Department Kudos | Emory School of Medicine

May 2026

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Faculty Development Seminar

The next Faculty Development Seminar is scheduled for Wednesday August 12 from 9:00-10:30am via Zoom. It is the first of a two part series. It is entitled: Everything You Wanted to Know About Professionalism and What to Do About It: Part 1.

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: Molly Millians, PhD

Molly Millians is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and serves as a clinical education specialist with the Emory Neurodevelopmental Exposure Clinic (ENEC). As a clinical education specialist, she works with children aged 2.5 years through transition to adulthood who have known or suspected prenatal exposure and co-occurring developmental or mental health conditions. Her work focuses on translating clinical findings into practical school and community supports, helping families access services and providing direct interventions to address learning impairments associated with the effects from prenatal alcohol and other exposures.

In this role, Molly participates in ENEC interdisciplinary team evaluations by conducting educational consultations and contributing to development of effective treatment plans. As part of ENEC, she provides case management and monitor the effectiveness of educational interventions for patients. She conducts supplemental assessments using standardized testing and diagnostic teaching approaches to better understand children’s learning profiles and guide treatment planning.

Molly consults with parents and school personnel regarding the effects of prenatal exposures on learning and children’s educational needs. She attends Individualized Education Program (IEP) and other school meetings to discuss how a child’s neurodevelopment status, learning, behavior and diagnoses impact school performance and assist with obtaining services. She also provides resources to teachers and other school personnel on how to support children affected by prenatal alcohol and other exposures in a classroom.

Molly works closely with psychiatry fellows and postdoctoral fellows at ENEC to support their understanding of the medical provider’s role in addressing school-related needs for children affected by prenatal exposures and other learning and behavioral challenges. She also consults with psychologists and psychiatrists in the department regarding educational concerns and navigating school systems.

Additionally, Molly provides services through the Saturday Cognitive Habilitative Program at ENEC. This program provides one-on-one interventions for school-aged children with prenatal exposures that integrate training to improve self-regulation and learning efficiency with direct instruction to address areas of difficulty in reading, mathematics and writing.

Molly’s research focuses on academic and school-related outcomes in children with prenatal exposures, including a current project examining school suspension in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) compared to children with other exposures or other clinical diagnoses.

Outside of Emory, Molly is part of two study groups: FASD and Schools with Formed Families Forward and FASD and Education with Society of Developmental and Behavior Pediatrics, with both focusing on educational issues associated with the effects from prenatal exposure to alcohol. Also, Molly is a consultant on a study with the University of Rochester examining the efficacy of training mental health professionals to care for children with FASD.

What Molly most enjoys about her work is the opportunity to understand and address the complex ways prenatal exposures affect learning and development. She finds this area of work particularly interesting, as each child presents a unique profile that requires ongoing problem-solving and continuous learning. She values being part of the multidisciplinary team at ENEC, where collaboration provides ongoing opportunities to learn from different disciplines. She also enjoys participating in study groups and other projects outside of Emory, as they provide opportunities to consider different perspectives and approaches to treatment.

Molly’s career highlights reflect her work in addressing educational needs related to prenatal exposures, an area that is relatively common but not received the same level of attention, recognition or support as other better recognized disabilities. The Saturday Cognitive Habilitation Program has demonstrated successful outcomes with lasting effects. Additionally, her involvement in recent research projects, including the FASD Whole Body Study, contributes to expanding knowledge about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and its long-term impact. She hopes her work has contributed to a greater understanding of how prenatal exposure to alcohol and other substances affects children’s development and learning.

Molly’s future goals include continuing in her role as a clinical education specialist and, if possible, expanding educational support for children affected by prenatal exposures. This includes conducting research to better understand the educational needs of children with FASD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities and developing effective interventions to address challenges in learning and school functioning.

Molly has a daughter who is married and lives in Seoul, Korea. She misses her very much, but they speak often. She has a cat who enjoys greeting people from the balcony, especially anyone walking a dog. Outside of work, Molly practices boxing, although she is no longer competing in amateur Muay Thai. She also takes Brazilian jiujitsu and tennis lessons once a week.

