Department Kudos

SOM FACULTY EMINENCE CELEBRATION

The following faculty members were honored at this month’s SOM Faculty Eminence Celebration. 

Promotion to Professor

• Ebrahim Haroon, MD

Promotion to Association Professor

• Allison LoPilato, PhD
• Sanne van Rooij, PhD

Tenure

• Negar Fani, PhD, ABPP (Associate Professor)

Clinical Distinction - Senior Physician/Psychologist

• Brandon Kitay, MD
• Katie Lanier, PhD, ABPP
• Kandi Schmidt, PhD, ABPP
• Laura Watkins, PhD, ABPP

Clinical Distinction - Distinguished Physician/Psychologist

• Justine Welsh, MD

Clinical Distinction – Eminent Physician/Psychologist

• Toby Goldsmith, MD

Mentoring Award

• Vasiliki (Vas) Michopoulos, PhD

1% Award

• Zhexing Wen, PhD

Emory Clinic 99% Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Scores

• Danielle Belva, MSN, CNS
• Joseph Vinson, MD

Atlanta VA Healthcare System Excellence in Clinical Research

• Erica Duncan, MD

Hidden Gem

• Katherine (Katie) Cullum, PhD has made exceptional contributions that are fundamental to the success of many programs. A key contributor in multiple clinicial initiatives, Dr. Cullum brings her complete self to her work – whether painting watercolor backdrops for summer camp activities, shooting videos so therapy concepts come to life, or mentoring future clinicians. This authenticity and breadth of talent enriches everything she touches. 

SAVE THE DATES

Upcoming Faculty Development Seminar

The next faculty development seminar is entitled Practical Tips for Improving Documentation using a Bridge. The presenters are Michael Epstein, Patricia Aguoyo, and Allison LoPilato. 

Date/Time: Wednesday November 19, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am | Zoom 

Upcoming Writing Groups

The Faculty Writing Group is the first Wednesday of every month from 8:00-9:00am. These meetings are on Zoom. This group is for faculty including adjunct faculty.

SPOTLIGHTS

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Krystal Frieson Bonaparte, PhD, MPH, ABPP

Krystal Frieson Bonaparte is an assistant professor and mid-career psychologist in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. She is a member of the department’s faculty development committee and provides supervision and instruction within the Emory Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship.

Krystal is a licensed clinical psychologist within the outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) at the Atlanta Veterans Administration (VA) Health Care System. As the facility’s SUD/PTSD Specialist, she primarily treats Veterans with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, Krystal is one of the Atlanta VA’s mHealth Specialist charged with connecting local staff with the latest resources and products from the National Center for PTSD’s Mobile Apps and Tech into Care teams. As an mHealth Specialist, she supports other staff in sharing information with Veterans and their families about mobile mental health resources. At the national level, she works closely with two VA National Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Training Programs; she is a consultant for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD (CBT-SUD) program and consultant trainer for the Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills Group for Substance Use Disorder (CSG-SUD) program. She is also a core member of the Atlanta VA’s Psychology Internship Training Committee and provides supervision to psychology trainees.

At the state level, Krystal is involved in the Georgia Psychological Association (GPA) and recently completed her 2022-2025 term as secretary of the organization. She has continued her involvement in GPA’s various committees and is an alumni of GPA’s 2019-2020 Leadership Academy. With an eye toward the future of the psychology profession, Krystal is passionate in her role as a mentor with the University of Georgia’s Mentor Program.

Krystal loves being a psychologist because she can fully pursue her diverse professional interests and activities; there is never a dull moment in her work. On any given day, you can find her providing evidence-based psychotherapy to a group of Veterans, using measurement-based care to inform treatment progress, providing virtual consultation with a group of licensed providers at other VAs, supervising a psychology intern, co-facilitating a supervision didactic with a colleague and participating in a community event to get Veterans connected to VA care. 

