About Us

The Amygdala Conference series is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress under the direction of Robert J. Ursano MD, the USU Graduate Neuroscience Program under the direction of Kimberly Byrnes, Ph.D. and also by the Department of Family Medicine under the direction of COL Dana R. Nguyen.

Conference Committee

Vincent F. Capaldi, II, ScM, MD, Chair
LTC, MC, USA
Associate Professor
Vice Chair, Department of Psychiatry (Research)
Program Director, Combined Internal Medicine / Psychiatry Residency
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

David Mears, PhD, Co-Chair
Associate Professor
Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Kwang Choi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Scientist
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

James A. Naifeh, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Scientist
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Holly H. Mash, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Scientist
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Weyinshet P. Gossa, MD, MPH
Associate Professor
Department of Family Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Amy E. Steward, MSgt, USAF
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Julia Petrini, ScB
Study Coordinator
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Alexandra (Allie) Blumhorst, BS
Research Assistant
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences