Department of Psychiatry
"Learning to care for those in harms way."
Message from the
Psychiatry
Department Chair
Message from the
Psychiatry
Department Chair
Enhancing Connection and Opportunities in Our Community
Enhancing Connection and Opportunities in Our Community
September 2025
September 2025
Enhancing Connection and Opportunities in Our Community
Dear Colleagues,
This month, we recognize two significant national observances: National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month. These initiatives are not just public health campaigns; they are a call to action that resonates deeply with our department's vision.
Our commitment to serving the military community requires us to address the complex and often painful realities of mental health, alcohol use, and substance use. Suicide and addiction are challenges that impact our service members, their families, and the wider community. By dedicating our expertise to these areas, we honor those who serve and work tirelessly to provide them with the best possible care and support.
This month, I encourage you to reflect on your own role in this mission. Whether through your research, clinical practice, or educational efforts, your work contributes to a larger goal of fostering hope. Let us use this month as an opportunity to amplify our efforts, share resources, and continue to build a professional community dedicated to saving lives and promoting recovery.
In Service,
Vincent F. Capaldi, II, Sc.M., M.D., DFAPA, FACP, FAASM
COL, MC, USA
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychiatry
Department Announcements
Department Announcements
Linking Depression Pathophysiology to the Mechanism of Action of Ketamine and 'Next Generation' Treatments
John H. Krystal, M.D.
Yale School of Medicine
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) of the Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University (USU) is pleased to present the Brain, Behavior, & Mind 2025 Fall Lecture.
This virtual event includes a presentation and a live, moderated Q&A with our featured speaker. There is no cost to attend, and the event is open to the public.
Continuing Education is available for physicians (CME) and psychologists (CE).
CSTS Director Dr. Stephen Cozza to Receive Military Children’s Dr. Mary M. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science from the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
CSTS Director Dr. Stephen Cozza to Receive Military Children’s Dr. Mary M. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science from the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
Dr. Stephen J. Cozza, a professor of psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and a retired U.S. Army Colonel, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Military Children’s Dr. Mary M. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science. This prestigious honor, bestowed by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), recognizes Dr. Cozza’s exceptional work in advancing the well-being of military children and families through research and innovation.
Dr. Cozza serves as the Acting Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at USUHS, and has dedicated his career to the mental health of military families. He has been a driving force in bringing national attention to how deployments, combat injuries, illness, and loss affect service members’ children. Over more than two decades, Dr. Cozza has led pioneering studies on military family resilience and bereavement, shaped programs to support military-connected children, and advised organizations nationwide on trauma-informed care for families of the fallen and deployed.
Established in 2019 by MCEC’s Science Advisory Board, the Dr. Mary M. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science is named in honor of MCEC co-founder and former CEO Dr. Mary M. Keller. The award highlights individuals whose scientific contributions have significantly improved the lives of military-connected children through research, clinical practice, or evidence-based programs. Past recipients include former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (2023), recognized for her advocacy on behalf of military families, and Dr. Abigail Gewirtz (2024), a renowned child psychologist focusing on family resilience. Dr. Cozza will formally receive the award at MCEC’s Global Training Summit in September 2025.
CSTS and PSY Team Attend MHSRS
CSTS and PSY Team Attend MHSRS
CSTS and PSY Scientists presented multiple poster and oral presentations at the Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) in Kissimmee, FL, addressing a wide range of topics related to military psychiatry, including traumatic memories and PTSD, child maltreatment, suicide interventions and prevention, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), resilience, and PTSD nightmares. Presenters included Drs. Vincent Capaldi, Kwang Choi, Catherine Dempsey, Erin Maresh, Sarah Maggio, Thomas Nassif, and Christin Ogle.
Dr. Alexander Rice's Grant Proposal Recommended for Funding
Dr. Alexander Rice's Grant Proposal Recommended for Funding
Dr. Alexander Rice was recently awarded a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's World Trade Center Health Program titled "Dynamics of emotion regulation, trauma, and grief among those impacted by the World Trade Center attacks." His project will explore how bereaved 9/11 survivors manage their emotions and how that relates to the severity of their traumatic stress and prolonged grief. The findings will help inform the development of a mobile health tool to improve mental health for people who have experienced trauma. The grant will also support training that will help Dr. Rice become an independent researcher dedicated to supporting bereaved and trauma-exposed populations. The project is supported by mentorship from leading experts in trauma, grief, and EMA methods, including Drs. Stephen Cozza, Joscelyn Fisher, and Jason Lavender.