She truly enjoys being a part of a collaborative and supportive interdisciplinary team within a comprehensive healthcare system. She understands the privilege of joining people on their recovery journeys and appreciates the unique experience of helping people navigate through some of the most difficult and challenging moments in their lives. She aims to create a space that encourages growth, compassion and vulnerability with each patient. Depending on the need, she is prepared to be a therapist, confidant, teacher, advocate, guide, supporter, cheerleader, ally and much more. She feels inspired and invigorated by her work with Veterans.

Krystal completed her PhD in Counseling Psychology and earned an MPH in Health Behavior at the University of Kentucky. She completed internship at the Tuscaloosa VA and became a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University’s School of Medicine. She joined the Atlanta VA in 2016 and has served on several committees focused on multicultural practice and inclusion. She is especially proud of helping facilitate the recent implementation of the Contingency Management (CM) program that incentivizes abstinence for Veterans with stimulant use disorders. Krystal also became board certified in Clinical Psychology in 2023 and Addiction Psychology in 2025 through the American Board of Professional Psychology. 

Looking to the future, Krystal would like to develop more opportunities to train clinicians in integrated treatments for SUD and PTSD. She will continue to pursue additional leadership experiences at Emory and the VA. She plans to become more involved in social justice and community advocacy in her local neighborhood. She looks forward to continuing to supervise and mentor trainees and hopes to encourage more people to consider the field of psychology as a career path. 

Outside of work, Krystal enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to sporting events and concerts, ushering at her church and eating desserts before dinner. To balance her sweet tooth, she also enjoys hot yoga and taking long, brisk walks. She hopes to do more traveling and would like to become fluent in Spanish.

ADJUNCT FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Desiree Frain, PsyD

Desiree Frain, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Georgia and a full-time assistant professor at Brenau University. In her primary role, she is responsible for helping develop and refine the training of future psychologists within the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Counseling. Alongside instructing PsyD students in fundamental coursework, she is responsible for overseeing the clinical training of the program as Director of Clinical Training. She additionally oversees the research activities of student dissertations and contributes to the overall development and well-being of the PsyD program.

As an adjunct faculty member at the Emory University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Desiree co-leads the Blog Committee within the Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates (ABHA) group. ABHA is an interprofessional working group focused emphasizing behavioral health advocacy in Atlanta and Georgia as a whole. The Blog Committee facilitates the publishing of relevant blog posts from ABHA contributors to Psychology Today, as a method of spreading awareness of relevant social justice and mental health advocacy topics. Desiree has also contributed to the blog herself, including posts such as “Ouch, That Hurts: Cultural Aspects of Body Shame” and “Gun Violence: Separating Myths From Reality.”

Desiree is grateful for her opportunity to participate as an adjunct faculty member at Emory University. She is particularly thankful for the opportunity to keep up her relationships with other faculty members at Emory, and the opportunity to continue her involvement in the advocacy efforts present at ABHA. 

Most people are surprised to learn Desiree is actually a huge nerd. After finishing a day of teaching, her favorite way to wind down is to play video games with her husband and friends. If it’s available on Steam she has probably heard of it or played it, but her favorite genres are ARPGs, RPGs, simulation games and multiplayer party games. Desiree is also an avid crafter and fantasy reader, and will talk your ear off about her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Obi. 

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Harriett Hall

Harriett Hall currently works at Emory’s Brain Health Center, where she serves as both a Senior Administrative Assistant and Access Coordinator for the department. In her role, she provides a wide range of administrative and operational support, including processing expense reports, coordinating facilities work orders, maintaining the Emory Brain Health Administration On-Call calendar and managing 25Live conference room reservations as the primary gatekeeper. Harriett also manages the ordering and processing of business cards and lab coats for staff. These responsibilities allow her to support both the day-to-day needs and long-term efficiency of the department.

