Faculty

Bio

I completed a B.S. in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science at the University of Michigan, where I conducted an honors thesis using functional MRI to study word list learning with Dr. Scott A. Langenecker.  I completed my Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota with Dr. Cheryl A. Olman. My doctoral work used functional MRI and behavioral psychophysics to examine how early visual processing (e.g., contrast perception) is affected by psychosis. Next, I worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Dr. Scott O. Murray in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. My work examined how low-level vision (e.g. motion perception) is affected by autism spectrum disorders, using methods such as functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and EEG.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. My research focuses on understanding how visual perception is affected by different psychiatric and neurological conditions. I am the Primary Investigator for an NIMH K01-funded study using EEG and MR spectroscopy to understand early visual perception in schizophrenia. I am also involved in a number of other projects focused on visual perception in clinical populations including psychosis spectrum disorders and visual snow syndrome. Within the department, I am Co-Chair of the Grand Rounds Committee, the Chairperson of a Junior Faculty Peer Mentorship Group, and Co-Director of the Ambulatory Research Center Psychophysiology Laboratory. 

Expertise

• Schizophrenia 

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Teneshia Collins
coll1148@umn.edu

Research Summary

Dr. Schallmo's interests include: Disrupted perception in psychosis and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) The role of different neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, glutamate) in psychosis and ASD Visual neuroscience as a tool to examine specific hypotheses about the neural mechanisms of psychiatric disorders Combining methods (e.g., functional MRI, EEG, MR spectroscopy, visual psychophysics, pharmacology) to study a single research question in human subjects

Bio

I received my BA from the University of Chicago. I completed medical school here at the University of Minnesota. I completed my psychiatry residency in general psychiatry from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and my fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry from Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard Medical School), Boston, where I was Chief Fellow. I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist with a focus on consultation-liaison psychiatry, mood and anxiety disorders, and developing new clinical programs for children with coexisting physical and psychiatric illnesses. Within the department, I am a member of the Advocacy Committee.

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Shelly Slominski
slomi001@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2022: Featured in this article titled, "Interprofessional collaboration at the U aims to improve mental health treatment for children and adolescents".

Bio

I am a Clinical Psychologist on faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. My education includes a Master’s degree in cognitive psychology from the Universität Regensburg, Germany, a PhD in clinical science from Vanderbilt University, TN, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania & the A.T. Beck Institute, PA. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, I worked in a variety of healthcare settings including the University of Illinois - Chicago, the practice group RICBT & OneCBT, and Allina Health.

In the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, I direct Psychology Education, co-chair the Education Council, oversee clinical psychology training, and direct CBT training for the psychiatry residency program. My education mission centers around empirically-validated team-based patient care, interprofessional learning, and mentorship of trainees across disciplines. I also serve as a certified Crucial Conversations Trainer leading workshops on the art of holding critical conversations well.

Expertise

• Unipolar and bipolar mood disorders
• Multidisciplinary interventions for mood disorders
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Molly Jokimaki
jokim004@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: Quoted in this Minnesota Daily article titled, “Fareed: The loneliness epidemic: a silent crisis.”
• 2023: Featured in this article titled, “Celebrating the many ways that psychologists help us.”
• 2023: Featured in this Minnesota Daily article titled, “Could the Sunshine Protection Act prevent the winter blues?
• 2022: Featured in this Woman’s World article titled, “Expert Advice: How Can I Feel Less Lonely During the Holidays?
• 2022: Featured in this article titled, “Treating seasonal affective disorder as winter looms.
• 2022: Quoted in this Consumer Reports article titled, "Find the Right Therapist for You".
• 2022: Featured in this Detroit Lakes Tribune article titled, "Health Fusion: Don't let SAD drive your bus". 
• 2021: Helps us get through the winter blues in this Medical School video titled, "Ask a U of M Expert: Tips for coping with SAD".
• 2021: Featured in this article titled, "5 Tips for Choosing a Psychotherapist".
• 2020: Interviewed by WCCO radio in a piece titled, Mental health experts warn that the holiday season could be "the hardest part" of the pandemic, by KSTP TV, Expert offers tips for those experiencing loneliness during the pandemic, holidays, and by Fox21, Mental Health Experts Concerned About Loneliness This Holiday Season. 

Research Summary

As a scientist-practitioner, I dedicate my career to translating scientific research into best practices in mental healthcare. My research interest is in the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions for mood disorders, specifically the integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with emerging biological interventions. Currently, I serve as site PI for a PCORI-funded empirical study comparing novel depression interventions.

