Community Outreach
The Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory and Clinic (NRLC) is focused not just on research and treatment but on translating our findings for implementation in the community.
To this end we engage in four general domains of community outreach.
- Coordinate our research and treatment efforts with our community partners.
- Developing a Health Resource program to educate both parents and children about different areas of mental health.
- Providing educational programs targeted towards local schools and community groups.
- Creating opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to gain research experience.
If you are interested in having one of the members of our team present on a mental health topic, please contact the NRLC.
Public Health Education
U in the Driver Seat 2019
Dr. Tara Karns-Wright, Dr. Tae-Joon Moon, and Sanjuana Rodriguez presented on Motivational Interviewing: A Conversatoinal Style for Addressing Problem Drinking. This presenation was part of a day long peer-to-peer education program for college students dedicated to reducing their number one killer – car crashes.
Texas Impaired Driving Forum 2019
Dr. Mathias presented on an Developing a Practical Postarrest Health Intervention for Alcohol Impaired Drivers to attendies of the annual impaired driver forum hosted by the Texas Impaired Driving Task Force and Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference 2018
Dr. Mathias presented on an innovative partnership delivering SBIRT for alcohol impaired drivers during county pretrial supervision at the Municipal Traffic Safety Initiatives Conference. Hosted by the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center for continueing education of municipal judges, court support personnel, and prosecutors from across Texas.
Psychiatry Matters, UTHSCSA 2018
Dr. Moon presented on Smartphone-Based Clinical Trial for People with Alcohol Use Disorder. This presentation was conducted as part of the speaker series to benefit residents, interns, graduate students, faculty of Psychiatry, and members of the treatment community.
Integrating Behavioral Health with Pretrial Supervision of Driving While Intoxicated Offenders 2017
Dr. Mathias presented on an innovative partnership delivering SBIRT for alcohol impaired drivers during county pretrial supervision.
Operation AdEPT: Addiction, Education, and Prevention Training 2017
Dr. Karns-Wright presented on Using Wearable Technology to Assist with Reducing Alcohol Use.
Dr. Mathias presented on Emerging Technologies for Monitoring Outpatient Alcohol Use.
Dr. Ryan presented on Strategies for Monitoring, Supervising, and Disciplining Adolescents with Behavior Problems.
Audience was Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) and Demand Reduction (DR) substance use treatment providers.
Baylor University Neuroscience Club 2017
Dr. Mathias presented on Translational Team Science: An Example from Transdermal Alcohol Projects.
Operation AdEPT: Addiction, Education, and Prevention Training 2016
Dr. Javors presented on Biological Measurements for Estimation of Alcohol Consumption.
Dr. Roache presented on Evidence-Based Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder: Implications for the Military.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2016
Dr. Mathias presented on information to high school sophomores in a 3 summer biomedical research training academy. The topic of his talk was: Translational Research in Human Alcohol Use and Misuse.
Know the Signs: You are not alone 2015
Juanita Alvarez presented on the CAMBIO program. This presentation was conducted as part of the a networking meeting of community partners from the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff's Office, Bexar County Juvenile Probation, and other stakeholders.
Psychiatry Matters, UTHSCSA 2015
Dr. Mathias presented on Implementation of a Novel Alcohol Treatment in the Bexar County Judicial Services Department. This presentation was conducted as part of the speaker series to benefit residents, interns, graduate students, faculty of Psychiatry, and members of the treatment community.
Putting Together the Pieces: Suicide among Children and Teens in San Antonio 2015
Dr. Mathias was an invited speaker at this round table discussion of community stakeholder on child and adolescent suicide in Bexar County. Presentation title: The Research: What do we need to know? This community event was sponsored by: The Children's Bereavement Center, Clarity Child Guidance Center, Voices for Children in San Antonio, in partnership with Porter Loring Mortuaries. We thank Helen Loring Dear for organizing this important community event. San Antonio Express News coverage of the event.
KEDA Radio 2015
Dr. Ryan was interviewed about our teen substance abuse program CAMBIO.
Baylor University Neuroscience Club 2015
Dr. Mathias presented on Brain and Behavioral Development of Adolescents.