What Harriett most enjoys about her work is she is constantly meeting new people, and there are always opportunities to learn about different parts of Emory that she was not previously aware of. Harriett and her coworkers have a very cohesive working relationship where they support each other.

Harriett began her career at Emory over 31 years ago, and throughout that time, she has had the opportunity to work in several departments. Each experience has taught her something valuable that has contributed to her Emroy journey. Along the way, she has gained a wealth of knowledge she is always happy to share with newcomers. Looking ahead, her goal is to continue growing, while remaining a supportive presence to anyone she may crosses paths with.

Looking ahead, Harriett’s goal is to remain an integral part of the Emory community, continuing to grow in her role while uplifting, supporting and encouraging her team to thrive together.

One of Harriett’s greatest passions is helping those who are less fortunate. Outside of work, Harriett is an active member of a Christian organization called Let’s Talk Ministry, where it regularly serves the homeless community in downtown Atlanta, particularly at Woodruff Park. The organization provides meals, clothing and hygiene bags to individuals in need. During the holidays, the outreach expands. For Thanksgiving, it hosts a turkey giveaway that includes a full box of side items, and also cooks and serves a Thanksgiving meal at a local homeless shelter. At Christmas, it adopts two families and provide them with gifts, essentials and support to help make their holiday season brighter. This work is incredibly meaningful to Harriett, and it keeps her grounded in compassion, community service and gratitude.

TRAINEE SPOTLIGHT: Zahraa Atoui, MD

Zahraa Atoui is a PGY-5 Addiction Psychiatry Fellow at Emory University. She was born and raised in Lebanon and graduated medical school from the American University of Beirut. She completed her general psychiatry residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and moved to Atlanta for Emory’s exceptional Addiction Psychiatry training and the program’s breadth of clinical experiences.

Throughout Zahraa’s fellowship so far, she has had the opportunity to work across a diverse range of addiction-related services, which has been both professionally and personally meaningful to her. She rotated through several Grady Memorial Hospital services, in addition to working at the DeKalb County Accountability Court and Talbott Recovery. Currently, Zahraa’s clinical work is primarily based at the Atlanta VA, where she is involved in multiple addiction services, and the Emory Addiction Center’s intensive outpatient program.

Zahraa immensely enjoys these different roles which allow her to care for patients across a wide spectrum of treatment settings and deepen her understanding of integrated addiction, medical and mental health care. Working in addiction psychiatry allows her to support individuals through some of their most challenging moments, and be part of their recovery journey, which is deeply fulfilling and meaningful. She also appreciates the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of addiction psychiatry, partnering with psychologists, social workers, counselors and other physicians, all with the goal of advocating for patients’ wellbeing.

A key highlight of Zahraa’s career is receiving the National Institute on Drug Abuse/American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Resident Training Award, which embodies what she strives to achieve in the field of psychiatry. This experience emphasized research dissemination and bridging the gap between addiction research and clinical practice. Her project focused on raising awareness among pediatric and emergency medicine residents on screening, assessment and treatment of youth with opioid use disorder. Additionally, her involvement in the Drug Addiction Research Training Program during residency equipped me with essential skills for research. Zahraa worked on exploring repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as an intervention for stimulant use disorders. She was also honored to receive the Jennings J. Cleckley Clinical Excellence Award, presented annually to a graduating resident recognized by faculty for consistent clinical excellence. Each of these experiences has shaped her development as a clinician dedicated to the field of addiction psychiatry.

Zahraa plans to stay in Atlanta and continue building her career among its vibrant professional addiction community. Her goal is to pursue an academic career that combines clinical work, teaching and research. She enjoys a mix of outpatient and inpatient care, and also very enthusiastic about exploring novel interventions, such as neuromodulation, for substance use disorders, which she hopes she can integrate into her practice in the future.

Outside of work, Zahraa enjoys spending time with her husband Reda. They are both new to the Atlanta area, and have been taking advantage of their weekends to explore the city’s many restaurants and hidden gems. They also love spending time outdoors, especially hiking. In her personal downtime, Zahraa enjoys calligraphy and drawing mandalas. 