Teaching Summary

I am passionate about training, teaching, and mentoring psychology graduate students, psychiatry residents, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in the evaluation and evidence based team-based intervention for mood disorders and in professional development.

Clinical Summary

I am clinically licensed in Minnesota and certified in CBT by the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. I provide care and consultation in multidisciplinary specialty clinics for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and Early-Stage Mood Disorders (ESMD). My clinical practice is rooted in scientific research and integrates CBT with modern empirically- based approaches including Behavioral Activation (BA) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 

Bio

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, as well as an Institute for Translational Neuroscience Scholar. I earned my PhD (Clinical Psychology) from the University of Pittsburgh, with secondary training from Carnegie Mellon University (Cognitive Neuroscience), focusing on the intersection of brain imaging, psychiatric phenotyping, and computational methods. I trained at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School for my predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship, with a focus on research and treatment of adolescents with substance use disorders. 

Current research in my group focuses on understanding the emergence of mental health and substance use disorders during adolescence and uses techniques from developmental psychopathology research, cognitive neuroscience, and computational methods. We are also engaged in methodological work aiming to evaluate and improve the reproducibility and ultimately, clinical utility, of large-scale fMRI and behavioral assessment research in neurodevelopmental studies. 

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Shelly Slominski
slomi001@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: The focus of this article titled, “Integrating his clinical work into his research an exciting prospect for new faculty member.”
• 2022: Invited on the Flux Society [Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience]: Sensitive Periods Podcast.
• 2022: Invited on the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Neurosalience Podcast 
• 2022: Featured on KCBS, San Francisco. Click here for more information. 
• 2022: Research featured on Psychology Today, Click here for the article.
• 2021: Featured on WHYY, National Public Radio (NPR)-Affiliate, Philadelphia, Click here for more information.

Bio

I received my BA in chemistry from the College of St.Catherine, MN, and completed medical school here at the University of Minnesota. I completed my residency in family practice from the University of Wisconsin, a residency in psychiatry, and a fellowship in addiction medicine from the University of Minnesota. I am an Associate Professor and addiction psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. I am Program Director for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship which trains physicians of all specialties in addiction and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

My research interests include substance abuse and related compulsive behaviors with co-morbid conditions, especially in women; medication development for substances of abuse, and healthcare professionals with substance user psychiatric disorders. I am also a co-investigator on the use of neuroimaging approaches to identify circuit abnormalities in addiction. Pharmacotherapies for the treatment of cocaine use disorder have also been a focus of research. I have also given grand rounds presentations nationwide and have presented both nationally and internationally at more than 70 conferences. I am board certified in both family practice and psychiatry and certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as a physician specialist in substance abuse and by the American Board of Psychiatry in addiction psychiatry. I was selected as a Top Doctor in Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Expertise

• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Addictive disorders

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Natasha Hampton-Anderson
nhampton@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: Featured in this article titled, “Celebrating the many ways that psychologists help us”.
• 2022: Shares her expertise in this Medical School article titled, “Talking addiction during the holidays with U of M”.
• 2022: The focus of this article titled, “Trip to Africa teaches faculty member about the impact of culture on mental health and substance abuse”.
• 2022: Featured in this Faribault Daily News article titled, “University of Minnesota expert explains Dry January”.
• 2021: Interviewed for this article in Self Magazine titled, “6 Signs Your Relationship with Alcohol May Not be Healthy”.

Research Summary

Dr. Specker's research is focused around substance abuse and related compulsive behaviors with co-morbid conditions, especially in women; medication development for substances of abuse; and Health Care Professionals with substance user psychiatric disorders.

Bio

I received my BA in Child Psychology and French Language & Literature here at the University of Minnesota and completed medical school and my adult psychiatry residency at the University of Wisconsin, where I was a co-chief resident. I also completed a further residency in pediatrics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. I did my fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry here at the University of Minnesota. I have a special interest in caring for children with neurodevelopmental conditions including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. I also have a particular interest in caring for children with complex/chronic medical conditions who also are experiencing psychiatric illness and enjoy doing so in an integrated behavioral healthcare model -- in both primary and subspecialty pediatric clinics. Within the department, I enjoy teaching medical students, pediatric and family medicine residents, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows in both didactic and clinical settings. I am board certified in Pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as Child, Adolescent, & Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.

Expertise

• Neurodevelopmental conditions

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Teneshia Collins
coll1148@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2022: Featured in this article titled, "Interprofessional collaboration at the U aims to improve mental health treatment for children and adolescents".

