Are individuals who experience childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at greater risk for co-occurring problematic alcohol use and depressive symptoms in adulthood? In a recent study, researchers including Pitt Psychiatry investigators Frances Wang, PhD, Sarah Pedersen, PhD, Bernie Devlin, PhD, and Brooke Molina, PhD, examined heterogeneity among those with childhood ADHD that could be associated...

Psychiatry residents at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) who are interested in conducting research to better understand the neural underpinnings of mental illness can participate in the robust and rewarding Psychiatry Research Pathway (PRP) program. Below, meet a few of our “PRP-ers.” Shinnyi (Cindy) Chou, MD, PhD (PGY4) is PRP Chief Resident. Dr. Chou’s research focuses on the association between...

At Pitt Psychiatry, our faculty members conduct cutting-edge research on topics related to suicide across the lifespan. In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we offer a look at ongoing suicide research pertaining to children and adolescents, LGBT youth, and older adult populations. In addition, our scientists investigate topics including decision-making in suicide, the neurobiology of suicide, and...

We are delighted to announce that Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Ferrarelli has devoted his career to identifying disease biomarkers, focusing on the relationship of sleep electrophysiological signatures to schizophrenia. He uses state-of-the-art technology such as magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial...

The Department of Psychiatry is pleased to announce the promotion of Finn Calabro, PhD, to Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Calabro’s research focuses on applying quantitative methodological approaches to characterize both the adaptive and maladaptive ways in which brain mechanisms evolve through adolescence. He employs computational behavioral modeling and advance neuroimaging analyses to...

The Department of Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to the physicians below, who join our clinician-educator faculty at the rank of assistant professor. Alex Israel, MD Dr. Israel received his MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and following a residency in general psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) in the Academic-Administrator, Clinician-Educator Track, he...

The Pitt School of Medicine has recognized Jose Mantilla Rivas, MD (PGY4 Child & Adolescent Fellow), for outstanding dedication to medical education by posting praise from a Pitt Med student on the Office of Medical Education website. "During my psychiatry rotation, Dr. Jose Mantilla Rivas created a positive environment that valued team-work and transparency. Without knowing him at all and having just met, he...

We are thrilled to announce that Vanessa Brown, PhD, has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Brown earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech and completed her psychology internship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, followed by the Department of Psychiatry’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded Clinical and Translational Research Training in Geriatric...

Please join us in welcoming Yao Wang, PhD, to the Pitt Psychiatry faculty. Dr. Wang received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Science in Technology of China. He then joined the University of Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral associate under the mentorship of Yanhua Huang, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry) and Yan Dong, PhD (Professor of Neuroscience). His research with Dr. Huang focuses on the...

We are delighted to announce that César Escobar-Viera, MD, PhD, MPH, has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Escobar-Viera received his MD from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción School of Medical Sciences in Paraguay. He completed his residency training in psychiatry at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, and held academic appointments at the Universidad del Pacífico and the...