TTUHSC School of Medicine Names New Department of Psychiatry Chair

Sarah Wakefield, M.D.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine announced the appointment of Sarah Mallard Wakefield, M.D., as the new chair of the Department of Psychiatry.
 
Wakefield’s work in recent years has revolved around relational psychiatry. She has given presentations regarding children’s mental health, perinatal mental health and juvenile justice. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry.
 
Since joining TTUHSC in 2014, she has served as director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services in the Department of Psychiatry and medical director of Medical Ethics at University Medical Center.
 
“Dr. Wakefield supervises resident rotations in child and adolescent, forensic and perinatal psychiatry and has primary clinical interests in the juvenile justice population and treating mothers in the prenatal and postpartum period,” said Steven L. Berk, M.D., TTUHSC executive vice president, provost and School of Medicine dean. “She has successfully completed research regarding design and efficacy of juvenile mental health courts and monitoring standards of psychotropic medications in both the psychiatric and primary care setting.”
 

Wakefield

Wakefield will take over for Dr. Terry McMahon who has held the chair for nearly 10 years. Berk said Wakefield has big shoes to fill.
 
“Dr. Terry McMahon has a long and very distinguished service record with the School of Medicine,” said Berk. “I am very appreciative of Dr. McMahon maintaining high standards and achieving significant accomplishments in the psychiatry clerkship and residency program, and for providing exceptional patient care to the people of the South Plains over many decades.”

Related Stories

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.

Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience

Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.

Recent Stories

Research

Logsdon Receives Grant to Study Vascular Side of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Supported by a three-year, $578,211 grant from the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging, Aric F. Logsdon, Ph.D., will study how brain endothelial cells, or blood vessels within the brain, handle the stressors of neuroinflammation.

Health

Historic collaboration brings shipping container-based health care clinic to Jeff Davis County

Texas A&M Health and TTUHSC joined with the student-led organization, Texas A&M BUILD—along with local leadership and other collaborators—to unveil a new, innovative medical care facility for a Trans-Pecos region rural community: a 40-foot, retro-fitted shipping container.

Research

Improving Health Care Access, Education Through Research

The service area for TTUHSC, a recognized leader in academic health and biomedical research training, encompasses 121 Texas counties.