Why UTSW Psychiatry?

UTSW was my second last interview because I was convinced I did not want to move to Texas.

But I had an amazing interview experience and felt that my interests and priorities aligned with the strengths of UTSW on multiple fronts - education, psychotherapy training, mood disorder biomarker research, integrated care in women's health, interventional psychiatry, and global/cultural psychiatry. I was particularly struck by the unique combination of a remarkably collaborative atmosphere, passionate teachers and mentors, and the cutting-edge research opportunities at UTSW. I left the interview days feeling like UTSW could be home. My research interview day was an invigorating experience. I loved all my meetings with the faculty, and Dr. Tamminga's excitement was quite infectious! 

I did struggle at the thought of moving my family from California to a state where I thought we might not be welcome. I did not know much about the Dallas area or Texas. Dr. Brenner heard me and connected me with a Muslim faculty member who graduated from the program. I was excited to learn about the vibrant Muslim community in Dallas and at UTSW (and see her baby!). I also spoke with five residents and was humbled by the generosity of their time. I loved hearing different perspectives on how to be successful in the research track and about support for residents with children, learning about global health projects, and finding out that the interns had time to partake in a snowball fight in the recent snowstorm.

When it came time to decide, Dr. Brenner’s warm, thoughtful style and the innovative cross-disciplinary educational opportunities he helped foster (e.g. in anthropology), the exciting research opportunities, and family factors really cinched it for me. My Ph.D. mentor raved about the integration of clinical and research environments at UTSW. My husband's brother and his family, my maternal uncle and cousins, and some of my husband’s friends live within the greater Dallas area and surrounding counties. Since my family, including my parents, would be moving with me, it was important that they have support when I might be busy intern year and beyond. My family also wanted to live in a warm place.

At the end, I found that UTSW was the place where I truly felt both my analytical side and my humanistic side could thrive in harmony and synergy with the other - while not sacrificing innovative approaches to care or doing without a strong network of family and friends. I looked forward to the incredible privilege of training in such an environment and taking advantage of the wonderful expertise available in psychotherapy training, cultural psychiatry, women’s health, and neuroscience research.  

Having been here for over a month now, I am blown away by the support and community I have found in the program directors, attendings and co-residents. My husband had a health issue that needed prompt attention upon arriving in Dallas, and Dr. Brenner reached out to the department chair of the appropriate specialty and connected us with a specialist as soon as he found out, on the very first day of orientation. The PTO policy, especially on the flexible rotation I requested to begin on, has been wonderful because my daughter came down sick unexpectedly and I was able to take a day off easily. A co-intern from the area was able to connect me with a cardiologist for my dad when he had an unexpected syncope.

My co-interns are the most wonderfully supportive and kind bunch, and I cannot imagine a more wonderful group of colleagues to spend the next four years learning and growing with. Our program motto is “Never worry alone,” and every single one of my co-interns embodies that philosophy as well. I also find myself struck repeatedly that I have colleagues with overlapping identities across so many dimensions – I have fellow parents in my class, fellow introverts, fellow Muslims, fellow people of color, fellow scientists, fellow women, fellow spiritual and/or religious folk, fellow boba-drinkers and sushi lovers, fellow Desis, fellow married folk, fellow thrifty people, etc. – so I don’t feel quite so alone in any one of these identities. I am also delighted to find dedicated groups of residents who are passionate about diversity and advocacy for resident wellness, especially in this volatile cultural and economic climate.

I’ve also been struck by the warm in-person welcome from the research track faculty and residents and enjoyed the early mentorship during orientation to help find faculty mentors for my research. In the hospital, I have found that faculty are enthusiastic about teaching and warm and supportive during this transition to residency, and I don’t have to think twice about asking for help.

As for my family, I find that my fears about raising Muslim children in Texas have been largely unfounded, and my parents have already found several local families they can be friends with. Our local library features books in at least 18 languages (even in my parents’ Bengali), and my son has made a friend at the local indoor community pool where we escape the heat. I am optimistic that despite the pendulum of national politics, we have found here a community with tremendous empathy. 

Career Goals

I would love to be a physician-scientist when I grow up and work at an academic medical center where I also get to teach residents and students and collaborate on community-based projects. I am excited to take advantage of the warm and intellectually rich environment here at UTSW and the diverse population of Dallas to pursue my interests in culturally relevant translational interdisciplinary research in preventing and treating postpartum depression and women's mood disorders across the lifespan. I also have a strong interest in global mental health, spirituality in medicine and interventional psychiatry which I hope to develop at UTSW.

Education