ADHD expert named chairman of psychiatry at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO (March 9, 2015) ― Steven Pliszka, M.D., an expert in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, has been named chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry since 1995, Dr. Pliszka specializes in treating ADHD, a chronic condition primarily in children that includes problems with paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. His clinical practice also includes children that have ADHD combined with other mood disorders, as well as autism spectrum and additional developmental disorders.

The professor’s research focuses on the neurobiology and treatment of ADHD, including investigating brain mechanisms using functional magnetic imaging. Dr. Pliszka also has conducted clinical research evaluating ADHD medications and the integration of child psychiatric services into primary care.

“Our faculty members are robust researchers, and we are seeing major advances in developing new treatment for mental illness, and using brain imaging and genetics to learn the causes of mental disorders,” Dr. Pliszka said. “I’m proud to say that we have the largest research consortium in the world for studying combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions. We also will be expanding our clinical services through UT Medicine San Antonio and our partnerships in the community.”

Dr. Pliszka supervises 86 faculty members and 100 staff members working in five divisions: aging and geriatric psychiatry; alcohol and drug addiction; child and adolescent psychiatry; mood and anxiety; and schizophrenia and related disorders.

Dr. Pliszka came to the Health Science Center in 1977 as a medical student. After graduating with his medical degree in 1981, he completed residencies in general psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry here before joining the faculty in 1986. In 2014, Dr. Pliszka was named the Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Humanitarian of the Year for his work with abused and neglected children.

He has written two books on ADHD as well as the textbook, “Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician.” He is an author of more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

 

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities, ranks in the top 13 percent of academic institutions receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. The university’s schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced more than 31,000 graduates. The $787.7 million operating budget supports eight campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. For more information on the many ways “We make lives better,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.



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