Q2 | 2019
BRAINSTORMS Quarterly Publication of the University of Miami Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
In This Edition:
Happy Anniversary, CNSA! UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program Designated a TAA Center of Excellence and much more!
A Message from the Interim Chairman
As you know, there have been many changes in the Department over the last six months. We have welcomed wonderful new faculty and staff and bid farewell to other members of our team.
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ear Friends,
Our longstanding Vice Chairman of Finance
are staying in our UHealth system; some
and Administration Jared Abramson has
continuing their education with fellowships,
opportunity at George Washington University
the VA. Retaining residents is one of the greatest
stepped down to pursue a truly incredible
in Washington, DC. Jared was integral in every aspect of running the department. He expertly
and some recruited to work at UM, Jackson or accomplishments for a Program Director.
Lastly, I am ecstatic to share that the UHealth
managed business development, research
Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program
more. We wish Jared and his family well on this
psychiatry, Dr. Barbara Coffey, has received
administration, finances, operations and much next chapter. He will be tremendously missed!
As well, another fantastic member of our team
Dr. Rachel Neuhut, has departed UM for New
York City with her family. Within the Division
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Neuhut
treated patients at the undergraduate Counseling
Center at UM Gables and supervised fellows
in the Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital
outpatient clinic. Her enthusiasm and devotion
to teaching will be sorely missed. We wish her
and her family all the best!
Just a few weeks ago, we were delighted to
celebrate our resident and fellow graduates.
I am happy to share with you that the majority 2 | BrainStorms | Q2 | 2019
led by our division chief of child and adolescent an official Tourette Association of America
Center of Excellence designation! Obtaining such a designation is no easy feat and
demonstrates superiority in clinical care and a commitment to groundbreaking research.
We are extremely proud to have received this recognition—kudos to Dr. Coffey for building this distinguished program!
I look forward to sharing more updates
with you in the fall. Until then, best wishes for a relaxing summer. Radu
Dr. Barbara Coffey’s UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program Designated a TAA Center of Excellence e are thrilled to report that our UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has officially received the prestigious designation of a Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence! Barbara Coffey, MD MS, Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Director of the Program says, “We are absolutely delighted to be honored with this designation from the TAA!! The new Center of Excellence will draw upon our University-wide strengths and resources in clinical, educational and research domains across the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, Pediatrics and Neurology. Our team is looking forward to serving our community's youth, families and adults who have been impacted by tic disorders and Tourette syndrome.” The designation is significant because it recognizes medical institutions that offer
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1 160 children between the ages of 5 and 17 out of every
in the United States has TS and
1 100 children has TS or another out of every
Tic Disorder
It’s not clear what causes TS; the conditions are hereditary so genetics plays a role. Environmental, developmental or other factors may also contribute, but currently, no specific event has been identified as the cause. https://www.tourette.org/abouttourette/overview/ https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/tourette/facts.html
the highest level of care, are undertaking groundbreaking research, are leaders in training and education and/or provide exceptional community outreach and advocacy for Tourette syndrome and other Tic Disorders.1 Dr. Coffey has worked tirelessly to establish a flagship tics & Tourette’s program at UM. Through collaborations with colleagues in several other departments, as well as the Tourette Association of America, we couldn’t be prouder to join the other Centers of Excellence across the country to address the needs and concerns in the critical areas of: expert and coordinated care, research, training and education, community outreach and advocacy awareness. The UHealth Tics, OCD and Related Problems Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of pediatric and adult health care providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and neurologists. Centered within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the program provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of individuals of all ages with tic disorders, Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety disorders, Autism Spectrum Tics are involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations. They are the defining feature of a group of childhood-onset, neurodevelopmental conditions known collectively as Tic Disorders and known individually as Tourette Syndrome, Persistent Chronic Tic Disorder, and Provisional Tic Disorder. l Boys are three to five times more likely
to have TS than girls. l People from all racial and ethnic groups can have TS but non-Hispanic white children are twice as likely to have a TS diagnosis as Hispanic and non-Hispanic black children. l Children 12–17 years of age are twice as likely to be diagnosed with TS as children 6-11 years of age.
