The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health provides clinical services, training and educational programs, and research and partners with community organizations to improve mental health in South Florida.
Some of our research initiatives include innovative interventions for early neurocognitive changes, the use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and SPRAVATO for treatment-resistant depression, and the integration of behavioral health in primary care and mental health in older people across cultures.
To address Florida’s urgent need to improve children’s access to quality behavioral health services, we partner with the Florida Department of Health to offer local pediatricians consultation for their child and adolescent patients with behavioral health issues.
Contact
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
11200 SW 8th Street, AHC1-348 Miami, FL 33199
Tel: 305-348-4147
Fax: 305-348-4331
psychiatryinfo@fiu.edu
Clinical Services
Faculty psychiatrists and clinical therapists provide outpatient behavioral health services including the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders and referral to appropriate community resources.
Services for the general community, including children, adolescents, and adults, are available at the FIU Health Faculty Group Practice on the main university campus. We’re able to promptly schedule appointments to accommodate patient need, as well as offer on-site labs and treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotics.
To schedule an appointment with one of our psychiatry and behavioral health experts at FIU Health, please call 305-348-3627 to learn more about the treatments we offer and the conditions we commonly treat.
Treatments
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medication management
- Individual, group and family psychotherapy
- Treatment with clozapine
- Administration of long-acting injectable antipsychotics
- Pharmacogenetic testing
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
- SPRAVATO® (esketamine)
Conditions
- Anxiety
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Depression, including treatment-resistant depression
- Dual diagnosis
- Obsessive compulsive disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders
Affiliated hospitals & organizations
- AGAPE Network
- Camillus House & Health
- Citrus Health Network
- Fort Lauderdale Hospital
- Memorial Regional Hospital and Medical Center
- Miami VA Healthcare System
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
- Smith Community Mental Health
- Southern Winds Hospital
Additional Clinical Services
Services for FIU students are available at the FIU Student Health Clinics on the main (MMC) campus. Students, please call 305-348-8385 for appointments and information.
We also provide services for members enrolled in the College of Medicine’s signature community outreach program, the Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP.
If you are interested in helping the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine expand access to behavioral health services in pediatric primary care settings, please inquire about our Clinical Service Contracts.
Education & Training
Psychiatry and Behavioral Health faculty teach medical students across the 4-year curriculum and coordinate and oversee student rotations in the psychiatry clerkship at 9 clinical sites. They also provide clinical training for students in the College of Medicine's Master in Physician Assistant Studies program. And we offer 4th-year psychiatry elective rotations for our International Visiting Medical Students.
Department faculty also participate across all years of training in the Citrus Health Network-FIU Psychiatry Residency Program, the first such program sponsored by a Federally Qualified Health Center, and a model for outpatient and community-based training. Residents actively participate in clinical quality improvement through their psychiatry and primary care rotations at Citrus Health Network and medicine and neurology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Research
Clinical trial for patients with Alzheimer's disease
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute are collaborating on a clinical trial for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The principal investigators are psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Junquera and neurosurgeon Dr. Michael McDermott.
The study uses low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to disrupt brain changes that lead to the neuron damage that causes memory and cognitive problems in patients. First, the patient is evaluated by Dr. Junquera at FIU Health to determine if their dementia is caused by Alzheimer's and not due to other issues. The evaluation includes a battery of psychological tests and can take several hours. And a caretaker or family member must be present.
Next, the patient is seen at Baptist Hospital, where Dr. McDermott performs additional medical and imaging tests. If the patient meets the requirements to participate in the study, they will undergo a procedure to attach a stereotactic frame to the scalp under local anesthesia.
The ultrasound waves are directed to pre-determined areas of the brain using an MRI for guidance. Patients are observed for several hours and are also seen the next day.
The study involves three treatments, two weeks apart. Patients will repeat imaging and psychological testing after each session and at checkpoints along the way.
Nexus Newsletter
Faculty & Staff
Lina Augius, M.D., MPH
Assistant Professor
305-348-9071
laugius@fiu.edu
AHC1 344ARodolfo Bonnin, Ph.D.
Founding Assistant Dean for Institutional Knowledge Management; and Associate Professor
305-348-0660
rbonnin@fiu.edu
AHC2 - 491Luis M. Carcache, M.D.
Assistant Professor and Assistant Clerkship Director
305-348-4147
lcarcach@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Marietta Castellanos, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
mcastell@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Priscilla Chaves, MBA, MPH, CLSSBB
Chief Administrative Officer
305-348-2047
pchaves@fiu.edu
AHC1 - 345Nicola M. Chung, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
nicchung@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Rafael M. Conte, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
rmconte@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Nathaly Shoua Desmarais, Psy.D.
Assistant Dean of Student Success and Wellbeing, Office of [...]
305-348-0609
ndesmara@fiu.edu
AHC2 391Juan Espinosa, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
juaespin@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Douglas S. Feltman, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
feltmand@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Carissa Ford, L.C.S.W.
Clinical Therapist III
305-348-5155
cford@fiu.edu
GL475Roberto E. Gimenez, DNP
Assistant Professor
305-348-3627
rgimenez@FIU.eduAlexius Girard, BA
Office Specialist
305-348-7642
agirard@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Leonard M. Gralnik, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Chief of Education; Clerkship Director; Senior Medical [...]
305-348-4841
gralnikl@fiu.edu
AHC1 349AHeidi von Harscher, M., Ph.D.
Director of Medical Student Support Services; HWCOM Student Ombudsman; [...]
305-348-1461
vonharsc@fiu.edu
AHC2 379Jorge A. Herrera Pino, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
305-445-3222
jorherre@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Thomas A. Hunter, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-8385
hunterth@fiu.edu
Student Health CenterBobbie Sue Janjua, LMHC, LMFT
Clinical Therapist
305-348-4147
bjanjua@fiu.edu
AHC1- 348Patricia Junquera, M.D.
Chair, Associate Professor
305-348-4147
pjunquer@fiu.edu
AHC1 349Andrew Lagomasino, Psy.D., ABPP
Assistant Professor
305-438-4147
alagomas@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Lisa Lee, MBA, M.S.
Assistant Director of Administrative Services
305-348-9074
llee@fiu.edu
AHC1 334AAutumn Ning, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-7642
ningaut@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Kathy Palacios
Office Specialist
305-348-7502
kapalaci@fiu.edu
AHC1 334-AWilliam Pulido B.S.
Sr. Behavioral Health Care Coordinator
305-348-9075
wpulido@fiu.edu
AHC1 334AIbrahim Abi Rafeh, M.D.
Assistant Professor
305-348-4147
iabirafe@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Danielle Reid, AA
Office Specialist
305-348-1348
danreid@fiu.edu
AHC1 348Melanis Rivera-Rodriguez, Psy.D.
Director, Student Wellbeing and Mental Health Services
305-348-1460
melriver@fiu.edu
GL 340BEugenio M. Rothe, M.D.
Professor; Assistant Clerkship Director
305-348-9198
erothe@fiu.edu
AHC4 251Carlos A. Salgado, M.D.
Associate Professor
305-348-4147
casalgad@fiu.edu
AHC1- 341Vivian C. Wulff, B.A.
Senior Coordinator of Administrative Services
305-348-4147
vwulff@fiu.edu
AHC1 348