ADJUNCT FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Hamid Mirsalimi, PhD

Hamid Mirsalimi is a clinical psychologist in private practice licensed in Georgia and New York. He is credentialed by PsyPact; so, he can practice virtually in many states. He is double board certified in clinical psychology and couple and family psychology, through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Although Hamid considers himself a generalist, his specialty is in working with couples and families. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Couple and Family Psychology, serving as the treasurer of the Board. He is a past president of the American Academy of Couple and Family Psychology.

Hamid has been serving the Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as one of the OPTP psychotherapy supervisors. In 2024, he was a panelist for the residents’ psychotherapy lunch panel discussing psychotherapy case formulation. In 2025, he gave a presentation to PGY-3s and PGY-4s on psychotherapy integration. For a number of years, he has served on the annual psychology postdoc board certification panel. In 2025, Hamid was honored to receive the Emory Outstanding Psychotherapy Supervisor Award. He has also been a member of the Psychiatry Department’s Dialogue, Integrity, Service and Community (DISC) Committee for the past several years. Hamid, along with Nadine Kaslow, and several members of the committee and are currently working on a manuscript about DISC.

For Hamid, supervising psychiatry residents has been an absolute joy! He consistently finds Emory psychiatry residents are smart, caring, inquisitive and passionate doctors who are eager to learn. It is such a pleasure to have a small role in their developmental journey. A number of psychiatry residents he has supervised have been PGY-4s. Hamid has enjoyed discussing career issues, sharing his experience with private practice, and observing their excitement about the next steps in their career journeys. He has truly enjoyed teaching and discussing psychological theories with psychiatry residents. He has also truly enjoyed getting to know colleagues at Emory he would not have known had he not been an adjunct professor. DISC has been a tremendous community. The annual adjunct professor gathering has been another way he has gotten to know such great colleagues.

Something you would be surprised to learn about Hamid is he is sponsoring a child in Iran. The organization Child Foundation is an “international charity organization committed to transforming the lives of children affected by poverty.” This organization is approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury (has obtained the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license) to operate in Iran and a few other countries. It has a four-star rating on Charity Navigator. For $40 a month, anyone can sponsor and make a tremendous impact in the life of a child. For many years, Hamid wished to find a way to make some kind of contribution to benefit the country that helped raise him through most of his teen years. Sponsoring a child is a small way he can give back. In a world in which wars are symbolic of the worst of humanity, he finds it important to remember children can be a flicker of hope for a more peaceful future.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: John Martin

John Martin is the Director of Medical and Professional Education at the Emory Addiction Center, also known as the Addiction Alliance of Georgia. He oversees several educational initiatives designed to help those suffering from substance use disorders. The ultimate goal of these programs is to connect more people with addiction to treatment. The Center’s focus is on the healthcare workforce and family members in hopes of increasing their supportive knowledge, skills and abilities.

The program for empowering the current and future healthcare workforce is called the Addiction Immersion Program. The immersion program is a weeklong hybrid experience in which it brings current and future healthcare workers into the clinic to meet with staff and patients. This experiential component of the program aims to decrease stigma surrounding substance use disorders, which remains a major barrier to people seeking help. Participants also complete six asynchronous modules on topics ranging from the neurobiology of substance use disorders to psychopharmacological treatments. The program is funded by the Opioid Abatement Fund, a grant through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities aimed at addressing the opioid crisis in Georgia.

Another focus of the educational programming is supporting families affected by addiction. Families of individuals with substance use disorders often go unsupported throughout the treatment process, despite playing a vital role in recovery. Through a collaboration with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and support from the Opioid Abatement Fund, the program is able to offer a catalogue of family programs. John facilitates a family support group every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The group is educational in nature while also serving as a space where family members can find support and connection.

John recently started a podcast called the Addiction Alliance Podcast, designed to empower and educate the community. On the show, he interviews subject matter experts as well as individuals with lived experience. Podcasts are a critical avenue for providing accessible public education, and he and the team are currently working to expand the podcast onto YouTube.

Outside of John’s role at the Addiction Center, he has enjoyed a 15-year career as a psychotherapist. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor. Throughout his career, he has served as the Clinical Director of multiple residential treatment programs, founded a private practice specializing in trauma and addiction and worked as a Director of Business Development for treatment organizations.