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: VA General Mental Health/Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

The Atlanta VA Health Care System’s Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) is honored to be recognized in the Emory Faculty Development Committee’s monthly department kudos. The BHIP program is a Veterans Health Administration nationally-disseminated, evidence-based program model for outpatient mental health service delivery. Originally piloted in the Atlanta VA in 2013, the BHIP model’s most recent iteration - termed the Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCM) – is tailored towards the treatment of a wide spectrum of mental health disorders, including severe mental illness. Clinical trials of CCM’s have shown improved outcomes and patient satisfaction levels in mental health.1 BHIP teams in the Atlanta VA are multidisciplinary, consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, licensed professional counselors, peer support specialists, doctors of pharmacy and registered nurses. These multidisciplinary teams are geared towards mental health care delivery for Veterans that is collaborative, Veteran-centered and coordinated. BHIP teams engage in ongoing program and process redesign and improvement with the aims of enhancing access to and continuity of care, facilitating recovery-oriented and evidence-based treatment interventions, expanding team use of clinical practice guidelines and standardized team processes, and providing Veteran access to same day mental health services, self-management tools and community linkages.  

The Atlanta VA is one of the fastest growing and largest VA Health Care Systems in the country, and the Atlanta VA’s BHIP program treats Veterans at 15 sites of care across metropolitan area and rural north Georgia, with a catchment area extending from Blairsville in the North and Pike county in the South, to Carrollton in the West and Covington to the East. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Atlanta VA’s BHIP program completed over 130,000 clinical encounters for northward of 40,000 unique patients. 

The BHIP program is comprised of approximately 320 staff multidisciplinary staff members, some of whom are members of Emory’s faculty and contribute to Emory’s training programs, committees, and research. This includes providing lectures and clinical supervision to Emory trainees. Atlanta BHIP collaborates closely with the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program for Veterans requesting intensive treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many BHIP team members routinely attend and benefit from Emory’s Grand Rounds continuing education presentations.   

An important BHIP emphasis is on continuous process improvement, and the Atlanta VA’s BHIP program has implemented process redesign resulting in measurable improvements in Veterans’ mental health care. Among these improved outcomes are: 

• Hiring of same day access nurse practitioners, who are available to Veterans presenting through a variety of modalities (walk-in, email, telephone) for same day mental health needs
• Hiring of BHIP care managers, who assume a care coordination role within the BHIP team that frees therapists to focus on providing evidence-based psychotherapy
• Increased access to evidence-based and evidence-informed psychotherapy
• Increased completion rates of suicide risk screenings and comprehensive suicide risk evaluations 
• Dedicated team members within BHIP teams who track and follow higher-risk patient populations
• Development of an auditing process that strengthens continuity of care as the Veteran proceeds from the intake into treatment 
• Increased rates of transitioning Veterans who are psychiatrically stable to a lower level of care, consistent with recovery model principles
• Advances in panel management and patient tracking
• Improved same day access for Veterans through direct methods to contact their BHIP teams via email, telephone, or presenting same-day to the clinic
• Upgrades to the process by which Veterans are assigned a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC), who serves as a mental health point of contact and care coordinator for Veterans while enrolled in BHIP
• A revamped standardized intake format that captures Joint Commission behavioral health standards, Whole Health questions and more

Those interested in learning more about the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program model of service delivery can visit here. 

