UF Department of Psychiatry

Registration is open for the Autism & UF Conference 2026!

More details and registration link below.

Registration is open for the Autism & UF Conference 2026!

The Autism & UF Conference will be held on July 23 & 24, 2026 at the Best Western Gateway Grand in Gainesville, Florida. Special hotel room rates will be available.

This free two-day conference consists of a series of sessions on a variety of topics related to current research and intervention in autism spectrum disorder. Many sessions will be presented by UF faculty and staff working in the field of autism spectrum disorder.

Please visit the Autism & UF Conference webpage for complete details. https://card.ufl.edu/events/autism-uf-conference-2026/

Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Schmidt on being recognized through the UF College of Medicine's "Making Gators Greater" initiative! This program empowers medical students to highlight faculty and residents who foster supportive, respectful, and positive learning environments during clinical rotations. Thank you for your dedication to mentorship, education, and creating meaningful experiences for the next generation of psychiatrists. 🐊💙

Congratulations to our May Psychology Trainee of the Month, Dr. Seth Downing! We're proud to celebrate you and all you bring to our team! 🌟

What does a renewed commitment to quality care look like in practice? For Dr. Tamara Almeyda, it means helping patients find treatment plans that support long-term success while continuing to grow through research and evidence-based care. Read more about her work and how she is helping advance the mission of UF Health Psychiatric Hospital.

A New Name, a Renewed Mission: UF Health Psychiatric Hospital’s Commitment to Quality Care - UF Health May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the importance of mental well-being and the people who dedicate their careers to supporting it. This…

Thank you to everyone who joined the UF Health Psychiatric Hospital Lunch & Learn during . It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with community partners and strengthen collaborations that support mental health care.

A special thank you to Dina Smith, LMHC, MCAP for her engaging presentation on the Enneagram and Aaron Helsel, LCSW for organizing such a successful event for learning, networking and partnership.

We recently gathered to honor Linda Provus-McElroy and thank her for her generous donation of artwork from the collection of her late husband, Dr. Ross McElroy, a beloved former faculty member in our department. During the event, Linda shared personal stories behind the seven donated pieces, which are now displayed in the chair’s office at the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida as a meaningful tribute to Dr. McElroy’s legacy. We are deeply grateful for the lasting impact that both she and Dr. McElroy have had on the field of psychiatry and the UF community.

View the collection here: https://psychiatry.ufl.edu/2026/05/15/a-meaningful-gift-honoring-dr-ross-mcelroy/

Congratulations to Dr. Ludmila De Faria on becoming the new Florida Psychiatric Society President!
We are excited to see the continued impact of her leadership in psychiatry and mental health.

Please join us in officially welcoming Dr. Ludmila De Faria as our new FPS 2026-2027 President!

Dr. Ludmila De Faria is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Florida who brings her intersectional perspective to her clinical, educational and research work in the field. She was born in Brazil and immigrated to Florida 35 years ago. She is the current President of the Florida Psychiatric Association, Chair of the Council on Women’s Mental Health of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American College of Psychiatrists and the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. Dr. De Faria has received many awards, including an APA Presidential Commendation in 2022 for her work in Women’s Mental Health, the Jeanne Spurlock Social Justice Award (Association of Women Psychiatrists, 2023), the INSPIRE Award (from the American Medical Women’s Association, 2023), and the Alexandra Symmonds Award (APA, 2024).

We are looking forward to great year with Dr. De Faria leading the way!

We are proud to share that Dr. Andres Pumariega has received the Dr. Pedro Ruiz Award in Social Psychiatry from the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry. This award celebrates his dedication to supporting diverse and underserved communities through impactful scholarship and service. Congratulations Dr. Pumariega on this incredible achievement!

The award was celebrated at the ASHP “Noche de Honor” during the 2026 Annual APA Meeting. https://www.americansocietyhispanicpsychiatry.com 🏆