John’s passion for working in the addiction field was born out of his own experience with substance use disorders. He recently celebrated 17 years in recovery from multiple substance use disorders. His addiction and subsequent recovery have given him everything good in his life, including his role at Emory.

John can honestly say this is the most enjoyable role he has ever had. He often jokes he gets paid to run his mouth, but in all seriousness, he loves educating people about addiction and recovery. Addiction has been a part of his life since he was 16 years old, and has affected many people in his family. John’s wife is also a person in long-term recovery and just celebrated 19 years sober last week. This truly feels like his calling, and he is thankful every day that he gets to do exactly what he believes he was put on this earth to do.

The greatest highlights of John’s career mostly come from witnessing the transformation people experience as they begin their recovery journey. He cannot think of another profession where you get to watch people change in such profound and miraculous ways. The gift recovery provides to families impacted by addiction is beyond measure.

During the first year of John’s career, he had a patient who was admitted to the treatment center and subsequently transferred to the ICU with delirium tremens. He fell into a coma and remained hospitalized for a week. He visited him in the hospital and was certain he was not going to survive. John left work on a Friday afternoon, and when he returned on Monday morning, he was sitting on the unit eating breakfast. John could not believe his eyes. He had an incredible experience working with him during his time in treatment, and for years he has called John every year on his sobriety anniversary. He cannot begin to express the joy that brings him.

The trajectory of John’s career began when he was entrusted with the keys to a residential treatment center while he was less than one year sober. He could not believe they gave him a set of keys and a job. Only 11 months earlier, he had been a patient at that very same facility. John went on to earn a counseling certificate in addiction counseling through his work there. He developed lifelong relationships and grew profoundly as both a person and a professional.

In 2013, John moved to Boston, MA, where he spent two years working in residential treatment centers throughout the city. It was an incredible experience that opened his eyes to the reality addiction does not discriminate. Becoming the clinical director of multiple treatment programs is something he still sometimes struggle to fully grasp. He supposes he still carries a bit of imposter syndrome.

By far, the greatest highlight of John[s career was receiving a job offer from Emory University. His father is a psychiatrist and graduate of Emory University School of Medicine. He will never forget the look on his face when he told him about the opportunity. He was incredibly proud. Working at the Addiction Center feels like being in the NBA—it is the top of the food chain.

John’s goal for the future is to help make addiction education a staple within healthcare curricula. The Center hears over and over again from students they receive little to no education about addiction during their training, and that is a major problem. Addiction appears in every field of healthcare, from primary care to the operating room. Thousands, if not millions, of people are falling through the cracks and missing opportunities to find recovery and reclaim their lives. Addressing that gap is his ultimate mission.

Outside of John’s role at Emory, he is married and has two children. One of the greatest blessings of his life is his children get to grow up with a sober father. Music is also a major part of John’s life, and he enjoys writing, producing and performing. He also enjoys fitness and cooking.

TRAINEE SPOTLIGHT: Alexis Collier, MD

Alexis Collier is a second-year child psychiatry fellow. She is also a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Within this organization, she is a member of the AACAP Black Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Caucus. She is also a member of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law and Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association.

For Alexis, child psychiatry is a very meaningful and fulfilling profession. She loves supporting and collaborating with patients and families, particularly during their most honest and vulnerable moments. She enjoys the journey of watching patients and families achieve their goals. The smiles and high-fives are priceless. She has also really appreciated learning from faculty and my co-fellows.

Looking at her career trajectory to date, Alexis thinks graduating from medical, psych residency and now child psychiatry fellowship have been really big highlights of her career.

Looking to the future, Alexis will remain at Emory for the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. She is still figuring out what her plans will be after her next fellowship.