Teaching Summary

Within the department, Dr. Steingraeber takes pleasure in instructing medical students, residents specializing in pediatric and family medicine, and fellows studying child and adolescent psychiatry. This instruction takes place in both didactic and clinical contexts.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Steingraeber possesses a distinct passion for tending to children affected by neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. Additionally, she holds a specific fascination with providing care for children grappling with intricate or chronic medical conditions, coupled with psychiatric challenges. She derives satisfaction from engaging in this care within an integrated behavioral healthcare framework, spanning both primary care and specialized pediatric clinics.

Bio

I received my BS in psychology and neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin. I completed medical school and a Psychiatry residency at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I am an adult outpatient psychiatrist with a clinical focus on integrated/collaborative care, which involves working closely with colleagues in primary care to help provide mental health care to a vastly greater number of patients than is possible with a conventional outpatient psychiatry practice. I believe that the integration of behavioral health with primary care is key to improving access and is the future of effective mental health treatment.

Aside from my work with patients, I enjoy working in clinical informatics. I am a certified physician builder and power user with Epic, helping to make improvements to the electronic medical record to streamline the experience for both providers and patients and reduce burnout among providers. I am also passionate about education and work closely with medical students and residents in psychiatry as well as primary care specialties to help them improve their clinical skills and provide excellent patient-centered mental health care.

Expertise

• Development of clinical care models in Integrated/collaborative care areas
• Clinical informatics and resident education
• Certifications to optimize electronic medical records in the interest of reducing burnout among providers

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Natasha Hampton-Anderson
nhampton@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: Featured in this article titled, "Clinic director and educator believes the best time to mentor is 'in the moment'".

Bio

I am a licensed child and adolescent psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. I attended Stanford University for undergrad and received my PhD at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development. In my current faculty position, I balance direct clinical care of children and families, and teaching/supervision of advanced graduate psychology students. I specialize in evidence-based treatment of children and adolescents with acute and complex trauma. I am committed to providing culturally-affirming care to diverse patients and families including racially/ethnically diverse individuals, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other historically marginalized groups.

Expertise

• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
• Evidence-based treatment of children and adolescents with acute and complex trauma
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Prolonged exposure (PE)
• Parent guidance

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Natasha Hampton-Anderson
nhampton@umn.edu

Research Summary

Dr. Vrieze is broadly interested in developmental psychopathology, namely the myriad biological and environmental factors that contribute to the onset and trajectory of mental health problems in young children. Her research has focused on attachment and the reflective capacity of depressed mothers to attune to the emotional needs of their young children. She is interested in the development of community-based interventions for younger children identified as at-risk for developing emotional-behavioral problems.

Teaching Summary

Dr. Vrieze provides training and supervision for Psychiatry residents, Child Psychiatry Fellows, psychology interns and graduate students on the topics of: developmental psychopathology, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma, and early childhood mental health. She supervises the clinical work of graduate students from counseling, school, and clinical psychology doctoral programs.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Vrieze is a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of Minnesota. She earned her PhD in Child Psychology through the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Sciences doctoral program at the University of Minnesota - Institute of Child Development. She completed both her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral clinical fellowship training at Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities.

She focuses on trauma (acute, complex), chronic stress, and adjustment to significant stressors and adversities. Dr. Vrieze works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families utilizing evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), prolonged exposure therapy (PE), parent guidance, exposure-response prevention, and supportive psychotherapy.

Bio

I am a quadruple Gopher - having attended the University of Minnesota for undergraduate studies, medical school, psychiatry residency, and now as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

I am interested in exploring the ways that physicians learn - and thus my research explores educational techniques in medical education. I teach medical students and psychiatry residents while on the wards as well as in the classroom. Key topics of interest include psychiatric illnesses and their treatment, teaching, and professionalism. 

My clinical interests include adults with severe mental illness as well as intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disorders in adults. I love working on a team. I am committed to addressing ableism, ageism, anti-fatness, anti-trans/queer/homosexualism, racism, sexism, and stigma in all its forms, in any way I can. Together we can make this world better.

Expertise

• Assessments, feedback, mended study design

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Teneshia Collins
coll1148@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: Featured in this article titled, “Novel ‘high-fidelity’ psychiatric simulation provides real-life experience for residents”.
• 2022: One member of the department’s PERLab was featured in this Medical School article titled, “New Framework Teaches Better Doctor-Patient Conversations During a Personal Crisis”.

Research Summary

Dr. Wichser is interested in exploring the ways that physicians learn - and thus her research explores educational techniques in medical education.

Teaching Summary

Dr. Wichser teaches medical students and psychiatry residents while on the wards as well as in the classroom. Key topics of interest include psychiatric illnesses and their treatment, quality improvement, teaching, and professionalism.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Wichser's clinical interests include adults with severe mental illness as well as intellectual disability.