Contributing to this write-up were: 

• Daniel Mullins, PhD, Director - Outpatient General Mental Health, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Joseph Bishop, MD, Medical Director – Outpatient General Mental Health, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• William Bruer, PsyD, ABPP, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health West, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Marina Demetrashvili, MD, Regional Medical Director, General Mental Health Central, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Michelle Casimir, PsyD, ABPP, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health South, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Kristine McDaniel, MD, Regional Medical Director, General Mental Health South, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Emil Muly, MD, Regional Medical Director, General Mental Health North, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Zachary Friedman, PsyD, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health North
• Marcus Bates, LCSW, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health Central
• Monique Colvin, LCSW, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health SNP
• Abdul Syed, MD, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health West
• Rachel Holt, PhD, Regional Clinical Director, General Mental Health Central, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University
• Kalpana Prasad, MD, Regional Medical Director, General Mental Health Central

References: Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. (April, 2022). Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Collaborative Chronic Care Model (BHIP-CCM) Enhancement Guide. Veterans Health Administration.  

NEW FACULTY

Amaan Ali, MD – Amaan Ali, is originally from the metro Atlanta area. He received his Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Florida and his Master of Education in professional community counseling from the University of Georgia. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia and completed family medicine residency at Los Angeles County Harbor–UCLA. After residency, he completed a fellowship in addiction medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. Amaan will be working at the Emory Addiction Center. His research interests include addiction medicine, especially the health disparities that exist within the field. He is also interested in the implementation of addiction medicine into medical education and advocating for patients with substance use disorders. 

Gabriella Riley, MD – Gabriella Riley is originally from Boston and has lived for the past 16 years in New York City before moving to Georgia! She went to NYU Grossman School of Medicine for her MD and completed her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business during medical school. She also did residency at NYU before completing her fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry/Psycho-Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. Gabriella moved here with her husband, daughter and cat as her husband is completing his Otolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer fellowship at Emory Midtown. Gabriella will be working at Emory Winship Midtown as an outpatient psychiatric oncologist seeing patients with active cancer. Her special interests include psychiatry in the terminally ill and existential psychiatry ala Frankel and Yalom. Her hobbies include video games, hiking, reading and spending time with her 1-year-old daughter. She is very excited to learn more about Emory and Atlanta in general! 

DISC – GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Alexandra Perez, PsyD, Assistant Professor – Growing up in Miami, Alexandra was surrounded by a vibrant tapestry of cultures, languages and traditions. Her own heritage is a blend of Caribbean, European and South American roots — her mother’s family hails from Cuba and Spain, while her father’s side is from Chile and Spain. Later in life, she married a Nicaraguan and spent two years living in Nicaragua, which gave her firsthand exposure to Central American culture. This unique mix of influences has shaped not only my worldview but also her Spanish accent, which many native speakers find difficult to place — a fun fact that often sparks curiosity and conversation.

Nochebuena, the Christmas Eve celebration cherished in many Latin American cultures, has always been a cornerstone of Alexandra’s family’s identity. For them it’s more than a holiday; it’s a time for gathering, sharing traditional foods, music and stories that connect them to their Cuban roots. These traditions continue to ground Alexandra in her heritage and keep their family history alive, even as they adapt to new places and experiences.

During Alexandra’s college years, she encountered a microaggression that left a lasting impression. Someone questioned whether she was born in the U.S. because of her Spanish accent. Having grown up in Miami’s diverse community, she had not realized that others might see me as “different” from other Americans. While the comment felt dismissive and made her self-conscious, she learned to embrace her accent as part of her identity and used such moments to educate others about the diversity within Hispanic and Latinx communities.

Alexandra’s intersectional background — Caribbean, South American and European roots, shaped by life in both the U.S. and Central America — has taught her identity is complex and fluid. Accents, traditions and family stories rarely fit neatly into one category. This perspective drives her to approach people and situations with curiosity, empathy and openness. Alexandra believes it is essential to recognize diversity exists within diversity; even within a single cultural or linguistic group, there are countless ways of being, speaking and living. Valuing that nuance is key to building truly inclusive spaces.