Outside of work, Alexis enjoys Orange Theory Fitness, hiking, yoga, trying new restaurants and spending time with family and friends

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Grady’s Behavioral Health Primary Care Program (written by Marsha Stern, MD, MPH and Martha Ward, MD)

The Behavioral Health Primary Care Clinic at Park Place offers comprehensive primary care services, including the management of chronic illnesses and preventive health maintenance, for patients with serious mental illness who have historically encountered barriers to accessing care as a result of their psychiatric conditions. The clinic was established in 2012 by Martha Ward, MD, to address this critical gap in care for patients receiving services at Grady's outpatient behavioral health clinic. Central to the clinic's operations is Marie Faustin, RN, who has dedicated 46 years of service to Grady, and Marsha Stern, MD, MPH, who joined the clinic in 2019.

The clinic has served as a training site for psychology interns, residents and medical students, including students from other institutions interested in training in the combined internal medicine/psychiatry residency at Emory.

Ward and Stern have found the continuity practice in primary care adds to their professional development. Many patients referred to the clinic for treatment have tenuous relationships with the healthcare system, compromised support from society due to chronic mental illness, a history of multiple traumas and extreme barriers to adherence to medical recommendations. Forging relationships over time has increased their compassion, understanding, appreciation for small victories, respect for patient autonomy and understanding of boundaries and limits to what we can provide in the context of our care of others. Conversely, working in the clinic has reinforced the power of the therapeutic relationship in supporting a trajectory of growth and health in the people we treat, in spite of overwhelming challenges.

MENTOR SPOTLIGHT: Jennifer Holton, MD

The following contributed to this write-up:

Faculty Mentees: Milena Armani, Julie Pace and Donna Tsai
Fellows: IJ Adereti, Michael Boring, Alexis Collier, Cris Hanacek, Scott Koller and Sumeet Sharma

Jennifer Holton's approach to mentorship goes far beyond career advice. She genuinely invests in the people she works with, paying close attention and making thoughtful, well-timed suggestions that put people in front of opportunities they would not have found on their own. Her mentorship feels personal because it is.

One of the things people mention most about Jennifer is her generosity with her time. She has a remarkable ability to make you feel like you are the most important part of her day, even when everyone around her knows just how much she is balancing. She is validating in the truest sense of the word: a kind word here, a thoughtful follow-up there, often when it is least expected but most meaningful. And for someone so accomplished, intelligent and clinically sharp, she remains remarkably approachable, humble and gracious. No one feels uncomfortable asking her a question or reaching out for guidance, whether the issue is professional or personal.

What sets Jennifer apart is her ability to pair high standards with genuine care for the people she mentors. She leads by example, building people up while also challenging them to grow. For those of us navigating the early stages of academic careers, she has been a steady presence to turn to, not only for strategic guidance, but for grounded, thoughtful perspective on what it means to build a career in academic medicine.

Whether it's encouraging involvement in departmental, regional and national organizations, guiding the submission of presentations to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Meeting, or involving mentees in the education of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) fellows, she has a gift for connecting people to experiences that help them grow in ways they may not have imagined for themselves.

CAP fellows consistently echo this same experience. As program director, she advocates for her trainees with a level of dedication that does not go unnoticed. Fellows know they can come to her not only with fellowship-related and clinical questions, but also for advice about job searches, career decisions and life in general. She consistently goes out of her way to provide mentorship, make connections, discuss opportunities and help mentees navigate their next steps with confidence.

One piece of advice from Jennifer to pass along is take the time to understand what truly counts toward career advancement and be intentional about where you invest your time and energy, while building a work-life balance that is sustainable over time. Simple in concept, but the kind of wisdom that leaves a lasting impact.

NEW FACULTY

The department is pleased to welcome two new faculty members.

Erika Forbes, PhD – Erika Forbes is a clinical and developmental psychologist by training whose research draws on affective neuroscience and developmental psychopathology to investigate the development, pathophysiology and treatment of depression, anxiety and suicidality in youth. Her work focuses on neural reward circuitry as a mechanism and treatment target, and she uses methods including functional magnetic resonance imaging, quantitative susceptibility mapping of dopamine availability, ecological momentary assessment of real-life experiences and symptoms, blood assay of inflammatory markers and sensor-based measurement of real-world behavior. She received her AB at Harvard University and her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh, and she completed clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh. She spent her first 20 years as a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, and now joins the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as Dorothy Fuqua Chair and Associate Director of Research in the Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Program. She will also spend a portion of her time building research-treatment integration in adolescent treatment-resistant depression and anxiety through involvement at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is thrilled to start the next phase of her career at Emory.