CSTS Provides Resources in Response to Annunciation Catholic School Shootings
CSTS Provides Resources in Response to Annunciation Catholic School Shootings
Following the school shooting Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, CSTS published resources for families, healthcare personnel, first responders, leaders and more on the CSTS website and disseminated through social media. Mass shootings can be extremely stressful and make individuals feel unsafe and uncertain, and the resources CSTS provides can help those impacted know what steps to take that can lower distress and improve functioning for themselves and those around them. Read more on the CSTS website.
CSTS Scientists Consult on Mortuary Affairs/Fatality Management
CSTS Scientists Consult on Mortuary Affairs/Fatality Management
On Wednesday 20 August, Dr. Quinn Biggs, Dr. Lucian Tatsa-Laur, Rehana Naik Olson, and Tanya Yahouedeou met with members of the Joint Mortuary Affairs Center (JMAC) to consult on recent activities in the Mortuary Affairs/Fatality Management (MA/FM) community. Discussions included preparations for MA/FM operations in large scale combat operations (LSCO), trainings to increase resilience in exposures to human remains (e.g., advanced individual training [AIT], Fostering Resilience And Managing Emotions [FRAME], and unit recovery team [URT] training), and identification of MA/FM personnel in need of behavioral health support.
CSTS Scientists Present CPE Session on Data Literacy
CSTS Scientists Present CPE Session on Data Literacy
Drs. Olivia Ashley and Marisa Nihill were invited to lead an interactive continuing professional education (CPE) session covering data literacy for beginners. The audience included 216 attendees from various National Guard (NG) Integrated Primary Prevention Workforces (IPPWs). The presentation aimed to help states identify and cultivate useful data management practices and develop a stronger understanding of how data can be used to make informed decisions in a public health/prevention setting, particularly with regard to Comprehensive Integrated Primary Prevention (CIPP) plans.
LTC Connie Thomas Elected to SoM Faculty Senate
LTC Connie Thomas Elected to SoM Faculty Senate
The beginning of a new academic year also marks the beginning of a new Faculty Senate session. Outgoing and newly elected Senators were recognized at the June 25 Faculty Assembly, with the newly minted Faculty Senate challenge coins from Faculty Senate President Dr. Geeta Upadhyay. Dr. Upadhyay recognized and thanked faculty members who served in the immediate past Senate session, as well as those elected for the new term. LTC Connie Thomas was among the newly elected senators serving on the Faculty Senate. Thanks to the USU SoM newsletter for this update.
Promotions and New Hires
Promotions and New Hires
Faculty Appointments & Promotions
Faculty Appointments & Promotions
Congratulations to the following faculty on their promotions!
Dr. Elle Cleaves, Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. David Lehman, Clinical Professor (Non-Tenure)
Congratulations to the following faculty on their faculty appointments!
Dr. Diana Chung, Assistant Professor
Dr. William Kortbein, Assistant Professor
Dr. Omin Kwon, Assistant Professor
Dr. Jane Ma, Assistant Professor
Dr. Jazmin Scott, Assistant Professor
Dr. Kaitlin Snyder, Assistant Professor
Dr. Lucian Tatsa-Laur, Assistant Professor
Take the next step in your career as a USU faculty member! Learn more about the process for faculty promotion on our website. You can access the PSY faculty appointment form here.
New Hires
New Hires
Please welcome our new hires to CSTS and PSY!
Emma Jinright, Research Assistant
Recent Publications
Recent Publications
Dr. Edmund G. Howe's most recent article builds on research conducted and reported in which nursing students underwent simulation training to increase their confidence when discussing ethical conflicts with physicians. Dr. Howe discusses the general importance of nurses and physicians finding ways to work optimally together, especially when they face difficult ethical dilemmas involving patients.
CSTS's Assistant Scientific Director, Dr. James A. Naifeh, and colleagues examined suicidal behaviors among special operations forces (SOF) operators and SOF support personnel during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in this recent paper published in JAMA Network Open. Research on suicide risk among the U.S. Army’s elite SOF has been extremely limited, but CSTS's STARRS team aims to bridge that knowledge gap with new research.
Explore and Engage on Our USU Psychiatry Global Website
Explore and Engage on Our USU Psychiatry Global Website
Discover the wealth of resources and opportunities available at our USU Psychiatry Global Website.
