Melissa Allen, DO, ABPN

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
Chief Medical Officer, UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center

Email:  [email protected]
Phone:  713-741-5050
Department Bio

Participating in the educational experience of medical students and residents solidified my commitment to a career in academics early on in training. Since joining UTHealth in The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as an Assistant Professor and an inpatient psychiatrist I have had the pleasure of being involved in all eight levels of medical student and resident education. My teaching efforts over the last 5 years have been primarily focused on developing medical student and resident trainees into empathic, inquisitive, and thorough clinicians using the educational modalities of active case-based teaching, curriculum development utilizing techniques aimed at engaging all learners, and instructional evidence-based presentations.

My objectives in all activities include:

  • Facilitating a supportive learning environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and active learning built on a foundation of patient-centered care
  • Demonstrating how learning is enhanced by collective problem-solving, diversity in thinking, and cultivated collaboration with others
  • Adapting to innovations in the medical field, whether that includes emerging clinical interventions or diverse training techniques aimed at reaching all genres of learners
  • Upholding the lifelong commitments to remaining current in medical knowledge and practice, routine clinical skill self-assessment, and implementation of quality improvement strategies to enhance patient care

Past and Current Educational Activities:

  • Core Teaching Faculty for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2012-2016
  • McGovern Medical School Master Advisor Group Co-Leader for the 1st year medical students, 2012-2014
  • Department of Psychiatry PGY-1 Pharmacology Lecture Series Course Director, 2013-2016
  • Behavioral Science Course Lecturer for the 2nd year medical students, 2012-Present
  • 2nd year Medical Student Interviewing Faculty Leader, 2012, 2014 – Present
  • 3rd year Medical Student Psychiatry Clerkship Clinical Faculty, 2012-April 2017, 30 students yearly for rounds Monday- Friday, for 11 months of the academic year
  • 4th year Medical Student Psychopharmacology Elective, 2014- May 2017, 18 students yearly for rounds Monday- Friday, 11 months of the academic year
  • PGY-1 and PGY-2 Resident Clinical Supervisor, Bipolar Specialty Unit, 2012 – April 2017, 8 to 14 Residents yearly for inpatient rounds Monday- Friday, 12 months per academic year
  • Team Based Learning Curriculum Development and Facilitator for the 3rd year psychiatry clerkship
  • Psychiatry Advanced Nurse Practitioner Program Clinical Preceptor, 2015-2016
  • Curriculum development contributions to the 2nd year medical student Behavioral Sciences Course (psychotic disorders and mood disorders lecture series) and 3 Team Based Learning Modules in the 3rd year Psychiatry Clerkship

Honors/Awards/Appointments

  • Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Resident Award, 2012
  • Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, 2012 through 2017
  • Physician of the Year Award, Harris County Psychiatric Center, 2015
  • Outstanding Psychiatry Clerkship Clinical Educator Award, 2016
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee and Induction Ceremony Keynote Speaker, 2017
  • Co-Recipient of the 2017 Association of Directors of Medical Student Education (ADMSEP) MedEdPORTAL Award, presented in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, June 2017 for the publication and curriculum entitled, Mood disorders and psychotherapeutics team-based learning activity. MedEdPORTAL Publications. 2016; 12:10392.
  • Houstonia Magazine Top Doctor Award, Psychiatry Category, 2016
  • H Texas Magazine Top Doctors of Houston, 2016 and 2017
  • Texas Monthly Magazine Top Doctor: Rising Star Recognition, 2017
  • Academy of Master Educators, McGovern Medical School, 2017