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Dr. Nixon named AAAS Fellow
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Dr. Giusti receives MBI Spatial Transcriptomics Pilot Award
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Dr. Paola Giusti-Rodriguez has been selected as one of the recipients of the McKnight Brain Institute’s Spatial Transcriptomics Pilot Awards. This exciting recognition supports innovative research using cutting-edge technology to better understand gene activity in brain tissue.
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Gainesville ‘stomps’ around UF stadium to promote autism awareness
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Dr. Orlando talks Stomp the Swamp with WUFT on Tell Me About It
Dr. Ann-Marie Orlando, shares information on how to participate in Stomp the Swamp, the cool new t-shirt design that is created each year, participating vendors and how the money raised benefits those in need and purchases valuable supplies to keep them safe.
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The Psychological Impact of Being an Olympic Athlete
Dr. Joseph McNamara, joins WGCU to talk about the struggles that many athletes face and ways you can implement a positive athlete mind-frame for your life.
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Faculty Research Highlights: Call for Submissions
As discussed at the last faculty meeting, we’d like to highlight a publication from one faculty member in each monthly newsletter. To get this started, we’re asking for volunteers to suggest one of their recent publications that can be summarized in a few sentences. If you are interested, please send the following information to Dr. Setlow: Title Full names and affiliations of all authors Journal/book in which it is published Electronic link to publication if available (e.g., DOI, publisher’s website, PubMed link, etc.) One sentence summarizing the goal or problem addressed in the publication One-two sentences summarizing the findings described in the publication One-two sentences summarizing the conclusions and broader implications of the work described in the publication.
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Snapshot Spotlight
Have you captured a great moment at a recent conference, departmental event, or fun social activity with your coworkers? Share your photos with us for the Snapshot Spotlight! We love highlighting the connections, teamwork, and celebrations that make our department special. Send in your favorites, and you may see them featured in an upcoming newsletter.
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Dr. Sarah Vas recently joined other pediatric experts from UF Health's Pediatric Behavioral Health Clinic at Gainesville’s India Fest 2026, sharing her expertise on important behavioral health topics affecting children and adolescents, including anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention.
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We were proud to see so many alumni and faculty represented at the AADRPT Annual Meeting. It is wonderful to see so many of our graduates helping train the next generation of psychiatrists!
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We are proud to support the Peaceful Paths Guest Chef event once again! Shelly Flanagan and her daughter served Papa’s Pierogis, and several members of our team were there to celebrate and support this wonderful community event.
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Chantel will serve as Program Manager for the SB 112 initiatives within UF CAN, where she will oversee grant administration, program monitoring, and stakeholder coordination to ensure the successful implementation of funded programs. She brings more than 23 years of administrative and management experience in higher education and local government. Most recently, Chantel worked with the UF Health Cancer Institute, supporting research and training initiatives through program management, event coordination, grant administration, financial oversight, and compliance. Prior to that, she retired from the City of Gainesville Public Works Department, where she served as Administrative Services Manager, overseeing human resources, contracts, grants, accreditation, project management, and financial operations. Outside of work, Chantel and her husband stay busy supporting their children in football, gymnastics, basketball, violin, band, and theater. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, and exercising to maintain balance and positive energy.
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Kay-Lee Hewett is the new Academic Assistant II for the CAN SB 112 micro-credential program. She began her career in elementary education, where she spent several years supporting students and collaborating with families and colleagues across North Florida. As she transitions into higher education, she brings strong skills in organization, communication, and student-centered support. Kay-Lee values collaboration, attention to detail, and creating systems that help both students and teams feel supported and successful. She is especially passionate about meaningful work that makes a difference behind the scenes, including coordinating academic programs, supporting faculty, and helping initiatives run smoothly. Outside of work, Kay-Lee enjoys staying active, spending time with her dog, Cash, visiting Disney with her fiancé, and being creative through reading, baking, and art.
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Alexis Pickett is joining us as an Administrative Specialist II for the Department of Psychiatry and UF CARE with Dr. Sara Jo Nixon. She brings over eight years of experience at UF, with a strong background in administrative support and a focus on streamlining office operations through effective communication, scheduling, and logistical coordination. A Gainesville native and lifelong Gator, Alexis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Management from Santa Fe College.