Dr. Barbara Coffey was recently awarded the 2019 Virginia Q. Anthony Outstanding Woman Leader Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry! The award recognizes her exemplary career and contributions to the mental health field as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Coffey will be honored at a meeting in Chicago in October.
Disorder (ASD) and learning disorders. Dr. Coffey is currently accepting referrals of individuals of all ages. For more information on the program, please click here or email mxc1668@med.miami.edu. 1. https://tourette.org/about-tourette/overview/ centers-of-excellence/
Motor tics: tics that cause a movement Vocal/phonic tics: tics that produce a sound l Among children diagnosed
with TS, 86% also have been diagnosed with at least one additional mental, behavioral, or developmental condition, such as: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), OCD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities.
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CNSA Celebrates First Anniversary! much looking forward to our continued work with our partners in the UM Neuroscience Pillar and a number of ongoing national and international collaborations.” In its first year, investigators at the Center received unprecedented federal and state grant support in excess of $10M. Thanks to these funds, they will be able to continue furthering the novel research behind Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, pursuing science to identify the most efficacious treatments
and therapies for cognitive disorders, and developing innovative programs that technologically advance cognitive assessment methodologies that are sensitive to pre-clinical dementia. The CNSA is well on its way to fulfilling its mission to be national and international leaders in understanding the aging brain and becoming a hub to develop and employ the most stateof-the-art techniques for the study of brain disorders. Below, some highlights from the Center’s banner year.
H Dr. Rosie Curiel Cid
H The CNSA
H A study by Curiel et al
became the youngest Hispanic woman ever at UM to receive a $3M R01 grant for her work on computerized cognitive stress tests for early detection of brain disease.
launched a study funded by the Florida Department of Health that will carefully work up middle-aged sons and daughters of older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
was accepted for publication in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, ‘ Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring’ that shows our LASSI-L cognitive stress test has multiethnic generalizability.
H The Center
H Twenty additional papers
stablished a collaboration with the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics to conduct genetic analyses for a large cohort of older adults from multiple ethnicities.
were published or are in presss in high-impact journals including the Journal of Psychiatric Research, Neuron, Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, and Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease.
t has been one year since our Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging was established on June 1st, 2018! There has been no shortage of activity and there’s plenty more to come. Dr. David Loewenstein, Director of the CNSA, stated, “It is my honor to lead this extraordinary team. This past year has far exceeded expectations and each member of the Center played a vital role in helping us achieve our goals. We are full-steam ahead and I am very
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H Dr. Daniel Jimenez received $3M in funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) for his Happy Older Latinos are Active (HOLA) study, a community health worker-led, multicomponent health promotion intervention.
H Dr. Loewenstein was awarded a 3.6M in NIH funding to determine how the relationship between brain amyloid, tau proteins and proactive and retroactive semantic interference in persons at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
H Co-authors Dr. Loewenstein and Dr. Curiel Cid
and CNSA, gave three talks on Alzheimer’s attended by hundreds of people; and hosted six community health fairs in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, where an estimated 56,000 people have probable AD.
H Submitted the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC)
H Expanded the CNSA team
renewal application where UM will have a leading role if funded.
Dr. Marcela Kitaigorodsky, Dr. Rosie Curiel Cid, Dr. Elizabeth Crocco, Dr. David Loewenstein
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H Dr. Elizabeth Crocco
had their work published in Neurology: “Utilizing Semantic Intrusions to Identify Amyloid Positivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment,” funded by the National Institute on Aging. The paper was also featured on the homepage of the NIA website.
Members of the CNSA
to include one assistant professor, three postdocs, five research assistants and one project manager.