-> Sign up for our mailing list to stay informed.
-> Link to our global event calendar.
-> Participate in one of our dynamic USU Psychiatry Community Tracks. Each track offers an innovative way to collaborate and contribute to our broader DoD/PHS/VA psychiatry community. No registration needed to attend the meetings.
USU Psychiatry Community Tracks
USU Psychiatry Community Tracks
Clinical Community: Share best practices and delve into advanced treatment strategies for those providing direct patient care. Next meeting: 17 September 2025 @1500 EDT
Operational Community: Collaborate with peers in similar environments and engage with leaders in the field of operational psychiatry. Next meeting: 10 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
Academic and Teaching Community: Enhance your skills as an educator and mentor for the next wave of psychiatric professionals. Next meeting: TBD
Research Community: Integrate research into your practice and contribute to the advancement of our field. Next meeting: 25 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
Resources for Challenging Times
Resources for Challenging Times
In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month, CSTS has compiled resources on its website to help raise awareness about these issues. CSTS works year-round to bring scholarly and research-oriented problem solving to mental and behavioral health problems, and this month, CSTS highlights their resources, research, and more related to alcohol and substance use recovery and suicide prevention.
CSTS also offers other materials and resources to support individuals and communities. Utilize our easy-to-navigate mental health education Fact Sheet Search Page for succinct, evidence-based guidance on a variety of mental health topics.
Social Media Highlight
Social Media Highlight
Dr. Stephen Cozza Commemorates 9/11
Dr. Stephen Cozza Commemorates 9/11
The tragic events of 9/11 had a profound impact on many, including CSTS’s Acting Director Dr. Stephen Cozza. In honor of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Dr. Cozza shares his story today of how 9/11 shaped his life and work.
Watch Dr. Cozza's message here.
Follow CSTS on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) for more updates on the Center's work.
Connect with Community: Find Your Track
Connect with Community: Find Your Track
Choose your path to excellence in behavioral health sciences. Each track we offer is meticulously designed to cultivate passion, expertise, and commitment. Whether your calling lies in clinical care, leadership, academia, or research, there's a path here. Dive in, and together, let's shape the future of psychiatric care for the DoD community and our nation's warfighters. You can join multiple communities if you cannot decide. If you would like to get on a community email list, click on the button below.
Engage with the core of behavioral health, honing expertise to heal and uplift. Here, you'll emerge as a beacon for the DoD community, ensuring the psychological well-being of our dedicated warfighters and their families.
Next meeting:
Next meeting:
17 September 2025 @1500 EDT
17 September 2025 @1500 EDT
Seize the reins of leadership, blending strategy with empathy. Master the military medical leadership tenets and drive your team, and the broader community, to mental well-being and unparalleled readiness.
Next meeting:
Next meeting:
10 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
10 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
Kindle the spirit of the next medical generation. Academia awaits your wisdom, experience, and drive. Shape the future of behavioral health education and be the inspiration for countless future leaders in health care.
Next meeting:
Next meeting:
TBD
Venture into uncharted territories of understanding. Your research will uncover solutions in areas like Traumatic Stress Response, Suicide Prevention, and more. Illuminate pathways, ensuring the readiness and fortitude of our nation's defenders.
Next meeting:
Next meeting:
25 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
25 September 2025 @ 1500 EDT
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our department is the home of military psychiatry, an internationally recognized leader in behavioral health science education, research and leadership, serving as an example for building a productive global professional community.
Educational Mission
Educational Mission
Train medical students in foundational mental health skills, focusing on the well-being of warfighters and their families. Offer robust pre-clerkship, clerkship, and elective training, including capstone projects. Integrate tele-behavioral health and telemedicine into the university-wide curriculum to prepare students for digital healthcare delivery.
Research Mission
Research Mission
Conduct targeted research to address military medical gaps in traumatic stress, suicide prevention, and warfighter sleep and cognition. Integrate military medical leadership principles into behavioral health education and interdisciplinary efforts.
Top three priorities for National Faculty Development in 2024:
Build Community
Build Community
Build community by connecting psychiatrists across the DoD and providing resources as the home of DoD Psychiatry.
Streamline Processes for National Faculty
Streamline Processes for National Faculty
Streamline the academic appointment and review process within the department.
Enhance Educational Offerings
Enhance Educational Offerings
Improve the educational and developmental offerings of the department.
We hope that this website can be a conduit for enabling these priorities.
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