Faculty

David Brent, MD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and Clinical and Translational Science and Endowed Chair in Suicide Studies), has received the 2022 Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, Senior Scholar category. This award honors a University of Pittsburgh faculty member with an outstanding record of research and academic activity. Dr. Brent is widely recognized as a global...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to three new faculty members who have joined our Department: Kristen Eckstrand, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Eckstrand earned her MD and her PhD in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. She completed residency training in adult psychiatry and a fellowship in child psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. She then joined the Pitt Department of...

Julie Kmiec, DO (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), has been selected as a 2021 UPMC ACES recipient for her outstanding work at UPMC. ACES recipients are recognized for embodying UPMC’s core values, exhibiting excellence in and dedication to their work, and going above and beyond to serve patients and communities. Dr. Kmiec’s colleagues have described her as a compassionate and informed leader, a key organizer in...

Dr. Stephen Smagula, (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), did his doctoral work in epidemiology, followed by postdoctoral training in geriatric psychiatry and sleep research. Currently, his research focuses on the association between circadian activity pattern disruptions and depression in older adults, including those who are caregivers for individuals with dementia. Dr. Smagula is the 2022 recipient of the...

Congratulations to Amy Byrd, PhD, who was recently named an Association for Psychological Science (APS) Rising Star! The APS Rising Star designation is presented to outstanding APS members in the earliest stages of their research careers after completing doctoral training. Dr. Byrd’s research is focused on the neurobiological processes underlying the development and persistence of reactive aggression in adolescents...

Beatriz Luna, PhD (Staunton Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology) has received a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award. Dr. Luna is an internationally recognized developmental neuroscientist. Her research focuses on characterizing the changes in brain function that subserved the maturation of cognition by bridging developmental...