Leadership & Staff | South Central MIRECC

The South Central MIRECC was funded in 1998 and encompasses all or parts of four states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Center has anchor sites at three medical centers in Houston, Little Rock, and New Orleans. It is closely aligned with the VISN 16 Mental Health Product Line, which oversees the delivery of mental health care and the facility Mental Health Directors.
Directors
Site Leaders
Personnel

Director
Mark E. Kunik, MD, MPH
(713) 791-1414 Ext. 10330
MKunik@bcm.edu

Co-Director
Michael Kauth, PhD
(713) 440-4460
Michael.Kauth@va.gov

Associate Director for Education
Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali, MD
(713) 791-1414 Ext. 26771
Ali.Asghar-Ali@va.gov | asgharal@bcm.edu

Associate Director for Research
Jeffrey Pyne, MD
Jeffrey.Pyne@va.gov

Assistant Director for Research
Ellen P. Fischer, PhD
(501) 257-1711
FischerEllenP@uams.edu
Associate Director for Research Training
Michael A. Cucciare, PhD
(501) 526-8179
Michael.Cucciare@va.gov | MACucciare@uams.edu

Associate Director for Improving Clinical Care
Tracey L. Smith, PhD
(713) 791-1414 Ext. 10287
Tracey.Smith2@va.gov

Houston Site Leader
Lilian Dindo, PhD
(713) 794-8639
Lilian.Dindo@va.gov | Lilian.Dindo@bcm.edu

Little Rock Site Leader
Jeffrey Pyne, MD
(501) 257-1083
Jeffrey.Pyne@va.gov

New Orleans
C. Laurel Franklin, PhD
(504) 571-8294
Laurel.Franklin@va.gov
VISN 16 SC MIRECC Administrative Officer
Kristin Ward
(501) 257-1236
Kristin.Ward2@va.gov
Houston Anchor Site Administrative Officer
Kendall R. Moore
(713) 791-1414 Ext. 10304
Kendall.Moore2@va.gov
SC MIRECC Budget Officer
Dale Perkins
(501) 257-1741
Wendell.Perkins@va.gov
Last updated: July 31, 2019