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We are thrilled to announce the employees recognized this month in our Let’s S.H.I.N.E. Psychiatry Rewards and Recognition Program! These outstanding team members have gone above and beyond, exemplifying our department’s values through their dedication, compassion, and hard work.

In 2021, an estimated 2.5 million people in the U.S. aged 18 years or older had an opioid use disorder, and only 1 in 5 of them received medications to treat it, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Barriers to care often include lack of insurance or other financial resources, inadequate access to transportation, poor social support, and confusion about where and how to access care. At UAB, providers in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology are doing their part to break down these barriers.

Jerri Edwards, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, is continuing work on a grant from the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging totaling $24 million over the course of 5 years for her study, ACTIVE Mind: An adaptive clinical trial of cognitive training to improve function and delay dementia.

Emma Cao, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in June 2024. A native of Mountain Brook, Alabama, Cao completed her undergraduate degree at Auburn University and medical school at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, recently received the Startup of the Year Award from the Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship for her new startup, ReACT FND Health.

S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., FSBSM, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, will soon begin his tenure as president of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM), effective November 1, 2024.

Eight faculty members in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology have received promotions and/or tenure, effective Oct. 1, 2024. 

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology welcomed Kevin Karl, Ph.D., to the faculty as an assistant professor in July 2024.

In the United States, the suicide rate has risen 33.7 percent since the year 2000. In Alabama, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, and the state has had higher suicide rates than the national average since 1990. In addition, 90 percent of suicides have a current diagnosable psychiatric disorder, the most common being major depression.

In an ongoing effort to prevent rising statistics related to suicide attempts and deaths, a beacon of hope shines bright in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology: The Suicide Prevention and Recovery in Healthcare initiative. This pioneering program doesn’t just offer a lifeline; it empowers individuals to navigate through their darkest moments toward a path of healing and resilience.

The UAB Department of Psychiatry welcomed Amanda Pomerantz, D.O., to the faculty as an assistant professor in July 2024.

As the new school year begins, many focus on getting supplies and organizing schedules, but one key aspect often gets overlooked—sleep.

Quality sleep is essential for more than just staying alert; it’s crucial for your brain’s ability to process information, improve memory, and manage stress. Prioritizing sleep also helps prevent increased anxiety and depression. Making sleep a non-negotiable part of your routine is vital for maintaining mental well-being throughout the school year.

Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., and Shinichi Kano, M.D., Ph.D., were recently named to endowed professorship positions in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology.

Andrew Alexander, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in June 2024. A native of Plano, Texas, Alexander completed his undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University and medical school at Texas A&M College of Medicine. 

Get to know Dr. Alexander better with three quick questions!

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an innovative therapy used to treat treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Unlike traditional therapies that rely on medications or invasive procedures, TMS offers a non-invasive approach that accurately targets specific brain regions affected by these conditions.

In a world where the mental health of our children and adolescents is of paramount concern, the scarcity of specialized child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States is a glaring issue. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there are approximately 8,300 practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists in the U.S., a number dwarfed by the staggering demand for their expertise, with more than 15 million children and adolescents in need of their care. Recognizing this critical gap, the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology has stepped up to the plate, offering fellowship training through the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program.

Faculty and trainees in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology attended the 2024 Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium retreat at Lake Martin, Alabama, July 19-20. The AAIC brings together a network of imaging researchers from UAB, Auburn University, The University of Alabama, and The University of South Alabama.

The Alabama Brain Collection (ABC), a cornerstone of groundbreaking postmortem brain tissue research since 2008, was founded by Rosalinda Roberts, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. The ABC was established to collect and distribute high-quality, well-characterized human postmortem brain tissue for the research community.

Barriers to mental health treatment affect millions in need of care; however, one groundbreaking program recently launched by the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology is effectively changing that.

The human mind is a complex and enigmatic entity, the depths of which continue to elude complete understanding. In the pursuit of unraveling the mysteries of the mind, the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology stands at the forefront of groundbreaking research programs. These programs not only shed light on the intricacies of mental health but also hold the promise of transformative discoveries that could shape the future of psychiatry. The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology offers unique research programs that will advance our understanding of the human psyche.

Suicide rates reached their highest levels in decades in 2022, and rates of anxiety, depression, and addiction are on the rise.

Despite having the world's most expensive healthcare system, the United States struggles with a significant disparity between health spending and the quality of life of its population. This discrepancy is evident in the country's lower life expectancy than other developed nations.