Faculty & Staff

Psychiatry Faculty

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP, HSP: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Lubnaa.Abdullah@utrgv.edu

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP, HSP

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP, HSP
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Email: Lubnaa.Abdullah@utrgv.edu

Dr. Abdullah is a neuropsychologist and assistant professor of Psychiatry with board certification in clinical psychology. Dr. Abdullah is part of the inaugural cohort of associate editorial fellows for the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (2023-2024), the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN). Her research interest includes diversity studies and Alzheimer's research in special populations. Dr. Abdullah provides outpatient neuropsychological assessment in UT Health RGV clinics and provides neuropsychological assessments for children and adolescents as a behavioral health consultant for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program (TCHATT). She received her doctorate in clinical psychology and neuropsychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the American Psychological Association accredited program, Wasatch Mental Health in Provo, UT and received post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology at ARCC Neuropsychology in Chicago, IL.

Alcides Amador, MD: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, TCHATT Medical Director; Alcides.Amador01@utrgv.edu

Alcides Amador, MD

Alcides Amador, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, TCHATT Medical Director
Psychiatry
Email: Alcides.Amador01@utrgv.edu

Dr. Alcides Amador is a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the UTRGV School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. He is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist in both Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Amador is also the Medical Director of the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) under the Texas Child Mental Health Consortium at UTRGV. Where he provides telemedicine-based behavioral health services.

Mercy Azeke, EdD: Assistant Professor; Mercy.Azeke@utrgv.edu

Mercy Azeke, EdD

Mercy Azeke, EdD
Assistant Professor
Email: Mercy.Azeke@utrgv.edu

Diana Chapa, MD: Assistant Professor of Medicine; Diana.Chapa@utrgv.edu

Diana Chapa, MD

Diana Chapa, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Psychiatry
Email: Diana.Chapa@utrgv.edu

An RGV native and recently relocating to her hometown from Minnesota, Dr. Chapa obtained her MD at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1995. She is an assistant professor of Psychiatry at the UTRGV School of Medicine and is double boarded in Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Chapa completed her Psychiatry internship and residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Affiliated Hospitals from July 1995 to June 1998. She then trained in the same institution for a Child and Adolescent Fellowship from July 1998 to June 2000. With her return to the RGV, Dr. Chapa’s goal is to make a positive impact to our community through her resident teachings and supervision.

Dernay Coley Torres, LCSW-S: SOM Instructor; Dernay.Coley@utrgv.edu

Dernay Coley Torres, LCSW-S

Dernay Coley Torres, LCSW-S
SOM Instructor
Psychiatry
Email: Dernay.Coley@utrgv.edu

Ms. Dernay Coley-Torres is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of clinical, supervisory, teaching, and management experience. She received her master’s in social work from the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University in New York City, and is licensed in New York, Missouri, and Texas. Her areas of clinical expertise include medical and behavioral health. She has extensive experience working with patients with acute and chronic medical and behavioral health conditions to increase their treatment adherence, engage in behavioral changes that support their health and wellbeing, and access psychosocial and concrete supports. She has conducted individual, couples, and group therapy in a variety of settings, from medical settings and substance abuse programs to schools and Employee Assistance Programs. Ms. Coley-Torres has served as a Social Work Field Instructor and has supervised bachelors’ and masters’ students in social work for almost 20 years.

Cynthia Garza, PsyD: Assistant Professor of Medicine; Cynthia.Garza1@utrgv.edu

Cynthia Garza, PsyD

Cynthia Garza, PsyD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Psychiatry
Email: Cynthia.Garza1@utrgv.edu

Dr. Garza is an assistant professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at UTRGV. She is a clinical psychologist and serves as a behavioral health consultant for the UTHealth Laguna Vista primary care clinic, Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program and as a research co-principal investigator for the UTRGV Texas Child Health Care Consortium, research projects on child trauma, depression and suicide.

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM: Professor of Psychiatry, Department Chair; Karl.Goodkin@utrgv.edu

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM
Professor of Psychiatry, Department Chair
Psychiatry
Email: Karl.Goodkin@utrgv.edu

Alfonso Mercado, PhD: Associate Professor; Alfonso.Mercado@utrgv.edu

Alfonso Mercado, PhD

Alfonso Mercado, PhD
Associate Professor
Phychiatry
Email: Alfonso.Mercado@utrgv.edu

Dr. Alfonso Mercado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science and Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and supervises residents in outpatient psychotherapy and assists with didactic instruction. Dr. Mercado’s current research lab focus on Latino mental health, trauma and immigration, personality, substance abuse, and multicultural interventions. He is a Board of Trustee for the Texas Psychological Association where he also serves as the Diversity Division Chair and elected to the Committee on Rural Health at the American Psychological Association.

Rebecca Resendiz Rodriguez, PsyD: Assistant Professor of Medicine; Rebecca.Resendizrodriguez@utrgv.edu

Rebecca Resendiz Rodriguez, PsyD

Rebecca Resendiz Rodriguez, PsyD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Psychiatry
Email: Rebecca.Resendizrodriguez@utrgv.edu

Dr. Rebecca Resendiz Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UTRGV. She is a Licensed Psychologist and serves as a Behavioral Health Consultant for the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine program as well as a research investigator for the UTRGV Texas Child Health Care Consortium research projects on child trauma, depression, and suicide. Throughout her clinical training and employment, Dr. Resendiz has dedicated herself to working primarily with underserved and underserved populations of all ages in several settings, including academic, medical, psychiatric, correctional, primary care, and community mental health.