Bexar County Mental Health Summit 2015
Dr. Mathias and Ryan participated in this one-day collaborative educational forum building partnerships for better mental health services in Bexar and surrounding counties. Dr. Ryan presented on our teen substance abuse program CAMBIO.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Department Team DWI 2014
Dr. Mathias presented at the on the Motivational Alcohol Treatment to Enhance Roadway Safety (MATTERS) a new treatment program at UTHSCSA to members of the Bexar County Sheriff's Department and community stakeholders interesting the rates of DWI in our community.
Regional Healthcare Partnership Region 6 Summit and Learning Collaborative 2014
Dr. Mathias presented on the Motivational Alcohol Treatment to Enhance Roadway Safety (MATTERS) program to healthcare delivery partners and community stake-holders.
ClarityCon 2014
Dr. Mathias presented at the second annual ClarityCon on A Time Between: Adolescence and the Emergence of Suicidal Behaviors
Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds, UTHSCSA 2014
Dr. Acheson presented on Brain and Behavior differences in youths and adults at risk for alcohol and other drug use disorders. This presentation was conducted as part of the grand rounds series to benefit residents, interns, graduate students, faculty of Psychiatry, and members of the treatment community.
Psychiatry Matters, UTHSCSA 2013
Dr. Hill-Kapturczak presented on Phosphatidylethanol: Biological Marker for Alcohol Consumption. This presentation was conducted as part of the speaker series to benefit residents, interns, graduate students, faculty of Psychiatry, and members of the treatment community.
Psychiatry Matters, UTHSCSA 2013
Dr. Acheson presented on Behavioral, environmental, and neural differences in children and adults with family histories of alcohol and other drug use disorders. This presentation was conducted as part of the speaker series to benefit residents, interns, graduate students, faculty of Psychiatry, and members of the treatment community.
Good Samaritan Community Services 2012
Drs. Mathias & Sheftall presented on classroom accommodations for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Conduct Disorder to staff and families participating in Good Samaritan Community Services summer camp.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2012
Dr. Mathias presented on information to high school sophomores in a 3 summer biomedical research training academy. The topic of his talk was: Biomedical Research on Suicide Prevention.
United States Congress 2011
Dr. Dougherty participated in the American Psychological Association's Congressional meetings on mental health research and treatment issues pertinent to substance abuse.
Pathways to Medicine 2012
Dr. Mathias presented on career pathways in medicine for to college freshmen from St. Mary's University.
Clarity Child Guidance Center 2011
Drs. Mathias and Sheftall conducted a CME/CEU training on suicide assessment and prevention practices to local community mental health providers.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2011
Dr. Mathias presented on information to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in a summer biomedical research training academy. The topic of his talk was: BioPsychoSocial Assessment of Suicidal Behavior among Adolescents: The Role of Impulsivity, Stress, and Serotonin Function in the Expression of Self-Harm Behaviors of Teens.
San Antonio Family Endeavors 2011
Dr. Mathias conducted an in-service training for second responders entitled Children in crisis situations: Orientation for second responders to large scale catastrophes.
University of Texas San Antonio, Department of Psychology Speaker Series 2011
Dr. Dougherty presented on the topic Conceptualization and Measurement of Impulsivity and its Relationship to Psychiatric Disorders.
Good Samaritan Community Services 2011
Dr. Mathias conducted a series of presentations on the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder to staff and families participating in Good Samaritan Community Services summer camp.
Natural Health Magazine 2011
Dr. Mathias was interviewed about mental health benefits of aquarium therapy.
Medical News Now MDTV 2010
Dr. Mathias was interviewed by the local Fox affiliate on the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children.
Medical News Now MDTV 2011
Dr. Mathias was interviewed by the local Fox affiliate on the topic of Depression and Anxiety in Women.