Department Achievements
Dr. Dante Durand Inducted into Beta, Gamma, Sigma International Business Honor Society Dante Durand, MD, MBA, Director of Clinical Services, was recently inducted into The International Business Honor
Society Beta, Gamma, Sigma. Since 1913, BSG has recognized and honored top performing students from around the world in business schools accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; only 5% of business school programs are accredited. Dr. Durand recently completed his Executive MBA at UM, with an emphasis on healthcare. Congratulations, Dr. Durand!
Dr. Linda Neider, President of the South Florida Chapter of the Society, Chair of the Department of Management at UM and Dr. Durand.
Structured Crisis Call Training for Psychiatry Residents: Quality Improvement Project Wins Third Place in VA Research Competition The Structured Crisis Call Training for Residents: Quality Improvement Project won third place in the VA research competition in May. The project entails a model for psychiatric residents when responding to telephone calls from patients who are in mental health crisis. It was developed by Dr. Mousa Botros, Dr. Valentina Metsavaht, Dr. Jessica Mikolowsky, Dr. Maite Castillo, Ms. Kendyl Stewart, Mr. David Pirola, Dr. Gloria Lewis, Dr. Rebecca Arana, Dr. Spencer Eth and Dr. Daniella David.
The model includes a pilot step-wise algorithm that offers a simple and precise response to help guide psychiatry residents, as well as a 90-minute training session for residents supplemented by role playing potential case scenarios. The VA research day—through the South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education, Inc.—is an important opportunity to present—in public—VA-supported research that benefits Veterans’ health and the nation at large. There was a tremendous number of basic and clinical research posters and projects presented and the team was honored to receive the award. Congratulations to all!
Dr. Mousa Botros accepts the award from Dr. Robert Jackson, professor of medicine and pulmonologist at the VA.
ongratulations to the following members of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences on their recent achievements!
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Dr. Claes Wahlestedt Published in Aging Cell for New Study that Identifies Molecular Aging ‘Midlife Crisis’ By Peter Laird
Just as a computer requires code to work, our bodies are regulated by molecular “programs” that are written early in life and then have to do their job properly for a lifetime. But do they? It’s a question that has intrigued researchers for years. Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate dean for therapeutic innovation at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is senior author of a new study— “Longevity Related Molecular Pathways Are Subject to Midlife ‘Switch’ in
Humans”—published June 6 in Aging Cell. In the study, Dr. Wahlestedt makes a striking observation: Key molecular programs known to promote longevity do not last beyond midlife. “For over a decade, it has been clear that key biochemical events regulate the longevity of small short-lived animals such as worms, flies, and mice, but these mechanisms had not been observed to be active in humans,” Dr. Wahlestedt said. “In this international clinical and genomic study, we report for the first time that humans use these same biochemical pathways during aging.” Surprisingly, however, the study found that humans appear to stop using these pathways from about 50 years of age onward.
“How long and how ‘hard’ each person regulates these pathways may influence human lifespan,” Dr. Wahlestedt said. “Established anti-aging strategies may no longer be effective, and new approaches will be needed in long-lived humans.” Which raises the question: If one wishes to boost these established “anti-aging” programs with drugs, nutrients, or lifestyle choices, is it too late to start by the time you reach your 60s? “Possibly,” Dr. Wahlestedt said—at least if you hope to benefit fully from such interventions.” Read more on this study and view the full paper in the digital version of BrainStorms at issuu.com/umpsych.
