Nodes

University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC)

INCEDO

The University of North Texas Health Science Center and the John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network (UNTHSC/JPS) utilize JPS Health Network sites as primary clinical sites for this study. The JPS healthcare system’s Behavioral Health Research Division has been recognized for excellence in performance on several past and current clinical trials.

Dr. David Farmer, Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Director of Interprofessional Education and Practice at UNTHSC will serve as the Node Lead. Dr. Cindy Claassen, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern & UNTHSC and Director of the JPS Behavioral Health Service Psychology, Research and Education Divisions, serves as the Co-Node Lead for UNTHSC/JPS

David Farmer
David Farmer, PhD
Node Lead

Dr. David Farmer is the Founding Director of the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Institutional Department of Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPEP). He has helped develop a culture of interprofessional collaboration across UNTHSC’s programs in medicine, pharmacy, health professions, public health, and biomedical sciences.

An Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Dr. Farmer works with medical students in clinical interviewing skills development and in identification of psychosocial factors impacting patient wellness and care. 

A Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Farmer came to UNTHSC with twenty-three years’ experience in the clinical practice of counseling psychology with adolescents and adults. Dr. Farmer is a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice, Psychology Academy.

Cindy Claassen, PhD
Cindy Claassen, PhD
Node Co-Lead

Dr. Claassen is a clinical psychologist who has provided clinical care and administrative oversight for services to low income mentally challenged patients across the age span in the DFW area for over 20 years.  She has an extensive background in suicide research and currently serves as Co-Lead on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Data and Surveillance Task force (DSTF).

The DSTF works to optimize national and regional datasets in order to better inform public health suicide prevention efforts across the nation.  Data collected through TX-YDSRN will fill a major gap previously identified by the DSTF, in that naturalistic, longitudinal data on outcomes for depressed and suicidal children and adolescents in the United States is extremely limited. 

These data have potential to help national and state policy makers design and implement more targeted, effective interventions designed to prevent mood dysregulation in children and adolescents from leading to chronic disability and repeated suicidal acts.

Node Team
Amanda Rosenberg
Arrian Theodorou
John Jeevarajan
John Scott
Madelyn Guerra
Nicki Ahumada
Sierra Jackson
Summer Ladd