Faculty

Bio

I received my BS in Biology from Baylor University, Texas. I completed my masters and PhD in Human Anatomy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I obtained my MD from Case Western Reserve University, and further completed three postdoctoral fellowships in Pharmacology, Biochemistry (University of Texas Health Sciences Center), and Anatomy (McGill University, Canada).I am a Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Emeritus for the Bernstein Professorship in Adult Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School and my research has focused on the biological basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily autism and schizophrenia. I have over 140 publications, nearly 9000 citations and an h-index of 49.My clinical interests have focused on the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. I have over 20 years of experience in research and treatment of major psychiatric disorders. I am an Elected Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, an Elected Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and a Fellow of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum.Within the medical school and university, I am the Academic Advisor for 3rd and 4th year medical students, and the medical student admissions interviewer. I am also the High School Summer Research Apprenticeship Program Supervisor. Within the department, I am a member of the Psychiatry Residency Committee , Residency Training Committee , and on the Medical Student Clerkship Education Sub-Committee .

Research Summary

Dr. Fatemi's research focuses on the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that contribute to normal structure and function of the brain and which, under certain circumstances, cause neuropsychiatric disorders. His research has been conducted on two levels: one at the level of human brain dysfunction (postmortem studies involving schizophrenic, depressed, bipolar, and autistic patients) and secondly on development of an animal model to mimic schizophrenia and autism (prenatal viral infection in mice). Dr. Fatemi has also investigated the effects of various psychotropic agents, e.g., olanzapine, clozapine, fluoxetine, valproic acid, haloperidol, and lithium, on expression of genes of interest in rats following chronic administration of each drug. The ultimate goals of Dr. Fatemi's research are to better understand the genesis of these disabling disorders and to treat patients afflicted by them. Dr. Fatemi's research has been funded by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Stanley Medical Research Institute, the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression, and the Minnesota Medical Foundation. His research has been published in top journals including Molecular Psychiatry, Synapse, Molecular Autism, and Translational Psychiatry. Dr. Fatemi has published 121 articles, 33 book chapters, and edited five books. Dr. Fatemi is an Associate Editor of Cerebellum and Ataxias, a Regional Editor (USA) for Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, and on the editorial boards of multiple journals including Molecular Psychiatry, PLoS One and Pharmacopsychiatry.

Research Summary

Trauma-related disorders Substance use Eating disorders

Clinical Summary

Dr. Ferrier-Auerbach is involved in psychotherapy and psychological assessment at the Minneapolis VA. Her primary theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioral. Much of her clinical work involves the provision of evidence-based psychotherapies for trauma-related disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Bio

I received my BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in Psychological Research from San Francisco State University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco. I completed pre-doctoral training at the Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and in Neuropsychology Services at the Northport VA Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship in schizophrenia research at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.I am an adult research psychologist whose research focus is on the evaluation of neurocognition, clinical symptoms, and functional outcomes of individuals with psychosis, and the effects of neuroscience-informed cognitive training exercises. Within the department, I am Director of Assessment for the Vinogradov Lab where I provide training and supervision of behavioral assessments for studies of cognitive training and measurement-based care.Recent areas of interest include the effects of cognitive training and assessments delivered remotely, the implementation of measurement-based care and cognitive training in clinics that specialize in early intervention services for individuals with psychosis, and in clinics that provide specialized care for pregnant women and mothers with and without emotional distress.

Bio

I received a BA in Biology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, graduating summa cum laude. I completed medical school at the University of Wisconsin. I completed my psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado in Denver, where I was also chief resident.I am an adult psychiatrist and have devoted my career to treating folks with severe and persistent mental health disturbances, those with physical and mental health challenges, as well as those with new-onset mental health concerns. I have a particular interest in existential psychotherapy and philosophy, and have recently been working to increase the availability of Meaning Centered Psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer.I believe in the capacity of individuals to improve the quality of their lives via healthy lifestyles (e.g., social, vocational, nutritional, physical, creative and spiritual endeavors). Additionally, I am consistently impressed with the success of my patients in managing their physical and mental health concerns in collaboration with their professional partners - with the shared goals of minimizing suffering, maximizing health and each individual's purpose and meaning in existence.Within my department, I serve on the Residency Training Committee and am co-Leader for the Global Community Psychiatry Residency Track. In that role, I am now partnering with other faculty and residents to improve the psychiatric curriculum of the residency program in the areas of: the history of psychiatry; ethics; spirituality; cultural and public psychiatry; and forensic psychiatry. Within the University of Minnesota Medical School, I was the faculty supervisor of the medical students' mental health outreach program to Puerto Rico (following Hurricane Maria). I am also Chief of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota's Federally Qualified Health Center, called the Community - University Health Care Center.

Clinical Summary

I have devoted my career to treating folks with severe and persistent mental health disturbances, those with physical and mental health challenges, as well as those with new onset mental health concerns. I approach each patient interaction with the goal of understanding the unique individual that I am partnering with, and to render the most accurate and comprehensive diagnostic impression. In collaboration with my patient, a patient-centered treatment plan is crafted to maximize health, happines

Bio

I earned my PhD in Clinical Social Work from the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, IL, then spent three years as a faculty member for the. Research from my dissertation was foundational for Developmental Repair , an intervention manual for behaviorally challenged and challenging children, in collaboration with WAshburn Center for Children in Minneapolis. This manual is now used extensively throughout the state. Prior to this, I taught for 25 years in the U of MN school of social work. I completed a Master's in Social Work from the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Work of New York, NY,and have had an independent mental health practice that serves children, adolescents and adults since 1987.My initial role in Psychiatry teaching normal child development to child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. In 2017, I started the family consult clinic working with fellows to help families navigate potentially confusing diagnoses, treatment plans and related family needs. I have taught in the U's School for Social Work for more than 20 years and authored the book, Developmental Repair , a manual for intervention with behaviorally challenged and challenging young children that is used throughout Minnesota. I provide mental health therapy in the community, as well as consulting to agencies and schools about the developmental needs of children and adolescents. I am now working with the Fairview inpatient behavioral health units to improve care and provide staff training and support, and have also been on the faculty of the U's Infant and Early Child Mental Health Certificate program in the Institute for Child Development.My teaching and research expertise is in early development, attachment, and impact of trauma, especially trauma that occurred when children are preverbal, or when impact of intergenerational traumas persist within family dynamics. I also have over four decades of psychotherapy practice.I have been awarded "Teacher of the Year" from the Department of Child Psychiatry in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.