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Events Dr. Firdaus Dhabhar on Using Stress to Your Advantage
In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness month, Firdaus Dhabhar, PhD, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, visited three UM campuses to address the fact that stress is an unavoidable part of life and how it would be very beneficial if we could use stress to our advantage. The title of his talk was: ‘Harnessing the Power of Good Stress and Minimizing Bad Stress to Promote Health and Well-Being.’ Dr. Dhabhar discussed
Dr. Phil Harvey Hosts Breakout Session at Inaugural Full Service Partnership Conference in Los Angeles
In May, Phil Harvey, PhD, Division Chief of Psychology, traveled to Los Angeles, CA for the Inaugural Full Service Partnership (FSP) Conference. A collaboration between UCLA and the LA County Department of Mental Health, the Public Mental Health Partnership aims to implement exemplary training and technical assistance activities focused on vulnerable populations with serious mental illness in ways that build excellence in public mental health care across Los Angeles County. In fact, the
Mental Health America 2019 Annual Conference
The theme of this year’s Mental Health America’s Annual Conference in Washington, DC was Dueling Diagnoses: Mental Health and Chronic Conditions in Children and Adults, in response to unmet needs from across the health and mental health communities. There is a lack of uniformity across the health spectrum in how illnesses are categorized and deemed as chronic diseases and chronic conditions. Not only does this create confusion, but it may lead
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three primary topics: 1) the beneficial effects of short term stress that enhance protection or performance during times of threat or challenge, and the practical applications of these effects; 2) key characteristics of chronic stress and its harmful effects; and 3) ways to optimize your Stress Spectrum in order to harness the beneficial/protective effects of shortterm stress and to minimize or eliminate the harmful effects of chronic stress. Dr. Dhabhar’s presentations welcomed dozens of individuals from all walks and stages of life. Stay tuned for more fascinating research coming out of Dr. Dhabhar’s lab on the ubiquitous issue of stress! commissioner of Mental Health in LA County is Jonathan Sherin, MD, former ACOS for mental health at the Miami VA and current adjunct professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UM. The full-day conference welcomed direct service providers working within the FSP program (clinicians, case managers, peer specialists, and more) who presented breakout sessions on a myriad of mental health topics. In Dr. Harvey’s presentation, Disability Reduction Through Computerized Cognitive Training and Skills Focused Interventions, he presented information about the background on disability and its determinants in severe mental illness; the benefits of computerized cognitive
professionals across the spectrum to focus on specific illnesses and disregard other aspects of the person being treated. In line with this year’s theme, Dr. Barbara Coffey, along with Amanda Talty and Tanya Sockol from the Tourette Association of America’s Florida Chapter, spoke on the Impact and Management of Tourette Syndrome and Co-Occurring Conditions. Their talk explained an estimated 86% of children diagnosed with TS have at least one additional mental, behavioral, or developmental condition; the origin of tics; and how these disorders are diagnosed.
Dr. Firdaus Dhabhar
training; and technology-based skills training in order to bypass limited access to functional skills training, which is common even in high quality healthcare systems, and lead to disability reduction in critical everyday activities.
Dr. Phil Harvey
Tanya Sockol (TAA), Dr. Barbara Coffey, and Amanda Talty (TAA)
American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting t was another outstanding year for the Department at the 2019 APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. This year marked the 175th Anniversary of the APA and the conference’s theme was ‘Revitalize Psychiatry: Disrupt, Include, Engage and Innovate.’ More than 650 sessions were offered on a wide variety of mental health topics. Once again, we were delighted to have dozens of department members represent UM, including 17 residents, fellows and medical students who presented 16 posters! Poster presentations included a plethora of psychiatric topics ranging between mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, psychotropic medications, psychosomatic topics, including substance abuse disorders, job stress, physician burnout, and much more.
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Presenters Dr. Mousa Botros The Relationship between Burnout and Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Ideation among Medical Resident Physicians: A Literature Review
HIV-Related Stigma and Suicidality in a Spanish-Speaking Population
Dr. Cody Bryant Suicide prevention in health care settings: an emergency pull cord creates the emergency Dr. Yasin Bez Analysis of Job Stress, Interpersonal Conflict, Job Neglect, and Turnover Intention: A Comparative Study in Health Sector Dr. Nicole Derish Differentiating Postpartum Depression and Normal Grief in an Adolescent Mother After Neonatal Demise Dr. Salman Elfeky Religious Fasting Leading to a PEG Tube for More Than One Year While on Clozapine: Beahvior Driven by OCD or Psychosis?
