Rick Wolthusen, MD, MPP

Rick Wolthusen

Graduate School
Harvard Kennedy School

Medical School
Technische Universität Dresden, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus

 

 

Interests and Career Goals     

My interests include psychotic disorders, mood disorders, community psychiatry and global mental health. My career goals include work as psychiatrist, global mental health research and pro bono policy work for governments and NGOs.

Favorite Pastimes   

Singing (I wanted to become an opera singer before I decided to study medicine), cycling, being outside, hiking, traveling and board games with friends

Strengths of the Program   

Training in four different facilities (Duke University, Durham V.A. Health Facility, Duke Regional Hospital, Central Regional Hospital); front-loaded program allows for more flexibility towards the end of the program; physician-scientist track; strong and diverse mentorship opportunities.

Research Interests

Imaging-Genetics (in patients with psychotic disorders); emotional dysregulation (such as fear conditioning and generalization); MRI (sMRI, fMRI, PASL) and community psychiatry/global mental health (designing community-based mental health interventions; what can we learn from low- and middle-income countries in high-income countries such as the US).     

Publications

  • Barbour, T., & Holmes, A.J., & Farabaugh, A.H., & DeCross, S.N., & Coombs, G., & Boeke, E.A., & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Nyer, M., & Pedrelli, P., & Fava, M., & Holt, D.J.. Elevated Amygdala Activity in Young Adults With Familial Risk for Depression: A Potential Marker of Low Resilience. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2020;5(2):194‐202. doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.10.010 
  • DeCross, S.N., & Farabaugh, A.H., & Holmes, A.J., & Ward, M., & Boeke, E.A., & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Coombs, G., & Nyer, M., & Fava, M., & Buckner, R.L., & Holt, D.J.. Increased amygdala-visual cortex connectivity in youth with persecutory ideation. Psychol Med. 2020;50(2):273‐283.  
  • Tuominen, L., & Boeke, E., & DeCross, S., & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Nasr, S., & Milad, M., & Vangel, M., & Tootell, R., & Holt, D. The relationship of perceptual discrimination to neural mechanisms of fear generalization. Neuroimage. 2019;188:445‐455.  
  • Blokland, G.A.M., & Del Re, E.C., & Mesholam-Gately, R.I., & Jovicich, J., & (...), & Roffman, J.L., & Holt, D.J., & Ehrlich, S., (...), & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Seidman, L.J., & McCarley, R.W., & Petryshen. T.L.. The Genetics of Endophenotypes of Neurofunction to Understand Schizophrenia (GENUS) consortium: A collaborative cognitive and neuroimaging genetics project.. Schizophr Research. 2018, May; 195(N/A): 306-317.  
  • Hass, J., & Walton E., & Kirsten H., & Turner J., & Wolthusen R., & Roessner V., & Sponheim S.R., & Holt D., & Gollub R., & Calhoun V.D., & Ehrlich S.. Complexin2 modulates working memory-related neural activity in patients with schizophrenia. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 2015, Mar; 265(2): 137-145.  
  • Holt, D.J., & Boeke, E.A., & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Nasr, S., & Milad, M.R., & Tootell, R.B.. A parametric study of fear generalization to faces and non-face objects: relationship to discrimination thresholds.. Frontiers In Human Neuroscience. 2014, Sep; 8(N/A): 136-147.  
  • Wolthusen, R.P., & Hass, J., & Walton, E., & Turner, J.A., & Roessner, V., & Sponheim, S.R., & Ho, B.C., & Holt, D.J., & Gollub, R.L., & Calhoun, V., & Ehrlich, S.. Genetic underpinnings of left superior temporal gyrus thickness in patients with schizophrenia.. World Journal Of Biological Psychiatry. 2015, Aug; 16(6): 430-440.  
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Coombs, G. 3rd, & Boeke, E.A., & Ehrlich, S., & DeCross, S.N., & Nasr, S., & Holt D.J.. Correlation Between Levels of Delusional Beliefs and Perfusion of the Hippocampus and an Associated Network in a Non-Help-Seeking Population.. Biol Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience Neuroimaging. 2018, Feb; 3(2): 178-186.  
  • van Erp, T.G.M., & Walton, E., & Hibar, D.P., & Schmaal, L., & Jiang, W., & Glahn, D.C., & (...), & Ehrlich, S., & Wolthusen, R.P.F., & (...), & Thompson, P.M., & Turner, J.A.. Cortical Brain Abnormalities in 4474 Individuals With Schizophrenia and 5098 Control Subjects via the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics Through Meta Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium.. Biological Psychiatry. 2018, Nov; 84(9): 644-654.    

Conference Contributions/Poster Presentations

  • Use It or Lose It “The Power of Using Social Media to Diversify the Workforce and Tackle Institutional Disparities and Racism. In-person workshop. 2022 AAP Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. Status: accepted workshop.
  • Equity and Bias in Restraint and Seclusion: Integrating Behavioral and Structural Pedagogical Approaches. Pre-recorded workshop for asynchronous learning. 2022 AAP Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. Status: accepted workshop.
  • Cross-cultural learning from community-based mental health interventions. Chair of the Symposium. 6th World Congress of the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Status: accepted symposium.
  • The Mental Health Allyship Program “How To Support Others in Need. Oral presentation. 22nd WPA World Congress of Psychiatry, Bangkok, Thailand. Status: accepted abstract.
  • Brain Spirit Desks “The Intersection of Religion and Mental Health. Oral presentation. 22nd WPA World Congress of Psychiatry, Bangkok, Thailand. Status: accepted abstract.
  • Cross-Cultural Learning from Community-Based Mental Health Interventions. Oral presentation. 22nd WPA World Congress of Psychiatry, Bangkok, Thailand. Status: accepted abstract.
  • Brain Spirit Desks “A community-based mental health intervention. Poster presentation. American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting (2022), New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • The Mental Health Allyship Program “More Than Mental Health First Aid. Poster presentation. American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting (2022), New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Tachycardia, SARS-CoV-2, Psychosis, and Catatonia “Untangling the Knot. American College of Physicians Meeting 2022 (North Carolina Chapter). Online.
  • Seize The Movement, Not the Moment “The Benefit of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Long-Term Strategies on Instagram and Twitter for Residency Recruitment. AADPRT 2022. Online.
  • Twitter and Instagram: Delivery of Prodigious Information to Applicants to Benefit Residency Recruitment. AADPRT. Online.
  • Dietzel, N., & Degley, J.K., & Kumado, J.A., & Tavi, B., & Andrae, P., & Wolthusen, R.P.F. (November, 2019). Brain Spirit Desk – Bridging Gaps in Mental Health Care in Ghana Poster presented at: DGPPN Kongress 2019; Berlin, DEU.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Coombs, G. 3rd, & Boeke, E.A., & Ehrlich, S., & DeCross, S.N., & Nasr, S., & Holt D.J.. (June, 2017). Elevated Perfusion of Limbic Brain Regions in Non-help-seeking Subjects with Psychotic Experiences Poster presented at: 2017 Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping; Vancouver, BC, CAN.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Boeke, E.A., & Nasr, S., & Milad, M.R., & Tootell, R.B., & Holt, D.J.. (May, 2016). Effects of subclinical anxiety on fear generalization Poster presented at: 71st Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Boeke, E.A., & Nasr, S., & Milad, M.R., & Tootell, R.B., & Holt, D.J.. (May, 2015). Gender Differences in Fear Generalization Poster presented at: 70th Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting 2015; Toronto, ON, CAN.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Boeke, E.A., & Nasr, S., & Milad, M.R., & Tootell, R.B., & Holt, D.J.. (May, 2014). A comparison of autonomic and explicit measures of fear generalization Poster presented at: 69th Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting 2014; New York, NY, USA.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Hass, J., & Walton, E., & Turner, J.A., & Roessner, V., & Sponheim, S.R., & Ho, B.C., & Holt, D.J., & Gollub, R.L., & Calhoun, V., & Ehrlich, S.. (October, 2013). A genome-wide association study to identify genetic susceptibility loci that modify left superior temporal gyrus thickness in patients with schizophrenia Poster presented at: XXIst World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics; Boston, MA, USA.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Hass, J., & Walton, E., & Kirsten, H., & Liu, J., & Priebe, L., & Wolf, C., & Karbalai, N., & Gollub, R., & White, T., & Roessner V, & (...), & Smolka, M.N., & Schumann, G.; & IMAGEN Consortium, & Calhoun, V., & Ehrlich, S.. (March, 2013). A genome-wide association study of a brain-based phenotype related to schizophrenia Poster presented at: Conference of the German Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy; Rostock, DEU.

