Chair's Message

Carol Tamminga, MD
Carol Tamminga, M.D., Chair,
Department of Psychiatry

This is an exciting time for psychiatry: advances in science and medicine are finally dissolving artificial distinctions between mind and brain. Our mission is to harness this evolving knowledge to build a new approach to psychiatry that integrates biological and psychological approaches.

Our Department carries out this mission through research, education, clinical care, and community service. We seek to better understand the causes of mental illness and to develop improved treatments and preventive measures. These activities encompass:

  • Basic and clinical neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychology and all forms of effective psychotherapies
  • Sociocultural contributions to mental function

Education is our most important product. Our Department is proud of having trained five generations of medical and graduate students, psychiatry residents, psychology interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Our curriculum is broad and emphasizes the importance of neurobiological, genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors in understanding our patients.

Our clinical services apply this expertise to patients of all ages from all backgrounds. We carry out our work in emergency services, outpatient clinics, and inpatient units at UT Southwestern’s several affiliated institutions. In addition to delivering the highest quality of clinical care, our Department disseminates the latest advances in clinical care to mental health practitioners, as well as to patients and their family members.

Carol Tamminga, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Stanton Sharp Distinguished Chair in Psychiatry