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Psychiatry Staff Professional Development Program
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Faculty from across UF Psychiatry have created a Staff Professional Development Fund designed to provide direct support from faculty to our support staff in their efforts to advance professionally
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UF CARD Update
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Battling Burnout: Addressing Caregiver Compassion Fatigue
Tuesday, March 31, 2026; 6:30 – 8:00PM | ONLINE Assistive Technology 101: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Supports Children with Autism
Wednesday, April 1, 2026; 4:30 – 5:30PM | ONLINE Golf Clinic Spring 2026 Begins
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | GAINESVILLE Understanding Dyslexia and Dysgraphia in Autism
Monday, April 6, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30PM | ONLINE “The Lost Girls”: Shining a Light on Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Friday, April 17, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30PM | ONLINE All About the Project SAINT Program at Santa Fe College
Tuesday, April 21, 2026; 6:00 – 7:00PM | ONLINE Beyond Behaviors Book Study
Wednesdays, May 6, 13, & 20, 2026; 6:00 – 7:30PM | ONLINE Parent/Caregiver Lunch and Learn Series
Third Friday of every month; 12:00 - 1:00PM | ONLINE Save the Dates 05/22/26 | HISPA Day 07/23- 24/26 | Autism & UF Conference 2026 08/18/26 | Creating Strong Communication and Boundaries in Relationships 09/15/26 | Building Strong Readers Together: Supporting Reading Comprehension in Children with ASD 09/21/26 | The UCLA PEERS® Curriculum for School-Based Professionals 10/20/26 | All About the UNF USoar Program
Find us at these community events! 04/01/26 | Hernando County Exceptional Student Education’s Transition Fair (Brooksville) 04/02/26 | Zeta Phi Beta & Putnam County School’s Autism Awareness Resource Fair (Palatka) 04/03/26 | Project ATLAS Autism Awareness Day (Melrose) 04/11/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Palatka) 04/14/26 | One Community Family Resource Center’s Autism Awareness Event (Gainesville) 04/25/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Starke) 08/08/26 | Alachua County Library District’s Homeschool Resource Fair (Gainesville) Sign up for the UF CARD eNews, visit the UF CARD website, and follow the UF CARD Facebook Page to stay informed about events. If you know someone in need of UF CARD services, please direct them to the UF CARD pre-registration page or have them call 352-265-2230.
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April 11 | GOC Bike Day
We are proud to sponsor the 2026 GOC Bike Day! As part of our sponsorship, we have five rider spots available for department members who would like to participate.
If you’re interested in joining us for a great day of cycling, awareness, and community, please contact Pam Demers.
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April 15 | Author Talk
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Ashley Kate Bourne, DO, is a psychiatry resident and writer whose work explores the unvarnished reality of medical training. Her debut memoir, Resident, Interrupted, chronicles the year she went unmatched, the depression that followed, and the slow process of finding her footing again in medicine. In this author talk, Ashley will share insights from her experiences in residency and how students can take care of their mental health while going through the rigors of medical education. The book discusses themes of burn out, depression, and how to cope with these struggles which are so often experienced by health sciences students of all kinds. This presentation will include a Q&A with the option for audience members to ask questions, allowing for an open discussion of mental health which is often stigmatized. Refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees, and copies of the book, Resident, Interrupted, will be for sale following the talk. Join us in person at the Communicore Building room C1-004, or on zoom. In person attendees don't need to register to attend, but you will receive an event reminder if you do.
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Employee Assistance Program
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The UF Employee Assistance Program aims to support UF employees by providing a safe space and quality mental health and wellness resources. EAP therapists and affiliated employees uphold UF’s non-discrimination policy (UF Regulation 1.006), ensuring services are inclusive and respectful of everyone, regardless of their background or identity.
UF employees and their household members may call the EAP at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (833) 306-0103, and anyone experiencing a crisis with more urgent needs should call the Alachua County Crisis Center at (352) 264-6789.
You can also request an appointment online.
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Let Us Know!
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Do you have some news or an announcement you would like to share? Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond and who you would like to recognize? Want us to save the date for an upcoming event?
Editorial Team:
Melinda Fawcett
Aubrey Bonsal
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