Caesa Nagpal, MD, ABPN

Associate Professor (Clinical Non-Tenure Track)
Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Email:    [email protected]
Phone:   713-741-3925

Education

  • Medical Degree
    Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, India.
  • Residency
    Psychiatry, Louis A Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, Houston

Teaching philosophy

I strive to provide a non-judgmental, safe environment where questions are always welcomed. This is the first thing I emphasize to every learner who works with me: no question is too small, and no doubt is too big! Providing empathic and evidence-based medicine is the core value that anchors my clinical service. I actively engage learners in hands-on experiences with patients, helping them develop their clinical skills and deepen their conceptual understanding. My goal is to empower them with the tools to think creatively while providing individualized, constructive feedback in a challenging yet supportive environment. This approach allows them to gradually grow into inquisitive, compassionate physicians who are equipped to serve society effectively.

Providing feedback at the right time, with the right words and with the right intention goes a long way!  I believe self-reflection and self-assessment are powerful tools for personal and professional development. I encourage my learners to recognize their strengths and identify areas for improvement; something many find challenging but essential for growth.

Education is a dynamic, ever-evolving process. There is never a full stop to learning! I have a passion to develop new innovative models of education using a variety of strategies beyond the traditional lecture format to cater learners at all levels making them compassionate, inquisitive physicians who give the highest standard of care to their patients. My methodology is very much learner centered although the base structure remains the same as I believe in “You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation.” I completely resonate with how incredible and powerful teaching can be to promote intellectual growth, creativity in learners to think ‘outside of the box’, a terminology once used by my mentor that stuck with me, and I pass it along to my learners. I have attempted to follow this philosophy through the various levels of teaching. I encourage my learners, whether it’s medical students or residents, to have that curiosity to know more about the patients and to listen and have that critical thinking and explore their ideas in a safe environment to develop into well-rounded, empathetic physicians.

Area of expertise

  1. Adult General Psychiatry
  2. Bipolar Disorder
  3. Schizophrenia
  4. Schizoaffective Disorder
  5. Substance use Disorder
  6. Major Depressive Disorders

Current educational activities

Medical Students

2015-Present          MS3 Psychiatry Clerkship clinical faculty
2017- Present         Facilitator for MS3 Psychiatry Clerkship Team-Based learning (TBL) on Anxiety disorders
2017-Present          Lecturer for MS3 didactics on Psychiatric-Documentation
2020- Present        Core Clinical Supervisor for Advanced Patient Care elective in Adult-Inpatient Psychiatry for MS4 (APC 4052)
2024- Present        Boost Camp Elective for MS 4 (PSYC 4046) in Adult Inpatient Psychiatry


Psychiatry Residents

2015-Present          PGY-1 & PGY-2 clinical supervisor
2017-Present          Course Director DSM 5 Lecture Series: 20 lectures per year, PGY-1 Residents
2024- Present         PGY 1 lecture on Mental Status Exam
2018-Present          ABPN Clinical Skills Verification (CSV) examiner for PGY-1,2,3 and 4 Residents
2019-Present          PGY 4 clinical supervisor as a Junior Attending month.
2023-Present         PGY 3/4 Making a Psychiatrist Lecture


Professional Trainee/ Observers

2022- Present        Faculty sponsor for Observership/ Professional Trainee


MENTORING ACTIVITIES

2017-Present          Faculty career supervisor for psychiatry residents
2019-Present          PGY-1 class supervisor with weekly supervision sessions
2019-Present          Mentoring Junior Faculty


Honors and awards:

  • 2012: Outstanding Resident Award, Department of Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School
  • 2014: Outstanding Resident Award, Department of Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School
  • 2014: Mendell Fellowship Award, Department of Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School
  • 2018: Nominated for UTHealth HCPC Medical Staff of the Year Award
  • Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, McGovern Medical School (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Outstanding Faculty Educator for 1styear Psychiatry Residents, Department of Psychiatry, McGovern Medical School (2020, 2022, 2023)
  • 2023: American Medical Association Women Physician Section Inspiration Award Honoree
  • 2024: Member, Academy of Master Educators, McGovern Medical School

