Explore UAB

Joanne Makar, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in June 2024. A native of Palm Harbor, Florida, Makar completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and medical school at Florida State University.

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

The holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration but can also lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. With what can seem like an endless roster of social events, gift-giving obligations, and the pressure to create the perfect holiday experience, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Li Li, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, was recently awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to expand substance use disorder (SUD) training for medical students. The goal is not only to better equip medical students with the skill sets necessary to treat patients with SUD but also to ultimately address SUD as a national health crisis.

The holiday season, a time typically filled with joy and togetherness, can be especially challenging for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The holidays can feel like a dreadful reminder of a person or animal’s absence.

Jana Badrani, a doctoral candidate in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), recently received a T32 Fellowship Program in Multifaceted Translational Approaches in Mental Illness grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health to study the effect of immune cells on neurons and behavior.

Cameryn Eickstead, a doctoral candidate in the UAB Behavioral Neuroscience Ph.D. program, is studying the role of violence exposure in adolescents in brain function and mental health supported by a T32 Fellowship Program in Multifaceted Translational Approaches in Mental Illness grant. Adrienne C. Lahti, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, and Yogesh Dwivedi, Ph.D., Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs/Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, are principal investigators for the grant. 

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.