Dr. Zelde Espinel Lessons from the 2017 Atlantic Hurricanes Predict Increasing Risks for Psychopathology from Extreme Storms throughout the 21st Century Dr. David Martinez-Garza Medium dose quetiapine-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in a nonnaive patient Long-term effects of brief integrative body-mind mindfulness meditation in an acute health and recovery unit Dr. Valentina Metsavaht Cara Youth Violence and the Brain: an fMRI study of the effects of exposure to violence on executive functions Dr. Lisa Oliveri Sadder But Wiser: Depression Outweighs Sex and Schizophrenia in Self-Assessment of Interpersonal Functioning Dr. Jonathan Parker A case of SILENT Syndrome (irreversible lithium effectuated neurotoxicity) Dr. Shumaia Rahman Availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the hospital setting: a potential hazard for ethanol seekers Drs. Sonya Sandhu and Kristi Wintermeyer “Just Transfer to Psych:” When Psychiatric Symptoms Represent Organic Pathology Dr. Shivanshu Shrivastava Catatonia in Pediatric Population: Case Report and Literature Review Awards & Recognition Area Five Resident Fellow Member (RFM) Poster Award from the Area Five Council of the American Psychiatric Association Dr. Valentina Metsavaht Youth Violence and the Brain: an fMRI study of the effects of exposure to violence on executive functions
The study investigates the effects of preadolescent exposure to violence on brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a task that tests executive functions. It was discovered that more exposure to violence was associated with less activation of anterior and posterior brain regions in an inhibitory control task, in Latin-America preadolescents. The study also showed that a deterioration in the performance was associated with less activation of these anterior and posterior brain network. The deactivation of bilateral networks associated with inhibitory control and sustained attention suggests a deleterious effect of exposure to violence on brain function associated with an ability that is associated with quality of life. The findings provide evidence that youth victimization and exposure to violence is associated with altered neural patterns underlying executive functioning, indicating possible targets to preventive interventions. APA Research Colloquium Awardees Drs. David Martinez Garza and Ilya Blokhin Received one-and-a-half days of research mentoring from top mental health doctors in American Academic Psychiatry. Media Dr. Zelde Espinel was featured and gave a presentation in the New Research Briefing press session at the APA and was featured in Medpage Today in an article titled Extreme Weather’s Damage Extends to Mental Health. The study was also featured in Popular Science, HealthDay, MDEdge Clinical Psychiatry News, and APA news releases. Drs. Cody Bryant, Kristi Wintermeyer, Lujain Alhajji, Vanessa Padilla, and Samir Sabbag had their article, Emergency Pull Cords Present Danger for Patients with Suicidal Intent featured in Psychiatry Advisor.
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Vanessa Padilla, David Martinez Garza, Salman Elfeky, Valentina Metsavaht Cara, Mousa Botros
Valentina Metsavaht Cara
Donna Vanderpool and Mousa Botros
David Martinez Garza
Andrea Santo, Zelde Espinel, Jonathan Parker Valentina Metsavaht Cara, Lisa Oliveri, Krystal Nicht, Yasin Bez, Mousa Botros, Shumaia Rahman
Vanessa Padilla and Cody Bryant
Valentina Metsavaht Cara and Dr. Edward Thomas Lewis III, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina
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Faculty Feature | Dante Durand, MD, MBA, Director of Clinical Services, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences ell us about your background–where are you from and what led you to UM? I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. My parents and the Salesian Catholic education I received set the grounds for who I am now as a person and as a professional. My passion for science led me to pursue a medical career at Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University, where my interest for neurosciences and mental health arose. After graduation, I decided to do my residency training in Psychiatry at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. During residency I became involved in clinical research and medical student education, and I was appointed chief resident during my last year of training. Before I moved to Miami, I worked at Shands Jacksonville and I received a voluntary faculty appointment at the University of Florida. My wife’s career expectations led us to UM— she was accepted to a two-year post-graduate training program in Dentistry at Jackson/UM and we decided to move to Miami.
