Psychiatry & Human Behavior About Us Message from the Chair Contact Us Education & Training Clerkship & Electives Residency Program Fellowship Programs Research Faculty & Labs Clinical Expertise ALIGN Committee Faculty ALIGN Committee UCI Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Home Research Research: Clinical Departments Psychiatry & Human Behavior: Home Psychiatry & Human Behavior: ALIGN Committee About the ALIGN Committee At the UCI Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, we strive for inclusive excellence by championing the principles of Access, Leadership, Inclusion, Growth and Nurturing (ALIGN). These five pillars guide our work to ensure environments where every individual feels respected, supported and empowered to bring their unique perspectives and talents to achieve common goals. We go beyond representation to foster meaningful participation, engagement and a true sense of belonging for all. Mission Statement The UCI Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior is devoted to building a culture of belonging and excellence. As leaders in research, education and clinical care, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation in psychiatry. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for trainees, colleagues and patients and we recognize, celebrate and embrace diversity across various dimensions, including but not limited to race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ability, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, socio-economic status and genetic information. Our Pillars ALIGN represents our core pillars that bring this mission to life: Access – Addressing barriers to care and advancing mental health equity, ensuring all individuals have equal access to high-quality services. Leadership – Developing and supporting leaders who champion equity and inclusion at every level of academic medicine. Inclusion – Creating environments that welcome and value the contributions of individuals from all backgrounds, cultivating authentic belonging. Growth – Supporting the personal and professional growth of our trainees and faculty through mentorship, education and scholarship while striving to improve clinical care and patient outcomes. Nurturing – Building and sustaining a culture of care that strengthens resilience, wellbeing and respect for the communities we serve. Education, Research and Clinical Care Inclusive Excellence Initiatives The following initiatives reflect our commitment to creating an inclusive environment that supports excellence in psychiatric care, education and research. Curriculum Development We plan to enhance our curricula by conducting a thorough review to identify areas for growth, specifically in integrating cultural psychiatry and addressing social and structural determinants of health, alongside mental health inequities. This initiative will result in ongoing updates to educational materials and experiences, ensuring they better support and benefit our trainees. Grand Rounds Starting the 2024-25 academic year, we have redesigned our Grand Rounds series to incorporate regular DEI-focused sessions. Resident Recruitment We are prioritizing the implementation of the AAMC Holistic Principles in Resident Selection to ensure a diverse, equitable and inclusive recruitment process. Women’s Advocacy and Mentorship Group The Women’s Advocacy and Mentorship Group is dedicated to advancing gender equity in medicine and leadership by providing mentorship, career guidance and structured support for faculty and trainees. The group fosters professional growth and cultivates a nurturing environment that empowers women in psychiatry to achieve their full potential through a robust network of resources and opportunities. Advocacy efforts extend to women’s mental health, including access to care, reproductive mental health, trauma and abuse. While the group highlights issues affecting women, participation is open to all members of our community, and we welcome the involvement of allies and colleagues of every gender who share these goals. Inclusive Excellence Programs PRIME Leadership Education to Advance Doctoring – African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC) Program in Medical Education Leadership Education to Advance Doctoring - African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC) is a UCI School of Medicine mission-based program that produces skilled physician leaders who address the diverse health needs of Black communities, eliminate health inequities and amplify the voices of the underrepresented communities we serve. Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) The PRIME-LC program at UCI School of Medicine is a five-year MD/Master’s program committed to training physicians to meet the needs of under-resourced Latino communities. Understanding & Addressing Mental Health Needs of Diverse Populations Through Research At the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, our faculty is dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique mental health needs of the diverse populations in Orange County, California. By focusing on the genetic, environmental and social factors that impact mental health across different communities, we aim to develop tailored interventions that promote equitable mental health outcomes. Our commitment to inclusivity ensures that our studies encompass a broad spectrum of cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting the rich diversity of Orange County and advancing the goal of mental health equity for all. Below are our goals and principles: Support Inclusive Research Practices Encourage and support research that addresses health disparities and mental health issues in diverse populations. Ensure diverse representation in research study populations and consider DEI in research design and analysis. Promote collaborations with researchers from diverse backgrounds and institutions. Engage with the Broader Community and Collaborate with External Partners Partner with other departments, institutions, and community organizations and clinics to enhance DEI research efforts. Participate in and contribute to broader DEI initiatives within the academic and research community. Advocate for DEI Advocate for policies and practices that promote DEI at the institutional, local and national levels. Engage in outreach and community engagement activities that promote mental health equity and inclusion, particularly in underrepresented communities. Treating Diverse Patient Populations From January to December 2023, our Psychiatry Department provided care to 8,237 patients in the outpatient setting and 786 patients in the acute inpatient setting. We have proudly served a diverse patient population encompassing a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities. Following English, the most common languages spoken by our patients are Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean. Other Links UCI School of Medicine Office of Belonging, Equity and Empowerment (BEE) UCI School of Medicine Diversity Statement and UC Anti-Discrimination Policy Leadership Gemma Espejo, MD (she/her/hers) Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mahta Baghoolizadeh, MD (she/her/hers) Co-Chair of Women’s Advocacy & Mentorship Sub-Committee Carolyn Cookson, MD (she/her/hers) Co-Chair of Women’s Advocacy & Mentorship Sub-Committee Other Affiliated Faculty Christy Hom, PhD (she/her/hers) John Luo, MD (he/him/his) Firoza Mamdani, PhD Robert M. McCarron, DO Pedro Sequeira Mendieta, PhD (he/him/his) Dina Perkey, MD (she/her/hers) Trainees Austin Buck, MD (he/him/his) PGY-1 Genesis Leon, MD (she/her/hers) PGY-1 So Min Lim, DO - (she/her/hers) CAP-1 Huong Nguyen, MD - (she/her/hers) PGY-4 Erika Peratoner, MD - (she/her/hers) PGY-1 Karen Quan, MD (she/her/hers) PGY-2 Simon Ning Riccardi-Zhu, MD (he/him/his) PGY-3 Marshall Tang, MD PGY-1 Michelle Won, MD - (she/her/hers) CAP-1