Dr. Laura Yuan has always had a passion for the brain, but realized her heart was in psychiatry. This year, the UT Southwestern Medical School student receives recognition for her demonstrated excellence in psychiatry on campus.

Dr. Laura Yuan

What this award means: Dr. Salomon was a beloved colleague whose life was shortened by a rare cancer. To me, this award represents the need for research and the hope for the future of medicine. While our society has taken strides to better understand and treat cancer, we are only at the infancy of understanding psychiatric disorders. I want to strive to broaden our knowledge of psychiatric diseases so that we can give patients the best care possible.

Mentor comment: Our faculty were so impressed by Laura’s rare combination of passion for research and patient care. She has incredible potential as a true clinician-scientist. – Dr. Adam M. Brenner, Professor of Psychiatry, Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Vice Chair for Education and Residency Training Director in Psychiatry

Background and family: I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but because my parents moved to the U.S. with nothing and had no family here, my younger brother and I were sent to China to live with my grandmother and extended family. We spoke over the phone regularly, but did not see our parents or older sister until we moved back to the U.S. when I was 6 years old. I went to elementary and high school in Cincinnati and was lucky to have had fantastic school experiences throughout my childhood.

What led to your career path: I have been interested in the brain since high school and majored in neuroscience in college. When I entered medical school through the Medical Scientist Training Program, I knew I had an interest in the brain, but did not have a strong sense of what clinical specialty I would enjoy the most. This resulted in me joining a basic science lab to give me a broad foundation in molecular and cellular biology. It was only after I returned to medical school that I discovered my clinical passion for psychiatry, and I could not be more excited to start residency!

College: I attended UT Dallas and majored in neuroscience. Some of my undergrad activities included research every summer and various positions within Gamma Sigma Sigma (a sorority dedicated to service). I also was a member of the Collegium V Honors Program.

UTSW activities: I was an active member of the Medical Scientist Training Program, planning and leading various activities throughout the years. I also loved helping with the annual Carnaval de Salud.

Surprising fact: I have been pescatarian since high school, and potatoes are my favorite ‘vegetable.’

Future plans: I am thrilled to be training in the psychiatry research track residency here at UT Southwestern. I cannot wait to learn more about the practice of psychiatry from our amazing clinical faculty and residents, and I am even more excited to be working with research faculty to study the molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.

About the award: The award recognizes a UT Southwestern medical student who demonstrates excellence in psychiatry. It is named after Dr. Herbert Salomon, who graduated from UT Southwestern in the 1960s and died shortly after graduation.