Dr. Stephen M. Strakowski is the inaugural Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Prior to joining the Dell Medical School team, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy officer in UC Health (the academic health system associated with University of Cincinnati), and a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychology and Biomedical Engineering at UC. Dr. Strakowski graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a BSE in 1984 and alpha omega alpha from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine with an MD in 1988. He completed his residency training at McLean Hospital/Harvard University School of Medicine in 1992. Upon completing residency, he moved to the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor, where he has been promoted to his current positions.

As Senior Vice President, he was responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans for the UC Health academic health system. This work involves critical evaluation of the health system’s direction by evaluating partnering opportunities, building a clear vision and value proposition, and working closely with the CEO, COO and CFO to establish sustainable business structures for this $1.5 billion enterprise. AS SVP, he served on the executive team that is responsible for managing the UC Health physician/hospital system. He represented UC Health on several University of Cincinnati (UC) planning committees as well.

Prior to that role, Dr. Strakowski served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience for 8 years. He led it from significant financial and structural disarray to one of the stronger departments in the UC. The Department of Psychiatry is regarded internationally as a leading research center in mental health, as well as a top provider of clinical care and medical education.

As a UC faculty member, Dr. Strakowski remained active in research. He was the principal investigator of a NIMH P50 Center for Intervention Development and Applied Research (CIDAR) Award, recently completed. This large program grant supported integration of neuroimaging and treatment methodologies to better understand the onset and early disease progression of bipolar disorder. This Bipolar Imaging and Treatment Research Center (BITREC) is the culmination of more than 20 years of research experience and multiple prior NIMH and foundation grants that form one of the world’s leading bipolar research groups. We are now moving toward the next phase of this work. He has also been active in dozens of industry-sponsored research studies, primarily examining new medications for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In his research efforts, Dr. Strakowski has published more than 275 peer-reviewed manuscripts, in addition to a number of letters and book chapters. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to psychiatric research.

Dr. Strakowski is an educator and mentor, teaching medical students, psychiatry residents, and graduate students in biomedical engineering, psychology and neuroscience. He is widely sought as a grand rounds speaker and lectures regularly at national and international symposia and scientific meetings. 

Dr. Strakowski maintains an active practice within the Department of Psychiatry, and he provides consultations for difficult to treat patients (primarily with bipolar disorder) both regionally and nationally. He has been recognized as a “Best Doctor” by several national organizations for many years.