Celebrate the importance of psychologists during Psychology Week
(Photo by UTHealth Houston)
Join the UTHealth Houston community April 20-26 for Psychology Week, a time each year to appreciate the significant contributions psychologists make in health care.
The American Psychological Association designates the third week of April as a time to highlight the important work psychologists perform and the impact they make in the lives of their patients.
At UTHealth Houston, 50 psychologists contribute to the university in several key areas ranging from patient care and organizational leadership to the learning environment.
University psychologists’ roles often integrate clinical practice, research, education, and administration and include such specialties as:
- Forensic psychology
- Health disparities
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Trauma and resilience
- Psychological autopsies
- Bipolar and depressive disorders
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy
- Serious mental disorders
They work in multiple areas of the university, including the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus and, at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; and the Department of Pediatrics.
Faces of UTHealth Houston psychologists
Chermaine Tyler, PhD
Assistant professor, trained clinical psychologist, and coordinator of Behavioral Science Training, Chermaine Tyler specializes in health psychology and works in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at McGovern Medical School. She sees patients in the UT Physicians Family Medicine Clinic and provides clinical training to medical students, family medicine residents, and psychology interns. She also performs research and serves on the medical school admissions committee.
“I really enjoy working at UTHealth Houston because I am able to make meaningful contributions to patient care,” Tyler said. “The possibilities to collaborate with other health care professionals to positively impact patient well-being are seemingly endless. The university offers so many opportunities for service and learning, which means I continue to grow professionally.”
Amy K. Izuno-Garcia, PhD, NCSP
Assistant professor and licensed psychologist Amy Izuno-Garcia works at the UT Physicians Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic – Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences Building in the Lifespan Autism Clinic. She also serves as a psychologist in Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine, a service that provides virtual mental health services to students across the Greater Houston area. She specializes in the assessment of autism spectrum disorder for people of all ages.
“I have loved working at UTHealth Houston ever since I was a data collection assistant in the Department of Pediatrics in 2017,” Izuno-Garcia said. “I truly am doing my dream job at UTHealth Houston in the Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences Building. I also appreciate getting to collaborate with psychiatrists in helping to manage mental health concerns in individuals on the autism spectrum.”
Audrey K. Miller, PhD, and Angel Glover, PhD
Assistant professors in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and psychologists with UT Physicians, Audrey Miller and Angel Glover also collaborate with the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. They specialize in women’s health, minority health and health disparities, contextual factors and health, trauma and resilience, and culturally informed interventions.
Glover and Miller provide antepartum and postpartum interventions supporting the mental well-being of individuals throughout their pregnancy journeys — whether in managing emergence of psychiatric symptoms during this period, adapting to parenthood and various concurrent life transitions, and/or grieving pregnancy losses.
Thomas D. Meyer, PhD
Professor and psychologist Thomas Meyer works in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. He is also affiliated with the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus. His core expertise is psychotherapy for individuals with bipolar and depressive disorders and their loved ones. He also performs psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelic treatment, and psychological autopsies as part of the UTHealth Houston Brain Collection.
Cathy Guttentag, PhD
Associate professor of pediatrics and licensed psychologist Cathy Guttentag works at the Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Children’s Learning Institute. Guttentag is an instructional faculty member at LoneStar LEND, working with faculty from UTHealth Houston and other local universities to train program fellows who want to become leaders in the field of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
“My training as a clinical child psychologist has given me the flexibility to combine clinical care, teaching and training, content development, and participation in research studies. The field of psychology is wide and diverse, allowing us to follow a variety of professional pathways and specializations, shaping our careers to best fit our interests and strengths,” Guttentag said. “I have worked at UTHealth Houston since 2001, and I feel very fortunate that my career here has evolved in ways that are somewhat unconventional for a psychologist but fit my interests so well.”
Jessica Badawi, PhD
Director of the Recovery-Oriented Treatment Program and program director of the Psychosis Recovery Unit at UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus, Jessica Badawi is also an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and licensed psychologist serving the acute patient population. She specializes in serious mental illness, particularly psychosis and sleep.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a role that allows me to do what I love every day,” Badawi said. “As a psychologist, I have the unique privilege of conducting research, supporting patients through therapy, and teaching students who are passionate about the field. I’m especially grateful for the opportunities to collaborate across disciplines in service of patient care.”
Samantha Guzman, PsyD
Assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Samantha Guzman works at the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus as a licensed psychologist specializing in forensic psychology. Her main role at UTHealth Houston is to conduct post-restoration evaluations on competency to stand trial. She is also currently supervising a psychology extern and collaborating with other UTHealth Houston colleagues on research projects pertaining to competency restoration and evaluations on competency to stand trial.
“I love what I do! I started working at UTHealth Houston this past July, and I’m so happy I decided to make the move here from San Antonio. Our leader, Dr. Ashtari has created a very supportive environment for our psychology team, and her guidance has been invaluable to me,” Guzman said. “I have really enjoyed collaborating with colleagues at UTHealth Houston who have an incredible passion for person-centered care and, like me, continue to seek professional growth. I’m excited for what is ahead and hope we can continue to contribute to our field of psychology with excellent services for our patients and new research.”
Seema Jacob, PsyD
Assistant professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Seema Jacob specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. A significant aspect of Jacob’s work is the opportunity to integrate psychological principles across different settings. An example is her clinical research on the mental health needs of parents of extremely premature infants. This involves close collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and the NICU at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, using evidence-based interventions to enhance family care and address potential long-term psychological effects.
“As we celebrate Psychology Week, I’m reminded of the diverse and impactful role of a psychologist,” Jacob said. “The supportive, intellectual environment at our university is invaluable, fostering collaborations that constantly enrich my perspective.”