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WELCOME TO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER/
SCOTT AND WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND CLINIC/
CENTRAL TEXAS VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
Psychiatry and behavioral medicine addresses the illnesses that affect our most human qualities—disorders of thinking, feeling and behaving. Achieving fulfillment in life is difficult for patients with psychiatric disorders since these disorders disrupt internal functioning and interpersonal relationships. The task of clinicians and researchers is to assist patients and their families overcome these illnesses.
It is an exciting time for psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Biochemical, genetic, neuroimaging, and psychotherapy research are bringing extraordinary advances to our field. With these advances, our ability to help those patients we serve grows. The brain is no longer a “black box” but an accessible organ. Treatments for brain disorders are not only plausible but also possible.
Our Department mirrors these exciting times. We are a collection of institutions comprised of clinicians and researchers dedicated to serving those persons with psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Our Department includes the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, the Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic, and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. Within each facility there are physicians, psychologists, researcher scientists, nursing staff, therapists and students committed to the care of those with mental illnesses. We also have a psychiatric residency program, a child psychiatry residency program and a psychology internship program associated with the Department. Having residents, interns, medical and nursing students within the Department brings an additional level of enthusiasm. Faculty serve as teachers, mentors and role models to trainees in the Department.
Besides clinical care and teaching, the Department serves as a center for research in the areas of neuropsychiatry and brain disorders. The Neuropsychiatry Research Program synthesizes basic science and clinical approaches to the study of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, dementias, and mood disorders. The Mind-Body Health Research Program is dedicated to research in the area of mind-body interactions in healthcare.
In addition to the above-mentioned institutions, Darnall Army Community Hospital (DACH) and Central Counties Center for Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services (CCCMHMR) also serve as training sites for the Department. Staff in those institutions serve as clinical faculty members for TAMU and have teaching and supervisory responsibilities. DACH is associated with Ft. Hood, which is the largest military base in North America.
The Central Texas area itself is a growing one. As such, there is a diverse patient population here. Patients range from the youngest to the oldest persons. Scott and White is a major pediatric care provider. The Central Texas area is the home of many retirees who obtain their healthcare at the CTVHCS, DACH or Scott and White. Patients served by this Department include the indigent, the working poor, veterans, persons participating in managed care, and the affluent. The area is also rich in cultural traditions. Persons of Asian, African-American, Anglo, Hispanic, Eastern European, and Korean are but a few of the cultures encountered in the area. Numerous faith traditions are also a part of Central Texas. This again affords members of the Department with a uniquely diverse practice.
We hope you enjoy looking at our Department electronically. We are proud of our leadership, faculty and staff, trainees, and students. We are proud of our facilities. We are proud of our research contributions to the areas of brain disorders and mental health. Most importantly, we are proud to provide services to those in need of care. We hope to hear from you soon!