NARSAD Healthy Minds across America 2010
Dr. Dougherty presented information about Risk Factors and Development of Drug Use Among Adolescents at the NARSAD Healthy Minds Across America conference in San Antonio. Healthy Minds across America is a national series of public education forums highlighting the latest breakthroughs in mental health research. Over 120 patients, patient advocates, and community mental health practitioners were in attendance. Our three poster presentations were:
- Dr. Ballesteros presented Treatment Research on Binge Alcohol Drinking
- Sarah Farris presented Development of Impulse Control in At-Risk Youth
- Amanda Lopez presented Treatment Outcomes in Hyperactive, Inattentive, and Aggressive Youth
Center for Health Care Services 2010
Dr. Dawes conducted a training on evidence-based practices, for screening, brief interventions, and referral of patients for additional treatment of alcohol and other drug problems. This presentation was to clinicians and administrators at the Center for Health Care Services.
Department of Psychiatry, UTHSCSA 2010
Dr. Dawes conducted a two-part grand rounds on evidence-based practices, for screening, brief interventions, and referral of patients for additional treatment of alcohol and other drug problems. This presentation was to interns, and psychiatry residents, fellows, and faculty.
Good Samaritan Community Services 2010
Dr. Mathias conducted a series of presentations on the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder to staff and families participating in Good Samaritan Community Services summer camp.
Community Outreach
National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research program 2018
The NRLC hosted student Latisha Swygert to participate in a summer research education training program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Ms. Swygert came from Dr. Nora Charles' Youth Substance Use and Risky Behavior Lab at the University of Southern Mississippi. During her summer rotation, Ms. Swygert worked on the NRLC project studying adolescent development and transitions in substance use involvement.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2016, 2017, 2018
The NRLC hosted high school students Lianeth Lozano and Madison Metzger from the Voelcker Academy in summer research rotations studying mechanisms of reduction in alcohol use by drunk drivers following arrest.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2014, 2015, 2016
The NRLC hosted high school student Dominic Gomez from the Voelcker Academy in summer research rotation studying mechanisms of reduction in alcohol use by drunk drivers following arrest.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2015
The NRLC hosted high school student Maria Silvaz from the Voelcker Academy in summer research rotation studying mechanisms of reduction in alcohol use by drunk drivers following arrest.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research program 2014
The NRLC hosted two students (Jared Burgess and Elizabeth Snider) to participate in a summer research education training program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Jared worked on the NRLC project studying brain imaging mechanisms of risk for adolescent development of drug use, while Elizabeth studied physical maturation and pubertal change as a risk agent in early initiation of substance use..
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2012, 2013, and 2014
The NRLC hosted high school student Sergio Arambula from the Voelcker Academy in summer research rotations for research on adolescent developmental psychopathology, serotonin function, and development of impulse control.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research program 2012
The NRLC hosted student Prativa Upadhaya from the University of Texas San Antonio to participate in a summer research education training program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Prativa worked on the NRLC project studying mechanisms of risk and resilience to adolescent development of drug use among an at-risk group of youth.
Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair 2011, 2012, & 2013
Dr. Sheftall and Cynthia Cornejo volunteered for the UTHSCSA Women's Faculty Association to rate scientific posters of high schooler's as part of the Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair. This science fair has been developed to advance public understanding and appreciation of science, especially among young people and to increase opportunities for disadvantage youths and underrepresented groups in science and engineering.
Alamo Area Parkinson’s Support Group AAPSG 2011 & 2012
Dr. Acheson serves on the advisory board of the Alamo Area Parkinson's Support Group, a chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. The goal of the AAPSG is to provide education, outreach, and support programs for patients, their care partners, and the medical community to help ease the burden for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2011-01
The NRLC hosted college student Cory Alcott from the Voelcker Academy in summer research rotations on adolescent developmental psychopathology, substance use development, and bimolecular assays for their assessment.
National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research Program 2011
The NRLC hosted student Jessica Gutierrez from the University of Texas Pan American to participate in a summer research education training program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Jessica worked on the NRLC project studying mechanisms of risk and resilience to adolescent development of drug use among an at-risk group of youth.
Dow Jones Urban Journalism Boot Camp 2011
Dr. Mathias was interviewed by a rising journalism student on the topic of Teen drug abuse and drug abuse treatment published in the You S.A.
Community Partners
We gratefully acknowledge our community partners for the ongoing exchange of ideas and clinical impressions that help guide the mission of the NRLC.
These partnerships provide a source of patient referral, continuing education, and inspiration.