Bio

I received my BA from Luther College and my Masters of Biomedical Science at Lincoln Memorial  University.  I then earned my Medical Degree and Masters of Business Administration at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.  I completed my residency training in psychiatry here at the University of Minnesota where I served as Chief Resident. 

Within the department, my roles include Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director of the psychiatry residency program, and inpatient adult psychiatrist.  Clinically, I have a focus on acute psychosis and mood disorders with a special interest in PTSD and providing trauma-informed care. Medical education is a key focus of my career and my specific interests include teaching, leadership, and curriculum development research.  I teach psychiatry residents and medical students on the inpatient units and in the classroom with the goal of providing quality, evidence-based patient care while fostering a supportive learning environment for trainees.  

Within the University I also serve as Site Director for the medical student psychiatry rotation.

Expertise

• PTSD
• Psychosis
• Mood disorders

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Natasha Hampton-Anderson
nhampton@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2022: Featured in this article titled, “Making the transition from Chief Resident to Assistant Professor enables new faculty member to fuel her passion for medical education.”

Bio

I am a psychiatrist and biomedical engineer. Clinically, I provide brain stimulation treatments for mood, anxiety, and substance disorders. These include deep brain stimulation, cortical stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. 

My research focuses on developing these treatments further, particularly the creation of new "closed loop" devices. These devices sense brain signals in real-time and deliver energy in a planned and rational fashion, compensating for each patient's specific brain network abnormalities. My laboratory (TNE Lab) prototypes new stimulation paradigms and targets in rodent models, conducts clinical trials of these new technologies, and searches for biomarkers of illness and recovery to guide next-generation therapies. 

To inquire about being part of our neurostimulation trials or about existing clinical treatments, please contact my clinical office at 952-525-4500.

Expertise

• Neuromodulation for mental illness
• OCD

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Natasha Hampton-Anderson
nhampton@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2023: Featured in this WCCO TV piece titled, “New research at U of M measures brain waves to detect depression, suicide warnings.”
• 2023: Featured in this StarTribune article titled, “University of Minnesota studies brain's electrical signals as warnings for depression, suicide,” and in this WCCO interview titled, “ Can brain signals indicate thoughts about suicide and severe depression?”
• 2023: Dr. Widge and his research team are featured in this article titled, “Can we do a better job of detecting suicidality? U of M team using a DARPA award to test the possibility.”
• 2022: Featured in a video titled "Tackling Psychiatric Illness Using Translational Models and Computations", shot as part of the American Psychiatric Association's Conference TV with funding from NeuroPRSMH (NeuroPlasticity Research in Support of Mental Health), the U’s multidisciplinary neuroscience research group 
• 2022: Featured in this Psychiatric Times article titled, “Assessing Gaps and Opportunities in ECT, rTMS, and DBS Guidelines”.
• 2021: Spotlighted in The Medical Progress in a piece titled, “Merging AI with targeted electrical brain stimulation to improve specific human brain functions”.
• 2021: Interviewed for this MINNPOST piece titled, “As Minnesota considers qualifying anxiety for its medical cannabis program, psychiatrists raise concerns.
• U of M research team hopes to develop an implantable device to treat mental illness — thanks to a $6.6 million grant”. Features exciting work led by Dr. Alik Widge

Research Summary

Our laboratory develops new ways of modifying brain circuits to treat mental illness. We take a "dimensional" approach, breaking mental disorders into their core components that cut across diagnoses. We use a variety of tools, including electrical, magnetic, and optical stimulation, to change those circuits in a way we hope will translate to humans.

Bio

I received my BA from Cornell College, Iowa, and received my medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri. I completed my residency in psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco – Fresno, California. I further completed my neuromodulation medicine fellowship here at the University of Minnesota, where I was its inaugural fellow. I am an adult psychiatrist with a focus on TMS. My unique interest in TMS is understanding TMS's mechanism in order to design optimal protocols and understand biomarkers for TMS clinical response to help make the best care decisions for patients.

Neuromodulation has been of interest to me since my work at a perinatal mental health clinic in California where I took care of women who were pregnant or had recently given birth who were always interested in the latest non-medication treatments. This really inspired me to become skilled to work with PTS who don't fully respond to medications. I provide and monitor neuromodulation techniques such as ECT, TMS, and VNS. Within the department, I am a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Expertise

• ECT
• TMS
• VNS

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Shelly Slominski
slomi001@umn.edu

In the Media

• 2020: Interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio about seasonal affective disorder.