The Women’s Mental Health (WMH) Concentration provides opportunity for interested residents to develop expertise in managing psychiatric disorders related to reproductive life events such as pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause, and gender-specific disorders in psychiatry. This 2-year concentration begins at PGY-3 and allows residents to seek in-depth clinical knowledge in diagnosis and managing psychiatric conditions related to women, familiarize with essential readings of women’s wellness, and participate in scholarly activities.

Concentration Components

Clinical Training – Residents in the WMH concentration rotate at three core training sites: the combined OB-complications and postpartum depression clinic (PPD) and violence intervention and prevention clinic (VIP) of the Parkland Health and Hospitals, the Women’s Stress Disorders and Military Sexual Trauma clinic at the Dallas VA Medical Center, and the Eating Disorders Research and Outpatient Clinic at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Under the supervision of WMH concentration faculty, residents develop clinical skills to diagnose and manage psychiatric disorders in the peripartum period, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma and stressor-related conditions, eating disorders, and complex personality disorders in women using evidence-based treatments.

Psychotherapy – Residents in this concentration have opportunities to train in advanced, evidence-based psychotherapies such as cognitive processing therapy for PTSD, cognitive behavioral therapy for peripartum disorders and eating disorders, and dialectical behavioral therapy for personality disorders. In addition, residents attend a monthly psychoeducation group for women seeking psychiatric consultations.

Didactics – The Women’s Mental Health and Wellness Group and Reading elective is a yearlong, half-day rotation offering essential readings of women’s mental health and wellness.  

Scholarly Activities – Residents present at case conferences at the end of their core clinical rotation, present at VA mental health Grand Rounds, and complete a scholarly project before graduation. Residents will work on preparation of an article (review, case report, or research) during their rotation with the eating disorders team.

Examples of Resident Projects and Accomplishments

• Residents created a new elective providing psychotherapy services clinic for female inmates in the Dallas County Jail System.
• Dr. Susan Lampley received the Association of Women Psychiatrists travel award while a resident in this concentration. As part of the award, she contributed to their newsletter, highlighting unmet mental health needs of women in incarceration.
• Residents gave Grand Rounds presentations on posttraumatic stress disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period, a model for behavioral integration in women’s health, and military sexual trauma.

For additional information, please contact WMH Concentration Director Meitra Doty, M.D., via Meitra.Doty@UTSouthwestern.edu.