Laura B. Dunn, MD, Named Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at University of Utah Health
Sep 02, 2026
Laura B. Dunn, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
Laura B. Dunn, MD, was named chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, effective December 1, 2026.
Dunn joins University of Utah Health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she has served as chair of the Department of Psychiatry and director of the Psychiatric Research Institute since 2022. An accomplished academic psychiatrist, researcher, educator, and physician leader, Dunn brings extensive experience advancing clinical care and research, developing faculty and trainees, and leading growth and transformation within academic medicine.
“Dr. Dunn knows how to bring people together around a shared vision and create an environment where faculty, staff, and learners can thrive,” said Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, MS, dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. “I have tremendous confidence in her ability to lead this next chapter for the Department of Psychiatry and further its important partnership with Huntsman Mental Health Institute.”
At UAMS, Dunn led a significant expansion and restructuring of the Department of Psychiatry, recruiting faculty, developing new clinical and educational programs, and strengthening research and operational infrastructure. Under her leadership, UAMS became the nation’s first commercial site for Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) for treatment-resistant depression and established the only specialized first-episode psychosis program in Arkansas.Before joining UAMS, Dunn held faculty and leadership positions at Stanford University, the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of California, San Diego. She received her medical degree from UC San Francisco and completed psychiatry residency and geriatric psychiatry fellowship training at UC San Diego. Her scholarly work includes geriatric psychiatry, psycho-oncology, research ethics, and emerging neuroscience interventions.“I’m thrilled to be joining the University of Utah Health community,” Dunn said. “The expertise within the Department of Psychiatry, together with the vision and resources of Huntsman Mental Health Institute, creates great potential for expanding our impact. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, trainees, and partners across the university to advance innovative care and research, invest in our people, and make a meaningful difference for patients and communities.”Under Dunn’s leadership, the Department of Psychiatry will continue advancing its missions of patient care, education, research, and community engagement while strengthening its collaboration with Huntsman Mental Health Institute and other cross-campus partnerships. In addition to the role of chair, Dunn will concurrently serve as Chief Scientific Officer for Huntsman Mental Health Institute, along with Executive Director and Physician-in-Chief of the mental health hospital. Dunn will also play a key role as a member of Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s leadership triad alongside the Institute President and chief administrative officer. “The Department of Psychiatry is an integral part of both the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and Huntsman Mental Health Institute,” said W. Brett Graham, MBA, MPA, Institute President. “Dr. Dunn is an outstanding choice to lead the department forward as we work together to address the demand for research-supported mental health care across our growing state and region.” Dunn succeeds James C. Ashworth, MD, who has guided the Department of Psychiatry as interim chair since February 2025.
mental health
huntsman mental health institute
psychiatry
Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM)