Nicole Khauli PhD, MPH – Nicole Khauli joins Emory as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Psychologist within Transplant Behavioral Health. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University and completed her internship at Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare. She recently completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center, where she provided evidence-based psychotherapy for individuals with complex mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders, working within interdisciplinary medical teams across outpatient settings. Her clinical work focuses on patients with complex mental and physical health conditions, including those navigating chronic illness and transplant-related concerns. Her research spans health psychology and global mental health, with a focus on psychosocial determinants of health, substance use and mental health among underserved and displaced populations. Originally Lebanese, Nicole is fluent in Arabic, French and German and licensed in both New York and Georgia.

COMMUNITY AND BELONGING INITIATIVES

ARTS (Arts in Research, Therapy and Service) Committee

Members of the ARTS Committee will highlight innovative ways they are weaving the arts into their work, showcasing the power of creative approaches to enrich practice across domains. Through these presentations, we aim to spark curiosity and inspire colleagues throughout the department to explore how the arts can enhance clinical care, deepen teaching, expand research, and invigorate service activities. This month, two members of the committee have graciously shared.

Art for Patients and Narrative Medicine with Medical Students by Amanda Mihalik-Wenger. Amanda is the director of the psychiatry consult service at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. She is working to incorporate arts in her daily practice and care of patients by providing adult coloring books and art supplies to patients admitted to the hospital. In addition, she is incorporating narrative medicine in her daily teachings with medical students, some of her favorite authors being William Styron and Kay Redfield Jamison.

Artistic Calm: Custom Coloring Sheets Transforming Waiting Rooms at Emory Autism Center by Mikle South. While medical waiting rooms are notoriously stressful spaces, visitors to Emory Autism Center are greeted by colored pencils, crayons, and stacks of unique, custom-designed coloring sheets created specifically to soothe and engage autistic children and adults alike. The inspiration for the project stems from the Laura Klingensmith’s deep lifelong love of art building on specialized knowledge she gained through her college coursework into how visual arts can influence mental well-being. As EAC’s project manager, Laura pays careful attention to each patient walking through the doors. "The waiting room can be a sensory minefield, but we strive for a relaxing, calming environment,” Laura notes. “The sheets are designed with intentionality, balancing simpler, bold-lined graphics for younger visitors with deeply complex, satisfying patterns for adults" which she generates with support from AI. Laura’s goals were simple: take advantage of the incredible, quiet power of art to meet people exactly where they are, offering a safe visual anchor for patients anxious about their visit. She muses that “whether it's a child finding joy in a bright splash of crayon or an adult using the repetitive stroke of a colored pencil to ground themselves, it gives them a sense of agency and comfort in an unfamiliar environment." As healthcare providers increasingly look for holistic ways to improve patient care, this simple intersection of art and empathy demonstrates that sometimes the most effective wellness tools are the ones we hold in our hands.

FACULTY KUDOS

Major Leadership Appointments, Activities and Achievements

Reema Dedania will serve on the Critical Claims Committee for the Emory Healthcare.

Geoff Goodman became Director-Elect of the Emory University Psychoanalytic Institute.

Nadine Kaslow served as the Deputy University Marshall at this year’s Emory graduation.

Nori Lim is (1) chairing the Division 45 Continuing Education Committee and (2) has been appointed to serve on the following national committees: American Board of Professional Psychology Diversity Committee, Finance Committee for the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race (American Psychological Association/APA Division 45), Division 45 Representative for the American Psychological Association Interdivisional Task Force on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Curriculum Committee for the American Psychological Association Interdivisional Task Force on Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) Presidential Task Force on Research Guidelines for Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans.

Allison Lopilato was elected President-Elect of the Georgia Psychological Association.

Rebecca Woo has been named the Director of the Women’s Mental Health Clinic.

