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Nancy Downs, MD, Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA

NancySwerdlowDownsMD

Psychiatry La Jolla, CA

Clinical Professor, UC San Diego School of Medicine

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  • Office

    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla, CA 92093

Summary

  • Dr. Nancy Swerdlow Downs was born in Lawrence, Kansas and raised throughout the United States. She is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, return to active duty, and previous Director of the College Mental Health Program (CMHP) at UC San Diego Health. Her clinical, academic work focuses on integrative treatments for depression and anxiety in primary care, and novel interventions for suicide prevention, particularly in community and college/university settings.


    Previously, as the Director for the CMHP, Dr. Downs and her team provided consultation-liaison services to staff and faculty, and timely access to cost-effective mental health care for approximately 43,000 UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a former member of the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) College Mental Health Workgroup and past Chair of the UC Office of the President Lead Psychiatrist Task Force. Dr. Downs serves an important role as an educator with psychiatry residents and as a mentor to early career faculty. With over 20 years of paid, full-time-equivalent academic experience, spanning 35 years, Dr. Downs continues to have a passion for working with patients, educating trainees, harnessing technology, contributing to the academic literature, and creating innovative, data-based programs, which enhance our community.


    Dr. Downs’ academic creative work centers around developing, funding and executing inaugural clinical and teaching programs including 1) UCSD Psychiatry Internship Program 2) UCSD Combined Family Medicine and Psychiatry Residency Program 3) UCSD CMHP 4) Psychiatry Services on-campus, integrated for both the Counseling and Student Health Centers and capitalizing on EMR technology to track at-risk students 5) HEAR program utilizing anonymous web-based screening to identify/treat healthcare providers at risk for depression and suicidal behaviors.

Education & Training

  • University of California (San Diego) Medical Center
    University of California (San Diego) Medical CenterFellowship, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, 1989 - 1990
  • University of California (San Diego) Medical Center
    University of California (San Diego) Medical CenterResidency, Psychiatry, 1986 - 1988
  • Scripps Mercy Hospital
    Scripps Mercy HospitalInternship, Transitional Year, 1985 - 1986
  • University of California San Diego School of Medicine
    University of California San Diego School of MedicineClass of 1985
  • Stanford University
    Stanford UniversityAB, Human Biology, With Distinction, 1976 - 1980
  • Stanford University
    Stanford UniversityA.B., Human Biology (Biochemical Nutrition), 1980

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 1987 - 2026
  • CT State Medical License
    CT State Medical License 2009 - 2010
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychiatry

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Distinguished Fellow American Psychiatric Association, 2018
  • Fellow American Psychiatric Association, 2013
  • Ten Year Service Award University of California, San Diego, 2013
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Psychotherapy for physician residents may decrease burnout and depression while improving measures of wellbeing - a pilot study  
    Zisook S, Doran N, Downs N, Shapiro D, Haddad A, Newton I, Kawasaki J, Nestsiarovich A, Davidson J., Academic Medicine, 5/1/2024
  • Psychotherapy for physician residents may decrease burnout and depression while improving measures of wellbeing - a pilot study  
    Zisook S, Doran N, Downs N, Shapiro D, Haddad A, Newton I, Kawasaki J, Nestsiarovich A, Davidson J., Academic Medicine, 5/1/2024
  • Be true to our schools – models of care in college mental health  
    Downs N, Galles E, Skehan B, Lipson SK, Current Psych Rep., 8/9/2018
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Books/Book Chapters

Abstracts/Posters

  • Implementing a College Mental Health Program (CMHP)-an overview of the first 12 months.
    Downs N, Alderman T, Swerdlow N, National Network of Depression Centers Annual Meeting, 1/1/2016
  • Combined Residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry.
    Downs N, McCahill M, Am J Psychiat, 1/1/1997
  • Rat endocrine response to physostigmine in a novel animal model of depression.
    Downs N, Swerdlow N, Clinical Research, 1/1/1985
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Lectures

  • "Integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy." 
    La Jolla, CA - 1/1/2016
  • "Integrative treatment in college mental health." 
    Hillcrest, San Diego, CA - 1/1/2016
  • "Listening to medical student burnout-the University of California, San Diego HEAR program." 
    University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA - 1/1/2015
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Other

  • Preventing Physician Distress and Suicide: AMA Stepsforward, Steps in practice. 
    Downs N
    https://www.stepsforward.org/modules/preventing-physician-suicide
    1/1/2016
  • Policies and procedures for University of California, San Diego Psychiatry Specialty Clinics. 
    Alderman T, Downs, N
    1/1/2015
  • Policies and procedures for CAPS on-campus psychiatry. 
    Downs N
    1/1/2014
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Press Mentions

  • UC San Diego Launches New Program to Attract Students to Mental Health Career
    UC San Diego Launches New Program to Attract Students to Mental Health CareerAugust 24th, 2017

Professional Memberships