News

Each year, the Duke Psychiatry residency program offers pilot grants to selected residents for projects related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. With this funding, residents Jonathan Nahmias, MD, and Xiomara Nieves-Alvarado, MD, are working to better support patients who have low literacy and patients who do not speak English as a primary language.

On July 18, Jeffrey Swanson, PhD, provided testimony to the Full Committee Legislative Hearing on H.R. 705 (Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act), U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs. This article includes his testimony and a video of his testimony and questioning. 

Congratulations to our trainees on the many awards and honors they earned during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Companion robots enhanced with artificial intelligence may one day help alleviate the loneliness epidemic, suggests a new report from researchers at Auckland, Duke, and Cornell Universities. Duke Psychiatry's Murali Doraiswamy, MBBS, FRCP, co-authored the report.

Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, PhD, MPH, BDS, an associate professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communications Sciences is conducting a study to assess suicide risk among head and neck cancer patients at Duke, with the goal of implementing a systematic suicide screening process in the head and neck cancer clinic and ultimately across all cancer sites. Duke Psychiatry's David Goldston, PhD, is a mentor on Osazuwa-Peters’ training grant. 

Whether it’s exercise or reflection, adopting a morning wellness habit can help you unleash your potential. In this Working@Duke article, several Duke employees share how they start their day for success, and Duke Psychiatry's Shannon Byrne, PhD, provides some tips and insights on the benefits of an intentional morning routine.

Heightened risk of death by suicide among military service members and veterans reflects employment of firearms as a favored means. This commentary by Duke Psychiatry's Harold Kudler, MD, offers a practical preventive approach employing lethal means reduction, addressing upstream factors, identifying current and former service members in community settings, and understanding their unique culture and concerns.

The School of Medicine's Equity Matters newsletter this month features a Q&A with Dane Whicker, PhD. Whicker is working to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the School of Medicine's Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Clinical Translational and Translational Science Institute, and the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Two of our long-time faculty members retired from the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences this year. Lana Watkins, PhD, and Laura Weisberg, PhD, have advanced our field in a number of notable ways and their clinical work, research and engagement with our education programs have impacted many people.

Whether constant connectivity or fear of missing out while away, unplugging during vacation can be challenging. In this Working@Duke article, Duke Psychiatry's Tyson Pankey, PhD, MPH, share some tips and insights about how to make the most of your vacation and not worry too much about what's going on at work while you're gone.