MIRECC / CoE

SC MIRECC Welcomes New Co-Director

By Mark E. Kunik, MD, MPH, Director, VA South Central MIRECC

Congratulations to Dr. Jan Lindsay, recently named Co-Director of the South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (SC MIRECC). Dr. Lindsay is a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine and has been an investigator at the SC MIRECC and the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) for over a decade.

During this time, her research has been on the cutting edge of innovative mental health delivery – implementing and evaluating novel digital health tools to meet the needs of underserved patients and addressing health inequities by improving access to mental health care. Her clinical research has focused on the treatment of substance use disorders and PTSD.

Dr. Lindsay and her Office of Rural Health-supported team developed Personalized Implementation of Virtual Treatments (PIVOT), a flexible approach to improve uptake of video-to-home for mental health clinicians facing rapidly changing national directives and leadership expectations. She brings to the SC MIRECC a long history of networking and collaborations with VA stakeholders at local, VISN, and national levels, along with leadership skills and a commitment to rural Veterans.

Enormous appreciation goes to Dr. Michael Kauth for his leadership of the SC MIRECC since its initial funding in 1999. Dr. Kauth was initially the leader of the SC MIRECC Education Core, where he developed a national reputation for his innovative education initiatives and leadership. He became the Co-Director of the SC MIRECC in 2004 and has been critical in the growth, collaborative culture, and success of the SC MIRECC. Dr. Kauth will continue in his leadership of a strong and growing VA LBGTQ+ Health Program.

Last updated: May 19, 2022