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.

  1. Coordinate our research and treatment efforts with our community partners.
  2. Developing a Health Resource program to educate both parents and children about different areas of mental health.
  3. Providing educational programs targeted towards local schools and community groups.
  4. 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

 

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.

Baylor Univeristy Neuroscience Club 2015

  • Dr. Mathias presented on Brain and Behavioral Development of Adolescents.

Bexar County Mental Health Summit 2015

  • Drs. 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.

KEDA Radio 2015

  • Dr. Ryan was interviewed about our teen substance abuse program CAMBIO.

 

Putting Together the Pieces: Suicide among Children and Teens in San Antonio 2015

  • Dr. Mathias was an invited speaker at this roundtable 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.

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.

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.

Bexar County Sheriff's Department Team DWI 2014

ClarityCon 2014

  • Dr. Mathias presented at the second annual ClarityCon on A Time Between: Adolescence and the Emergence of Suicidal Behaviors

Regional Healthcare Partnership Region 6 Summit and Learning Collaborative 2014

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.

Pathways to Medicine 2012

  • Dr. Mathias presented on career pathways in medicine for to college freshmen from St. Mary's University.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Medical News Now MDTV 2011

  • Dr. Mathias was interviewed by the local Fox affiliate on the topic of Depression and Anxiety in Women. 

Medical News Now MDTV 2010

  • Dr. Mathias was interviewed by the local Fox affiliate on the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. 

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 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 a 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 a 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.

Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy 2011

  • The NRLC hosted a 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 a 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. www.theranger.org.

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.

 

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.

 

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