Ihsan Salloum, MD: Professor, Interim Psychiatry Residency Program Director; Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu

Ihsan Salloum, MD

Ihsan Salloum, MD
Professor, Interim Psychiatry Residency Program Director
Psychiatry
Email: Ihsan.Salloum@utrgv.edu

Lozano Long Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience, Founding Chair, Department of Neuroscience and Director, Institute for Neuroscience at UTRGV School of Medicine. Dr. Salloum received a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Bologna and a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the Chicago Medical School/ Rosalind Franklin University and an NIH- sponsored Fellowship in Alcohol Research at UPMC’s Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Salloum’s current research has focused on developing effective interventions for comorbid mood and addictive disorders and on addressing the diagnostic complexity of comorbidity. He has been the PI or Co-PI on multiple trials evaluating pharmacotherapies for several substance use disorders. Currently, his research focus includes the evaluation of potential benefit of stem cell therapy for alcoholism-depression comorbidity and on the utility of nutraceuticals in decreasing alcohol use in bipolar disorder. Dr. Salloum is Board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and Addiction Psychiatry.

Psychiatry Staff

Elizabeth Alvarez , CMA: Medical Assistant; Elizabeth.Alvarez@utrgv.edu

Elizabeth Alvarez , CMA

Elizabeth Alvarez , CMA
Medical Assistant
TCMHCC
Email: Elizabeth.Alvarez@utrgv.edu

Alma Castañeda, PhD: Behavioral Health Consultant; Alma.Castaneda@utrgv.edu

Alma Castañeda, PhD

Alma Castañeda, PhD
Behavioral Health Consultant
TCHATT
Email: Alma.Castaneda@utrgv.edu

Rebeca Castillo-Moran, MHPS, AWS: Peer Support Specialist; Rebeca.Castillomoran01@utrgv.edu

Rebeca Castillo-Moran, MHPS, AWS

Rebeca Castillo-Moran, MHPS, AWS
Peer Support Specialist
Psychiatry
Email: Rebeca.Castillomoran01@utrgv.edu

Kelsey Finke, MD: Assistant Professor of Medicine; kelsey.finke@utrgv.edu

Kelsey Finke, MD

Kelsey Finke, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Psychiatry
OFFC 100
Email: kelsey.finke@utrgv.edu

Thelma Fitzgerald: Nurse Practitioner; Thelma.Fitzgerald01@utrgv.edu

Thelma Fitzgerald

Thelma Fitzgerald
Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatry Department
Email: Thelma.Fitzgerald01@utrgv.edu

Maritza Fuentes: TCHATT School Liaison; Maritza.Fuentes@utrgv.edu

Maritza Fuentes

Maritza Fuentes
TCHATT School Liaison
TCMHCC, TCHATT
Email: Maritza.Fuentes@utrgv.edu

Catherine Hernandez: Research Associate I; Catherine.t.Hernandez01@utrgv.edu

Catherine Hernandez

Catherine Hernandez
Research Associate I
Research
Email: Catherine.t.Hernandez01@utrgv.edu

Johanna Nardini, MD: POI SOM Community Faculty; johanna.nardini@utrgv.edu

Johanna Nardini, MD

Johanna Nardini, MD
POI SOM Community Faculty
Psychiatry
OFFC 100
Email: johanna.nardini@utrgv.edu

Cruselva Peña, MPH: TCHATT Program Manager; Cruselva.Pena01@utrgv.edu

Cruselva Peña, MPH

Cruselva Peña, MPH
TCHATT Program Manager
TCHATT
Email: Cruselva.Pena01@utrgv.edu

Jessica Salinas , PHDc, MBA: Department Administrator; Jessica.Salinas05@utrgv.edu

Jessica Salinas , PHDc, MBA

Jessica Salinas , PHDc, MBA
Department Administrator
Psychiatry
Email: Jessica.Salinas05@utrgv.edu

Alma Solis: Assistant to the Clinical Chair; alma.solis@utrgv.edu

Alma Solis

Alma Solis
Assistant to the Clinical Chair
Psychiatry
HCEBL 2.136
Email: alma.solis@utrgv.edu

Sason Tavakoli-Sabour, DO: Assistant Professor of Medicine; sason.tavakolisabour@utrgv.edu

Sason Tavakoli-Sabour, DO

Sason Tavakoli-Sabour, DO
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Psychiatry
EMEBL 1.100
Email: sason.tavakolisabour@utrgv.edu

Ivette Torres, BA, CCRP: GME Residency Program Coordinator; Ivette.Torres@utrgv.edu

Ivette Torres, BA, CCRP

Ivette Torres, BA, CCRP
GME Residency Program Coordinator
Psychiatry Residency Program
Email: Ivette.Torres@utrgv.edu

Faculty & Staff TCMHCC Website

Department Chair

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM

Contact

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM
Psychiatry Department Chair
SOM Professor of Psychiatry
Karl.Goodkin@utrgv.edu

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Psychiatry

Faculty & Staff

Psychiatry Faculty

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP, HSP

Alcides Amador, MD

Mercy Azeke, EdD

Diana Chapa, MD

Dernay Coley Torres, LCSW-S

Cynthia Garza, PsyD

Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD, DLFAPA, FACPsych, FRSM

Alfonso Mercado, PhD

Rebecca Resendiz Rodriguez, PsyD

Ihsan Salloum, MD

Psychiatry Staff

Elizabeth Alvarez , CMA

Alma Castañeda, PhD

Rebeca Castillo-Moran, MHPS, AWS

Kelsey Finke, MD

Thelma Fitzgerald

Maritza Fuentes

Catherine Hernandez

Johanna Nardini, MD

Cruselva Peña, MPH

Jessica Salinas , PHDc, MBA

Alma Solis

Sason Tavakoli-Sabour, DO

Ivette Torres, BA, CCRP

Department Chair

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