Research

The following faculty received Research Awards:

Druss B, Varghese J, Waford R, Wen H. (2026, April). Incidence, Pathways to Diagnosis, and Outcomes of First-Episode Psychotic Disorders in a National Sample. Funder: RSPH Research Accelerator Award Program.
Sheila Rauch with Anna Woodbury: RD000404-01A2 (VA Merit) SWIFT-RELIEVE : Simultaneous treatment of Widespread pain In Fibromyalgia and PTSD: Randomized Evaluation of Live vs. Inactive Electrical VNS with PE-PC
Zhexing Wen: R01NS146992 (Escayg/Rowan/Wen, MPI), NIH/NINDS, Understanding the Contribution of BCL11A to Neuron Function and Neurological Disease, $2,710,311, 2026 –2031
University Research Committee
- Joya Hampton-Anderson - Implementation of a Contextually-Informed Intervention for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (STBs) in Black Youth
- Rebecca Schneider - Mindfulness Intervention for Sound Acceptance (MISA): Pilot of a Novel Approach to Adolescent Misophonia
- Weibo Niu - Deciphering the interplay of mTOR signaling and epigenetic dynamics in mediating microglial dysfunction in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Emory Medical Care Foundation
- Marsha Stern - Increasing Access and Decreasing Stigma through Community-Informed Integrated Behavioral Health Training at HEAL

Acevedo-Polo JH, Siebert ER, Khan J, Rough MI, Voll RJ, Chavan LN, Goodman MM, Nye JA, Nader MA, Sanchez MM (2026). Long-term effects of early life adversity on brain dopamine and serotonin receptor systems involved in cocaine reinforcement in adult macaques: a Positron Emission Tomography study. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jan 20:2026.01.18.700208. doi: 10.64898/2026.01.18.700208. PMID: 41648284; PMCID: PMC12871840.

Ammirati RJ and Bowes S. (in press). Understanding cognitive biases and heuristics. In W. O’Donohue & D. McKay (Eds.), The varieties of cognitive therapy (pp. xx-xx). Springer.

Drexler K. Upgrading Housing-First Interventions in the Age of Fentanyl. JAMA Netw Open. 2026;9(5):e2610836. Doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.10836

Drury RM, Cassiello-Robbins C, Bullis JR, Scott B, and Ammirati RJ. (2026). Training focused on commonalities for the common good: A transdiagnostic approach for the next generation of health service psychologists. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 20(2), 125–133.

Ellis RJ, Heaton RK, Atkinson JH, Stein MB, Wang C, Bell TR, Miller AH, Grelotti D and Moore D. (2026) Chronic pain in a modern virally suppressed HIV cohort is associated with disability and poorer mental health. Scietific Reports.

Fannon J, Li C, and Goodman G. (in press). From fragmentation to coherence: Understanding spiritual beliefs and identity reconstruction in sex addicts’ recovery. Pastoral Psychology.

Goodman G. (in press). From the cushion to the couch: Is spiritual direction appropriate for everyone? Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health.

Hampton-Anderson JN, Wong CP, Maxwell TB, Marshall L, Perry T, Bazari R, Palmer N. (in press). “That’s Where I Found My Home:” An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of Healing with Black Youth. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.

Jiang F, Hou S, Huang Q, Zhao R, Tang YL. More AI, Less Care-Seeking? A National Survey Experiment on the Impact of AI Intensity on Patient Care-Seeking Intention in Chinese Family Doctor Services. Healthcare, 2026, 2026, 14(8), 1022.

Kondas A, McDermott TJ, Ahluwalia V, Siegle GJ, Guelfo A, Fulton TM, Elbasheir A, Karkare MC, Ely TD, Johnston A, Krawczak R, Krafty RT, Fani N. Good vibrations: Sternal vibration enhances white matter density and interoceptive awareness. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1038/s41386-026-02430-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42143134.

Rauch SAM, Yasinski C, Mojallal M, Woodbury A, Black K, Fuller S, Boatright JH, Coulter M, Maples-Keller JL, Dunlop BW, Hernandez-Tejada MA, Ahn H, Reducing Chronic Pain With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Veterans Engaged in Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Treatment: A Pilot Study, Military Medicine, 2026;, usag220

Robbins-Welty G. The Balloon. Journal of Palliative Medicine.

