Amanda Heeren, MSW

Program Director, Mood Disorders Center

Amanda is the Program Director of the MDC.

Amanda's dedication to the mission of the MDC is rooted in her family's history of mood disorders.

She is a tireless advocate for her patients and is the main point of contact in the MDC. 

William Coryell, MD

George Winokur Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Coryell conducts clinical trials on expertimental drugs, such as Esketamine, to treat mood disorders. 

Donald Black, MD

Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Black is an award-winning clinician who has contributed to major educational publications including Introductory Textbook of Psychiatry and DSM-5 Guidebook.

Eric Epping, MD, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Epping runs the Partial Hospitalization Program, providing intensive psychiatric care in an outpatient setting as an alternative to inpatient care. The program offers tracks for  mood disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders.

Virginia Willour, PhD

​Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Willour studies the genetic risk factors for suicidal behaviors. Learn more here. 

Mark Niciu, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry 

Dr. Niciu is interested in the pathophysiology and experimental therapeutics of major mood disorders, particularly glutamate and subanesthetic-dose ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression. 

John Wemmie, MD, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Neurosurgery

Dr. Wemmie studies brain pH and acid-sensing ion channels in brain function and behavior. This work has led to the discovery of critical roles for brain pH in synaptic plasticity, anxiety, and depression-related behaviors in mice. 

Aislinn Williams, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry 

Dr. Williams studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which genetic risk factors contribute to psychiatric disease from a developmental perspective. Her current projects focus on voltage-gated calcium channel genes, which have been linked to the risk of developing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and autism.

Kim Hart, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Hart provides psychotherapy for patients with mood and anxiety disorders. 

Carolyn Turvey, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology

 Dr. Turvey serves on the Board of Directors for the National Network of Depression Centers. Her research aims to demonstrate better outcomes for a Comorbid Illness Management Program in depression. 

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Nicholas Trapp, MD

Neuromodulation Fellow/ Associate

Dr. Trapp has an ongoing project that uses functional connectivity MRI to identify  stimulation targets for a trial using repetitive TMS to treat traumatic brain injury-induced depression.

Hristina Koleva, MD

Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Koleva works in the Women’s Wellness and Counseling Service, where she treats pregnant women and new mothers who are experiencing mood and anxiety disorders, along with women who may be experiencing issues related to menopause. 

Scott Temple, PhD

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry

Dr. Temple is the director of psychosocial treatments at the UI. The Department of Psychiarty provides individual and group therapy programs, including Dialtectical Behavior Therapy and STEPPS.