Oral Presentations

  • Wolthusen, R.P.F.. (November, 2019). Mental Health Care in Rural Ghana – A Hybrid Model Oral Presentation presented at: DGPPN Kongress 2019; Berlin, DEU.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F.. (December, 2018). The role of psychiatry in Sub-Saharan Africa Oral Presentation presented at: Substandard and Counterfeit Medicines in Africa: A Human Rights Perspective; Boston, MA, USA.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F.. (January, 2018). Die sind doch alle irre! Oral Presentation presented at: Panel discussion (organized by Amnesty International HU and Charité); Berlin, DEU.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F.. (October, 2017). A long journey to mental health – why one step at a time is not enough! Oral Presentation presented at: Invitation from Prof. Marie-France Marin (Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal); Montréal, QC, CAN.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F.. (July, 2017). From Learning to Teaching: Brain Awareness to Reduce Mental Health Stigma Oral Presentation presented at: Invitation from Prof. Jessica Turner (Georgia State University); Atlanta, GA, USA.
  • Wolthusen, R.P.F., & Milad, M.. (March, 2016). Brain Awareness in Ghana Oral Presentation presented at: Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Global Psychiatry Dinner Talk; Boston, MA, USA.

Invited Talks

  • Introduction to the Kenyan (mental) health system and what high-income countries can learn from Kenya. 2-hour lecture and workshop for graduate students and faculty members. Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC
  • Critical appraisal of the DEIJ strategy for the residency-run Instagram account. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Academic Half Day Lecture. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 
  • From Fufu to Susu: Insight into one Decade of Global Mental Health Work. Department of Psychiatry. Global, Local, and Cultural Psychiatry Pathway Lecture. Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
  • Global Mental Health & Design Thinking: Relevance for the Daily Work of Psychiatry Residents. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Academic Half Day Lecture. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 
  • Mental Health and Why We Need a Change of Perspectives. German American Conference 2021. Online.
  • Role of Social Justice in Mental Health and Wellbeing. Coalition Action for Prevention Mental Health. Online
  • Ngima Mar Obuongo (Mental Health). Ratego Radio, Siaya, Kenya
  • Social Media and Professionalism. Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds. Albert R. Alden Memorial Lecture. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
  • A Case of Catatonia Due to NMDA-Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis and Review of the Literature. Internal Medicine & Psychiatry Noon Conference Series. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
  • Bridging the Mental Health Care Gap in Ghana. Duke University’s Monthly Spirituality and Health Research Seminar. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 
  • Supporting Student Mental Health “Expert Advice from Advocates and Practitioners. UConnect. Online.
  • Celebrating a Decolonialized World Mental Health Day 2019? McLean Hospital, MA, USA
  • Mental Health Care in Rural Ghana “A Hybrid Model. DGPPN Congress, Berlin, Germany
  • Substandard and Counterfeit Medicines in Africa: A Human Rights Perspective. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, MA, USA
  • Psychiatry Nowadays. Kisumu County Hospital, Kisumu, Kenya
  • A long journey to mental health “Why one step at a time is not enough! Ketu South District Hospital, Ketu South Health Directorate, and Mental Health Authority, Aflao, Ghana
  • From Stigmatization to Patient Empowerment. University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
  • Die sind doch alle irre! Amnesty International HU & Charité ©, Berlin, Germany

Podcasts and Documentaries