Professionally, Alexandra’s background and bilingual abilities have deeply influenced her approach to clinical work and teaching. She routinely adjusts her communication style to ensure cultural and linguistic accessibility, provide feedback in clients’ preferred languages and remain mindful of culturally specific norms and family structures. In teaching and service, she seeks opportunities to highlight cultural diversity, ensure materials are inclusive and mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds. Clinically, she advocates for assessment tools and interventions that are linguistically and culturally appropriate, striving to create environments where families feel understood and respected.

Navigating multiple cultures and languages, and experiencing life in different countries, has fostered resilience. Facing assumptions about Alexandra’s identity was initially challenging, but these experiences strengthened her self-awareness, cultural pride and ability to advocate for herself and others. Embracing her complex identity has taught Alexandra to approach differences with empathy and find strength in the unique perspectives she brings to every space she enters.

WELLNESS COMMITTEE

The Wellness Committee is recruiting members! 

If you have an interest in helping others, make better lifestyle choices and create a culture of wellness, we need you! We’re looking for members in the Department who are available to meet at least once a month. 

Contact Elizabeth McCord and Rachel Ammirati if interested.

FACULTY KUDOS

Major Leadership Appointments, Activities and Achievements

Kara Brendle is the Vice President for Practice for the Society for Couples and Family Psychology, Division 43 of the American Psychological Assoication.

Brandon Kitay has been elected to the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) Board of Directors for the 2026 - 2028 term. CFHA is a national organization that supports healthcare professionals in integrating physical and behavioral health through evidence-based systems of practice. Members include behavioral health professionals, medical providers, allied health professionals, academic workforce educators, policy makers and payors. 

Ann Schwartz is the Treasurer of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Her term as Vice President of this professional society will begin in November.

Research 

Dunlop BW, Phillips NL, Rothbaum BO. The Emory Treatment Resistance Interview for PTSD-Short Version (E-TRIP-S). J Clin Psychiatry. 2025 Oct 1;86(4):25m15956. doi: 10.4088/JCP.25m15956. PMID: 41037754.

Fiskeaux M, Finley BA, Goldstein D, Sender J, Rogers ML, Palitsky R. What we talk about when we talk about psychiatric mental health nurses' work-related distress: An umbrella review and concept mapping network analysis, International Journal of Nursing Studies, Volume 172, 2025, 105211, ISSN 0020-7489.

Hyatt CS, Sharpe BM, Vize CE, Chrysosferidis JR, Fiskeaux M, Haft SM, Hellman NM, Dove MC, Rauch SAM, Rothbaum BO, Maples-Keller JL. Personality traits as predictors of PTSD and depression symptoms following exposure-based treatment in an intensive outpatient program, Journal of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Volume 11, 2025, 100123, ISSN 2950-0044.

Rauch SAM, Kim HM, Acierno R, Ragin C, Wangelin B, Blitch K, Muzzy W, Hart S, and Ingham G. (2025). Trajectories of change in prolonged exposure for primary care: Who most likely benefits? Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 17(8), 1799–1807.

Worrell C, Baune BT, Benedetti F, Cattaneo A, Picker LD, Felger JC, Gold SM, Lamers F, Leboyer M, Lombardo G, Mäntylä F-L, Miller AH, Mondelli V, Penninx BWJH, Sforzini L, Stein DJ, Vai B, Eycken EV der, Woods A, Zwiep J. (2025). Anti-inflammatories for depression: Challenges and ASPIRations. The Lancet Psychiatry, 0(0). 

Xiao C, Miller AH, Paul S, Fedirko V, Peng G, Conneely KN, Felger JC, Shin DM, Saba NF, Bruner DW. Neighborhood deprivation and biological and psychosocial outcomes for head and neck cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Oct 1;8(10):e2538569.

Xiao C, Quan J, Miller A, and Kim G. (2026). Chapter 28—Association between short-chain fatty acids and fatigue. In CR Martin, VR Preedy, VB Patel and R Rajendram (Eds.), The Scientific Basis of Fatigue (pp. 323–334). Academic Press.

