Department of Psychiatry

(NOVEMBER 26, 2023) Richard Rawson ’70, Ph.D.’74, professor of psychiatry and a national authority on substance use and behavioral health, told VT Digger he has been trying to raise awareness of the involvement of stimulants in the overdose crisis.

(NOVEMBER 16, 2023) Kelly Peck, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and director of clinical operations at UVM’s Center on Rural Addiction, commented for a story in the South Carolina Daily Gazette about how synthetic drugs are rendering treatment options less effective.

(November 13, 2023) A new study by Eric Ross, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, and colleagues found no benefit from hospitalization for some suicidal veterans, U.S. Medicine reported.

Most children are exposed to adversity by the time they reach adulthood, but a portion of children stay free of mental illness despite trying circumstances. A recent study led by Professor of Psychiatry William Copeland, Ph.D., and supported by UVM researchers, challenges the notion that childhood resilience is common and explores possible solutions to this crisis via public health initiatives.

(OCTOBER 31, 2023) Steven Schlozman, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry, spoke with WCAX-TV about what parents should know about fun vs. fear when it comes to trick-or-treating—and scary things in general.

Each summer, many rising second-year medical students engage in clinical, basic science or health policy-related research projects under the guidance of expert faculty. The students choose their topics based on personal passions and immerse themselves in projects tackling medical puzzles and unmet health needs. Engaging in research can be among the most valuable experiences during a medical education.

(SEPTEMBER 1, 2023) Gail Rose, Ph.D., of the UVM Center on Rural Addiction, and Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., were quoted in an NBC5 story about the state’s latest step in ending overdose deaths.

(SEPTEMBER 1, 2023) Alexandra Potter, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, spoke to WCAX about UVM neuroscientists’ efforts to recruit expecting families who want to help with a major childhood development research project called the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study.

(AUGUST 31, 2023) Peter Jackson, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and medical director of the UVM Medical Center’s new Addiction Treatment Center (ATC), spoke with the Williston Observer about the ATC’s newly integrated and expanded addiction services.

(AUGUST 25, 2023) Findings from a new study conducted by the University of Vermont’s Conversation Lab and therapeutics cancer firm Sunstone Therapies show the feasibility of trained human coders to identify observable markers of therapeutic connection during psilocybin administration within Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT), Benzinga reports.

(AUGUST 17, 2023) Brady Heward, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, spoke to WCAX-TV about an integrated approach by the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) to make addiction treatment more accessible.

In 2021, University of Vermont neuroscientists received a $5.5 million National Institute of Health (NIH) grant to support the Phase II segment of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. The HBCD Study, the largest long-term study of early brain and child development in the United States, aims to comprehensively collect data on brain development from birth through early childhood, shedding light on the factors that shape a young person's life trajectory.

(AUGUST 10, 2023) A study led by principal investigator Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and psychiatry, found that Vermont’s medication program for incarcerated people with opioid use disorder has helped reduce overdoses after release, according to VTDigger.

(JULY 11, 2023) Doctoral student Bryn Loftness is working with her UVM faculty mentors Ellen McGinnis, assistant professor of psychiatry, and Ryan McGinnis, professor of biomedical engineering, to identify biomarkers associated with mental health issues in young children, Newswire reports.

(JULY 3, 2023) Psychologist Arnold Kozak, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, spoke to Women’s Health about introversion vs. extroversion as a sliding scale. Kozak believes everyone should cultivate the luxury of alone time to ensure they have a solid relationship with their inner selves.

A study by UVM researchers and colleagues finds mental health care lagging after firearm injury, which increases risk for serious mental health conditions.

(JUNE 14, 2023) Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine Daniel Wolfson, M.D., FACEP, and Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Heidi Melbostad, Ph.D., MFT, spoke to Seven Days about the state’s efforts to address opioid addiction.

The Larner College of Medicine medical Class of 2023 Honors Night on May 15 featured recognition and awards for graduating medical students, faculty, and staff.

(MAY 17, 2023) Jeremiah Dickerson, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Larner College of Medicine and a child psychiatrist at the UVM Medical Center, was interviewed by WCAX-TV for a story on social media and teen mental health.

(MAY 10, 2023) Natasha Withers, D.O., clinical assistant professor of family medicine, will soon start treating depression with a mind-altering drug that’s shown promise in helping people who don’t respond to traditional medicine — despite lingering questions about the drug’s long-term safety and effectiveness — Seven Days reported.