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Lia Thomas, M.D.

Lia Thomas, M.D.

Titles and Appointments

Professor

School
Medical School
Department
Psychiatry
  • Biography

    Dr. Lia Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She joined the UTSW faculty in 2007, and in 2015, she began as Associate Program Director of the Dallas VA Medical Center for the General Psychiatry Residency Program. In 2021, she also became the Associate Program Director for Recruitment Strategies. Dr. Thomas is the Director of Mental Health Education, Training and Research, which develops and coordinates learning and scholarly opportunities for all VA North Texas Health Care System Mental Health Service staff. Clinically, Dr. Thomas works on the Mental Health Trauma Services Team, an interdisciplinary team focused on providing evidenced based care to Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

    Dr. Thomas is passionate about education and the development of psychiatry learning of medical trainees at all levels and is involved in committees at both the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry and the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training. Her academic interests include diversity and inclusion curriculum in psychiatric education, equitable residency recruitment practices, and resident workforce issues. Dr. Thomas has contributed numerous articles and book chapters and is on the editorial board of the journal Academic Psychiatry.

  • Education
    Undergraduate
    Smith College (1999), Neuroscience
    Medical School
    Tulane University (2003), Medicine
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

    Featured Featured
    No Longer "Just" Psychiatry.
    Thomas L, Acad Psychiatry 2025 Sep
    School-Based Preventive Interventions: A Critical Investment in Our Future and in the Training of Psychiatrists.
    Wang C, Aggarwal R, Beresin EV, Guerrero APS, Seritan AL, Coverdale J, Thomas LA, Brenner AM, Acad Psychiatry 2025 Jul
    Editorial Work and Scholarship: Would You Thrive as a Journal Editor?
    Louie AK, Beresin EV, Coverdale J, Balon R, Castillo EG, Guerrero APS, Morreale MK, Aggarwal R, Seritan AL, Thomas LA, Brenner AM, Acad Psychiatry 2025 Jun
    What We Are Allowed to Say: Academic Freedom and Teaching Racial Disparities in Psychiatry Education.
    Brenner AM, Coverdale J, Castillo EG, Balon R, Morreale MK, Beresin EV, Seritan AL, Thomas LA, Aggarwal R, Guerrero APS, Acad Psychiatry 2025 May
    A Challenge to In-Person Academic Conferences During the Climate Emergency.
    Coverdale JH, Seritan A, Castillo EG, Aggarwal R, Thomas LA, Morreale MK, Guerrero APS, Louie AK, Balon R, Beresin EV, Brenner A, Acad Psychiatry 2025 Apr
    Do "Calls to Action" Lead to Action?
    Coverdale J, Beresin EV, Balon R, Guerrero APS, Morreale MK, Louie AK, Aggarwal R, Seritan AL, Thomas LA, Castillo EG, Brenner AM, Acad Psychiatry 2025 Jan
    Can We Help Our Physicians and Our Profession?
    Greenberg WE, Guerrero APS, Morreale MK, Castillo EG, Balon R, Coverdale J, Aggarwal R, Seritan AL, Thomas LA, Beresin EV, Louie AK, Brenner AM Acad Psychiatry 2025 49 218-221
    Artificial Intelligence and Medical Education, Academic Writing, and Journal Policies: A Focus on Large Language Models.
    Morreale MK, Balon R, Beresin EV, Seritan A, Castillo EG, Thomas LA, Louie AK, Aggarwal R, Guerrero APS, Coverdale J, Brenner AM, Acad Psychiatry 2024 Oct
  • Honors & Awards
    • Irma Bland, MD Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents
      American Psychiatric Association (2023)
    • Scholarly Publication Award
      Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (2021-2022)
    • Southwest Academy of Teachers
      UT Southwestern Medical Center (2019)
    • Outstanding Contribution to Medical Student Education Award
      Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern (2017)
    • Nancy C. A. Roeske, MD Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Medical Student Education
      American Psychiatric Association (2015)
    • Innovations Award
      Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (2014)
  • Professional Associations/Affiliations
    • American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training
    • American Psychiatric Association
    • Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry
    • North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians
    • Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians