Joseph Kobos, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Student Counseling Service, has held a number of national leadership posts.
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A retirement reception will be held June 9 to honor Joseph Kobos, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Student Counseling Service. The reception will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. in the lobby of the Academic & Administration Building.

During his 40 years at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dr. Kobos instituted the university’s Counseling Service, developing it into a broadly defined service that addresses the range of concerns that students face, including academic pressures, relationship and family dilemmas, and anxiety and depression.

Dr. Kobos also played a role in developing student orientation programs and began the Peer Advisory Program, which together evolved into the Office of Student Life.

Related link: Visit the new CARE website

As a professor of psychiatry, he also has led numerous seminars in group psychotherapy and brief therapy, his personal research interest, which helped to shape the professional development of approximately 500 psychology and psychiatry practitioners who have gone on to various careers.

Dr. Kobos led the Behavior Intervention Team
In response to violence on other college campuses, Dr. Kobos was appointed chair of the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) in 2008. Under his leadership, the campus advisory group has developed a number of resources, including the 567-CARE (2273) phone number that faculty, staff, residents and students can call to confidentially share a concern about a colleague or student who may need help. And on June 1, the BIT launched the CARE (Campus Awareness Requires Everyone) website, http://care.uthscsa.edu, to provide training and resources that empower individuals to take action in preventing campus violence.

“It is obvious that Dr. Kobos is a very caring individual,” said President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP. “Through the years, Joe has initiated and developed key services that have played an integral part in the health and well-being of countless faculty and staff members, students and residents. His work has not only benefited the Health Science Center as a whole and psychiatric residents through their training, but he has also played a leadership role in the profession through local, state, regional and national organizations.”

National leadership
Dr. Kobos was founding officer and past president of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 49, Group Psychology and Group Psychotherapy. He also served as the initial president of the American Board of Group Psychology and as treasurer of the board of trustees of the American Board of Professional Psychology.

He served on the APA’s Commission on Accreditation, and in 2007 served on the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) board, where he co-chaired the Science to Service Taskforce that produced the initial “Practice Guidelines for Group Psychotherapy.” AGPA honored him in 2009 with the Alonzo Award for Excellence in Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy for his contributions.

“I appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement of the university that has permitted me to practice, teach and make academic contributions in my areas of interest,” Dr. Kobos said.

“What I will miss most in retirement will be the people,” he said. “We attract high-quality students in all of our schools and programs. They are energetic, stimulating and creative in how they face the world, and they are open to using our services,” he said. “Our faculty and administration are student oriented and do not lose sight that we are here to educate students. I can’t help but be inspired and learn when I walk the halls of the campus and see scientific posters with the latest research and the ideas they represent in science and the application of the healing arts.”

Plans for the future
Following retirement, Dr. Kobos will be relocating to Dallas with his wife, Carolyn, where two of their sons and five grandchildren live. “I enjoy moving the ball along the golf course, photography and travel. I will be volunteering as a docent in the local art museums, and I hope to do some volunteer teaching at one of our sister institutions,” he said. “San Antonio has become our second home and we depart with sadness, but expect that we will return for events from time to time.”