Honors, Awards, Rankings

Jed Mangal received the Outstanding Service Award at the Annual Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Conference.

Media

Nadine Kaslow (1) Today | Break Up With Your Therapist If They Keep Doing This 1 Thing, Experts Say.

Andrew Miller (1) BrainFacts | How Inflammation Can Drive Depression.

Cristina Pritchett (1) GPB-FM | Mental health symptoms vary by disease of dementia. Here's how to differentiate from Alzheimer's.

Michael Treadway (1) New York Times | Does joy feel out of reach? There’s a word for that.

Presentations

Currin DL, Marshall-Lee ED, Ellis DM, (October 17, 2025). Technology within Psychotherapy Practices, Georgia Psychological Association (virtual presentation).

Marshall-Lee, ED, (October 9, 2025). Social Justice Advocacy and Why it is Important, Medical College of Georgia (virtual presentation) 

Rebecca Schneider presented at the International OCD Foundation’s Advanced Pediatric OCD Forum on “When Harm OCD, Depression and NSSI Collide: Integrating ERP, DBT and ACT in a Complex Youth Case.” 

The following med-psych residents faculty members presented at the annual Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Conference:  

• Nathan Scheiner - DDAVP as an Adjunctive Treatment for Lithium-Induced Arginine-Vasopressin Resistance (Presentation)
• Liz McCord - GLP Wonder Drugs: The Panacea for All Health Problems? (Presentattion)
• Gregg Robbins-Welty - Beyond Opioid Dose Conversions: Advanced Topics in Palliative Care Pharmacology for the Internist-Psychiatrist (Presentation)
• Mark Spencer, DeJuan White - Redefining Reentry: Integrated Medical and Mental Health Care for Post- Incarceration Recovery (Poster)

TRAINEE KUDOS

Sydnee Akubuiro was a recipient of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Educational Outreach Program for Child and Adolescent Residents.

Kaki Bennett, PGY 5, received the Fenton Award at the annual Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Conference - awarded to a single outstanding PGY 5 in all combined internal medicine-psychiatry, family medicine-psychiatry, neurology-psychiatry and pediatrics/child/adult psychiatry programs

Malone N, Palomino KA, Penniston TL, Adane N, Kerney MA, Hargons CN. (2025). “Its an honor to be in this body”: A Black feminist grounded theory of embodiment through yoga among Black womxn. Body Image, 55, 101982. 

Zoe Pollock, PGY 4, was a 3rd Place Winner Resident Vignette Competition at the annual Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Conference. 

The following med-psych residents presented at the annual Association of Medicine and Psychiatry Conference:  

• Abby Wilson, PGY 2, Jed Mangal (Poster) - Mind before Motor: A Case Highlighting Diagnostic Delay in Huntington's Disease
• Jordan Hildenbrand, PGY 4, Patricio Riva Posse (Poster) - A Fahr-Fetched Mimicker of Extrapyramidal Symptoms and Tardive Dyskinesia
• Tahj Blow, PGY 3, John Deppe (Poster) - Auditory Hallucinations Driving Decompensation in Concurrent Schizophrenia and PAPASH Syndrome
• Zoe Pollock, PGY 4 (Presentation) - "Beyond the Blues: An Affective Presentation with Unusual Roots"- Neurosarcoid  

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Paddock JR. (2025). A review of Case Studies in Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. If I Could Turn Back Time: Feldman, B. I. (2025). Guilford. Psychoanalysis, Self and Context, 1-6. 

Paddock JR. (2025). Defragmentation and consolidation through music: A review of The self-restorative power of music: A psychological perspective by Frank Lachmann. Psychoanalytic Inquiry. 45(3), 318-321. 

Paddock JR. (2025). One cannot not communicate: A review of Talking Bodies: A new vision of psychoanalytic theory, practice and supervision by Doris Brothers and Jon Sletvold. Psychoanalytic Inquiry. 45(3), 322-327.