy. She has been a clear leader in residency education since joining the faculty and taking on the role as an assistant program director. Representative quotes from resident evaluations include, “Laurel is an outstanding attending who always finds a great balance between allowing autonomy and providing supervision; We are able to discuss our cases candidly and share our thoughts without fear of criticism or censure. Her skills should be used as a model as to how to create an effective and supportive learning environment.”
The Gary J. Tucker Career Teaching Award, named in honor of the Chair of our department from 1985 through 1997, recognizes exceptional career achievement in teaching and education and honors Dr. Tucker's significant contributions to our academic programs, his leadership and dedication as a teacher, clinician, and scholar, his love of teaching, and his ability to inspire and encourage trainees.
The Exceptional Staff Award honors and celebrates the valuable efforts staff members make toward supporting the mission of the department and upholding our core values of collaboration, continuous learning and mentorship, and integrity and accountability. This year’s Exceptional Staff Award went to Lori Ferro, MHA, PMP, Research Project Manager in the Division of Population Health, and Kelcey Schmitz, MSEd, Assistant Director of Training and TA, at the SMART Center and the School Mental Health Director at NW MHTTC. The below excerpts from their respective nomination packets give a hint at their exceptional service.
Myra Parker, PhD, JD, MPH, and Seven Directions received the Prevention Science Award at the Society for Prevention Research this month. The Prevention Science Award is given to an individual or team of individuals for a significant body of research that has applied scientific methods to test one or more preventive interventions or policies. This is an amazing honor, highlighting their important work across the country.
Debby Tsuang, MD, MSc, was honored by the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine with a Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement. The Award for Achievement honors alumni for significant professional accomplishments in science, medicine, and/or education. Dr. Tsuang has made critical contributions to the understanding of dementia and related disorders through her research on their genetic, clinical, and neuropathological underpinnings. 