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You recently completed your Executive MBA with a focus on healthcare at UM. How has it helped you in your role as Director of Clinical Services? Receiving an executive MBA with focus on health sector from UM has provided me the tools needed to become a well-rounded administrator. The knowledge obtained in operations, health policy, economics, accounting, finances, and management provided me a different view in how to administer and run the different clinical services in the department. It has also helped me in fostering a better relationship with the leadership of our partner, Jackson Health System. You are very involved in running clinical trials at UM. What are some of the studies you’re working on/currently recruiting for? Why are they important? Currently, we are enrolling patients for two studies. One of the studies aims to
prevent relapse in schizophrenia patients. For this purpose, we are using a potent and selective PDE9 inhibitor (BI 1289- 0049) versus placebo on patients who are on antipsychotic treatment. This study is important because relapse in schizophrenia causes gray matter loss, poor functional outcomes with subsequent disability, and increased health care costs. The second study explores the efficacy of vortioxetine for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We are in need of new agents with better side effect profile and potential impact on cognitive deficits for the treatment of PTSD; current treatments have very little impact on cognition on these patients. What are some of your goals for the department? First, I would like to mention that my goals are in alignment with the mission, vision, and values of the Department of Psychiatry. One of the most important goals is to create an environment where clinical faculty feels rewarded for the quality and quantity of clinical work they do. Having motivated faculty will provide excellent education to our medical students, residents, andfellows. We need to keep recruiting our best graduates to create a departmental identity of clinical excellence and teaching. Finally, having clinical faculty with diversity of culture, opinion, and areas of interest will enrich and excel the department to the future of psychiatry. What are some things in the field of psychiatry that need to be rethought? Psychiatry should not be a silo in medicine anymore. The inclusion of psychiatry in different primary care and specialty clinics should be considered in major hospital centers. Due to the high comorbidity of medical problems in patients receiving psychiatric care and their poor compliance with medical care, it makes
Dr. Dante Durand receiving his MBA diploma.
“Receiving my executive MBA has helped me acquire knowledge in operations, health policy, economics, accounting, finance and management. Fluency in these critically important areas sets me up for success running the clinical services in the department.” sense to have psychiatrists in different clinics to provide services in a smooth way. In the long run, this integration of care will decrease stigma against mental illness, provide better health care to patients, and decrease costs overall. As a medical director of the adult outpatient clinic at Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital, I think that psychiatrists should have easier access to neuroimaging and genetics for routine evaluations of patients with psychiatric disorders. I believe that clinical presentations coupled with genetics and neuroimaging (in some cases) could provide higher accuracy for diagnoses. With ongoing research, genetic and neuroimaging markers can also avoid the “trial and error” approach when medications are prescribed.
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Staff Star | Maggy De Tullio, Director of Research Support, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences he Staff Stars column highlights the commitment and accomplishments of an individual in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Nominations may be submitted to Samantha Richter at psychiatry@miami.edu. Please include a brief description of the nominee’s job responsibilities and why you believe they should be the next Star!
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As Director of Research Support, you hold a very important and far-reaching job within the department, managing multi-million-dollar grant portfolios. Grants are notoriously complex; what do you have to do to keep things running smoothly and uninterruptedly? One of my main responsibilities is research financial compliance, which are based on strict funding agency mandates, as well as those of our institution. This task involves accurate and allocable grant expenditures and reporting, adherence to preset and variable budget parameters, regulatory and ethical compliance for clinical research studies, oversight of research personnel, and serving as a liaison to external agencies. I have an amazing team that helps me help me keep track of all of these functions.
