Swala Abrams, MD

Assistant Professor

Attending Psychiatrist, Continuing Care Clinic, UNM Psychiatric Center

M.D., Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 1996

Residency in Internal Medicine/Primary Care, Cook County Hospital Chicago, IL 1999

General Internal Medicine/Public Health Fellowship, Cook County Hospital Chicago, IL 2001

Residency in Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2004

 Areas of Specialization and Interest: Care of the marginalized patient, psychosocial factors in treatment resistance, medical co-morbidity and chronic mental illness, ECT, resident education

 Personal Statement:  As the child of a Peace Corp volunteer, I graduated from medical school clear that I would do a residency “in the trenches” and thus began five years of Internal Medicine residency and fellowship work at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. However, realizing that treating diabetes and hypertension do not address the primary disabling issues in underserved populations, I was fortunate to do a second residency in psychiatry at UNM, receiving a truly balanced education and having the ability to add training in specific areas of interest. I was immensely pleased to join the faculty in 2004 and am thrilled to be able to work with residents and share my enthusiasm for the biopsychosocial approach to patients with chronic mental illness and complicating social and medical issues. I am especially pleased to be involved in the introduction to psychotherapy course for second year residents, and to mentor and supervise residents on call at the mental health center.

e-mail: sabrams@salud.unm.edu

Updated: 7/30/06