Sanchez MM, Love K, van Schoor A, Bailey K, Jonesteller T, Bachevalier J, Alvarado MC, Ethun KF, Wilson ME, Raper J. Effects of Lifelong Low Social Status on Inflammatory Markers in Adult Female Macaques. Biomolecules. 2026 Jan 16;16(1):159. doi: 10.3390/biom16010159. PMID: 41594699; PMCID: PMC12839370.

Sanchez MM*, Panagiotakopoulos L*, Hayes T, Howell BR, Ethun K, Easley KA, Guido Silvestri G, Carnathan DG, McCandless JA, Meyer J, Neigh GN (2025). Long-term alterations of glucocorticoid receptor expression and CD4+ T cells in adolescent rhesus macaques following early-life adversity. Biomolecules. 2025 Dec 5;15(12):1701. doi: 10.3390/biom15121701. PMID: 41463357; PMCID: PMC12731112 [*Indicates shared first author].

Schwartz AC, Delgado NK, Robbins-Welty GA. “Mixed diphenhydramine and dextromethorphan overdose resulting in serotonin toxicity: A complex intentional ingestion case.” Prim Care Companion for CNS Disord 2026;28(2):25cr04166.

Sun Z, Liu M, Yan J, Wu Y, Wang H, Li Y, Tang Y, Zheng Y, Li R. A Novel Sex-Specific Role for 27-Hydroxycholesterol in Early-Onset Schizophrenia. Annals of General Psychiatry, 2026 Mar 3;25:27. doi: 10.1186/s12991-026-00642-9

Vinh T, Goodman G, and Sherrill AM. (2026). Psychiatry’s blind spot: Independent use of large language models by individuals with psychopathology. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, 4, 100353.

Wang X, Yang X, Jiang W, Zhou DN, Wang W, Jin WQ, Tang YL, Ren YP, Yang CL. Predictors for Quality of Life Improvement in Schizophrenia: A Prospective Study of Patients in Hospital-Based Rehabilitation Programs, BMJ Psychiatry, 2026, 26, 297 (2026).

Honors, Awards, Rankings

Ali John Zarrabi will be promoted to the rank of Associate Professor effective September 1. His primary appointment is in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and his secondary appointment is in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

The following faculty members have been approved by the School of Medicine for a Clinical Distinction effective September 1, 2026:

Nori Lim – Distinguished Psychologist
Laura Loucks – Senior Psychologist
Joe Mathias – Senior Physician
Belinda McIntosh – Senior Physician
Marsha Stern – Senior Physician
Liza Zwiebach – Distinguished Psychologist

These faculty members were recognized by the Emory School of Medicine on Educator Appreciation Day:

Jessica Cooper
Karen Drexler
Rachel Hershenberg
Kallio Hunnicutt-Ferguson
Erin Jones
Michael Lucido
Liz McCord
Belinda McIntosh
David Novosad
Amanda Platner
Ann Schwartz
Marsha Stern
Joseph Vinson
Martha Ward
DeJuan White

Barb Duran was named to the second CORAL Scholar cohort of impressive early-stage investigators.

Ebrahim Haroon received the George Solomon Memorial Award from the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society. His award lecture is titled “Coupling Without Communication: Rethinking the Brain-Body Inflammatory Dialogue in Depression.

Mar Sanchez was named a member of the Wake Forest Primate Research Center External Scientific Advisory Board at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Media

John Constantino (1) 11 Alive | After the ER, Nowhere to Go: Children's Hospital Models a Mental Health Care Network to Meet Kids Needs.

Joe Mathias (1) WABE | Emory Addiction Center Expands Adolescent Services as Child Overdoses See Slight Uptick.

Michael Treadway (1) 11 Alive | New Research Links Motivation to Inflammation and Medication.

Education

Jeff Rakofsky chaired and participated in a panel titled, “The Last of Us: Developing Resilient Policies to Survive the Era of AI” the American Psychiatric Association meeting.