PUBLICATIONS

Abstracts/Poster presentation

  • Gonzales O, Nagpal C: Myxedematous Psychosis: A commonly overlooked diagnosis, 170th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 20-24, 2017.
  • Anand D, Nagpal C, Teixeira AL: Binswanger disease presenting as severe depression, 170th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 20-24, 2017.
  • Goddu S, Nagpal C: Delirium superimposed on Dementia: A missed diagnosis, 170th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 20-24, 2017.
  • Goddu S, Nagpal C, Anand D: Haldol induced Priapism, 171st American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, May 5-9, 2018.
  • Anand D, Nagpal C, Goddu S: Major Neurocognitive disorder presenting as exacerbation of mood symptoms, 171st American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, May 5-9, 2018.
  • Narta A, Nagpal C: Acute Nicotine Withdrawal Presenting as Manic Symptoms, 171st American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, May 5-9, 2018.
  • Sauer B, Nagpal C: Hepatoxicity linked to chronic use of Risperidone, 171st American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY, May 5-9, 2018.
  • Nguyen V, Nagpal C: Recurrent priapism associated with antipsychotics: Stabilization strategy for Schizophrenia after olanzapine induced priapism, 173rd American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, April 25-29, 2020.
  • McNally M, Camkurt M, Nagpal C: Late onset Alcoholic Hallucinosis, 173rd American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, April 25-29, 2020.
  • Chudal R, Kapoor S, Nagpal C: Catatonia: A difficult diagnosis, treatment strategies in a manic patient, 173rd American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, April 25-29, 2020.
  • Espinoza J, Nagpal C: Topiramate for Treatment of Cocaine Cravings in Dual diagnosis patient, American Psychiatric Association Virtual Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2021.
  • Wable G, McBride J, Nagpal C: Frozen in fear: A case of malignant catatonia, American Psychiatric Association Virtual Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2021.
  • McNally M, Camkurt M, Nagpal C: Sudden onset of Psychosis in a 40-year-old man, American Psychiatric Association Virtual Annual Meeting, May 1-3,2021.
  • Chudal R, Kapoor S, Nagpal C: Catatonia: Diagnostic difficulty and treatment strategies in a manic patient, American Psychiatric Association Virtual Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2021.
  • O’Brien M, Nagpal C: A classic case of HIV-Associated mania, American Psychiatric Association Virtual Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2021.
  • Zhao N, Nagpal C: Psychoeducation: The missing piece in patient care! American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, May 21-25, 2022.
  • Actor A, Nagpal C: An Unsuspected Rash: A case of a Sertraline Induced Exanthem, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, May 21-25, 2022.
  • Soto de La Cerda C, Nagpal C: Expect the Unexpected! A Case of Bupropion- Induced Hyperprolactinemia, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, May 21-25, 2022.
  • Chaudhary P, Alexandre L, Nagpal C: A case of Post- Covid 19 Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis with catatonic features, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, May 20-24, 2023.
  • Kapadia T, Chen J, Nagpal C: Buspirone Induced Psychosis in a Patient with Anxiety, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, May 20-24, 2023.
  • M Holmes, R Sickler, D Liaou, Nagpal C: New Onset Bipolar Disorder Following Covid-19 Infection, American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, May 20-24, 2023.

Refereed Original Articles in Journals

  • Cao F, Salem H, Nagpal C, Teixeira AL: Prolonged delirium misdiagnosed as a mood disorder. Dementia & Neuropsychologia 2017.
  • Salem H, Nagpal C, Pigott T, Teixeira AL. Revisiting Antipsychotic-induced Akathisia: Current Issues and Prospective Challenges. Current Neuropharmacology 2017.