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FACES
The UM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences extends a warm welcome to new members of the team: Naomie Payen Research Associate
Michelle Perez Research Assistant
Chantal Clough Research Assistant
Elluz De Jesus Mena Project Manager
Joan Glenny-Pescov Research Associate
Katelyn Barone Research Associate
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I try to promote effective and regular communication with investigators and research staff, and I encourage a strong sense of team solidarity so that every team member feels that they are part of a larger common purpose and that the work remains enjoyable for all. These team characteristics contribute to our successful and streamlined operations. Did you pursue an education to prepare you for this role? I changed my major four times before attaining my undergraduate degree in business. After starting a family, I pursued my M.B.A. So, yes, with respect to the business functions I perform, related to financial analysis and business planning, my educational background helped prepare me for this role. However, I sorted of fell into sponsored research administration. About 12 years ago, my job was expanded to include exposure to grants and I never said “That’s not my job.” I still don’t use that phrase or think that way. I am an eternal learner and this attitude has led me to this point. In your time at UM, you’ve worked in four other departments. What makes Psychiatry unique? The Department of Psychiatry is by far the best unit I have been fortunate to call home.
I find the faculty refreshing because of their strong focus on helping people in the clinic setting, as well as conducting sound research. If there are politics, I haven’t witnessed it in my five and-a-half years in this department. Additionally, I cannot recall a day where I didn’t want to come to work. The environment is conducive to excelling and developing people within their careers, while contributing greatly to our community. What would you be doing if not this? I would be owning an e-commerce business. It’s not too late. That might be plan ‘Q’ in my life journey. What do you enjoy doing outside the office? Any hobbies? I have such an ordinary and uneventful life, and I love it! I love to watch movies, read, walk, take trips abroad every two years, and vacation state-side annually— all with my family and very close friends. If I am not at work, I am with my husband, my 18-year old son, and my 16-year old daughter. Truly, that is what I live for.
Congradulations, Residents!
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What to Do & Where to Go For a Mental Health Emergency, CALL 911 if you believe someone is in danger of hurting themselves or others.
Silver Alert If your loved one has gone missing, please CALL 911 immediately. Silver Alert is a statewide initiative to involve the public in locating a cognitively impaired person who has gotten lost driving or while on foot. For more information visit florida silveralert.com.
University of Miami Hospital (UMH) Mental Health Admissions/ER 305.689.4444
Office Numbers
Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital Triage 305.355.7332
Main Psychiatry Appointment Scheduling 305.355.9028 *Option 1
Common Purpose
Transforming lives through teaching, research and service.
Chairman’s Office 305.243.6400
Courtelis Center 305.243.4129
Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital 305.355.9028 *Option 2
Deerfield Beach 954.571.0117
University of Miami Hospital 305.689.1352 Boca Raton 561.939.4044 Child & Adolescent 305.355.7077 Soffer Clinical Research Center 305.243.2301
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging (CNSA) 305.355.9080 Brain Fitness Pavilion 305.355.9080 *English, Option 3 Memory Disorders Clinic 305.355.9065
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is committed to: Conduct research that deepens our understanding of the development, pathophysiology, and prevention of psychiatric illness and the nature of human behavior, and apply this knowledge to the development and delivery of more effective, evidence-based treatments.
Offer comprehensive treatment and consultation to our patients, their families, and the community. Provide outstanding mental health education and multidisciplinary training to the next generation of healthcare providers and investigators. DIRECCT Core values l Diversity l Integrity l Responsibility l Excellence l Compassion l Creativity l Teamwork
Clinical trials are the backbone of evidence-based medicine. Broadly speaking, clinical trials evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a medical strategy, treatment, or device. Moreover, clinical trials provide an opportunity for the general public to participate in the process of developing novel treatments for a variety of conditions. The results from these clinical trials provide the data necessary to assist in future medical decision-making. The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is dedicated to generating the scientific knowledge behind the clinical best practices we incorporate in the treatment of difficult and complex mental health conditions. The Behavioral Research Assessment Center (BRAC) is the research hub that fulfills the Department’s mission to develop the next line of treatments. For more information on participating in available clinical trials, please email brac@miami.edu or call 305.243.5840.
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BRAINSTORMS Quarterly Publication of the University of Miami Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Executive Editor Samantha Richter Soffer Clinical Research Center 1120 NW 14th Street | Suite 1457 Miami, FL 33136
Health
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
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