Presentations

Ammirati RJ, Bullis J, Longley S, Berman R, Sullivan TJ, Narine KO, and Rodriguez-Rivera A. (2026, June 25-28). Affirming, equitable and sustainable applications of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders [Conference presentation]. 2026 World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, San Francisco, CA

Dasari A, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Examining negative affect, polarization and uncertainty across clinical presentation. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed, R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Evaluating AI psychotherapy quality in three large language models. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Goodman G, Fannon J, and Kedar G. (2026, June). Studying the quality of psychotherapy process conducted by three large language models. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, Osaka, Japan. (oral)

Hikima K, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Evaluating the enhancement of patient insight across different large language models. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Katerndahl K, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Emotional depth in LLM-generated psychotherapy sessions: An analysis of psychotherapy process. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Kedar G, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Evaluating the variability of LLM-conducted psychotherapy treatment quality across two sessions. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

McIntosh, BJ. (2026, May). Medicare Advantage: Implications for Health Equity and Access. Division of Internal Medicine Invited Grand Rounds Presentation. Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN.

Miller AH. “Advancing an inflammatory subtype of depression: a precision psychiatry approach to diagnosis and treatment” Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies, Venice, Italy, 2026.

Moose E, Fannon J, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Quality and satisfaction of large language model psychotherapy according to clients and providers. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Radhay A, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, Wolak C, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Theoretical fit between psychotherapy orientations and clinical concerns in LLM-generated session process. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

Mar Sanchez was an invited speaker at (1) National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) Neuroscience Seminar. Virtual. 2026 (2) Senior University of Georgia (SUGA), GA. Virtual. 2026.

Rachel Waford (1) Panel Presentation at the 30th annual Roselynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum entitled: Mental Health and Caregiving: Supporting Caregivers, Supporting Communities (May 19th) Neetu Abad(The Carter Center), Jason Resendez (National Alliance for Caregiving), Mitul Desai( The Care Hack), Krystal Scott (Pivotal Ventures) Susie Kyle (Clubhouse Atlanta), Rachel Waford (Emory University) (2) Panel Presentation at NAMICON entitled: Caring Through Crisis: Supporting Families Navigating Serious Mental Health Challenges (May 29th) Lezlie Poole (The Carter Center), Ke Wang (The Carter Center), Rachel Waford (Emory University), Sarah Phillips (The Carter Center)

Waford R, Lee J, Cotes R, Goldsmith D. (2026, March, 28). Post CSC Care: Critical Components and Considerations for Long-Term Care and Recovery [Poster Presentation]. SIRS 2026 Conference, Florence, Italy.

Wolak C, Fannon J, Moose E, Boyers S, Al Jewari S, Barkey H, Csikai E, Dasari A, Hikima K, Katerndahl K, Kedar G, Marure CC, Mumed R, Okoudjou S, Pham Q, Radhay A, Ravi N, Slomovitz S, Wang G, and Goodman G. (2026, August). Comparing the quality of the psychotherapy process conducted by three large language models. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC. (poster)

STAFF KUDOS

Lindy Carbone – George W. Bush Presidential Center | Meet the Veteran Wellness Alliance: Emory Healthcare

TRAINEE KUDOS

Farris Sabir, Levi Edouna and Terry Derias collaborated to design and facilitate a suicide prevention training for staff at Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. The training focused on increasing staff awareness of suicide risk factors, strengthening skills in recognizing warning signs and providing practical strategies for intervention, communication and connecting youth with appropriate resources.

In developing the training, they tailored the content to the unique needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. The session also encouraged discussion and collaboration among the participants.

It was an incredibly meaningful experience to partner with an organization doing such impactful work in the community and they were grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable youth!

Tahj Blow received the following Department of Medicine shout-out from a patient: "Dr. Blow is an incredibly thorough physician. He listened and cared about my concerns. It felt great to see a doctor who cares that made me feel seen and understood. Thanks Dr. Blow."

Genevieve Craig received a TL1 predoctoral award from the Georgia CTSA. She will be mentored by Jennifer Felger on a project titled “Inflammation Effects on Fear and Anxiety-Related Circuits and Symptoms in Patients with Depression: Role of Dopamine.”

Saldana VA, Earley P, Silverstein D, Tang YL. Tianeptine Use Disorder and Its Management: A Case Series. Case Reports in Psychiatry, 2026 Apr 20;2026:2981699. doi: 10.1155/crps/2981699