Lindsay Bira, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Health & Wellness Coach, DrLindsayBira.com

As a clinical researcher and creative thinker, Dr. Lindsay Bira combined her training and interests by launching her own business (DrLindsayBira.com) during her postdoctoral residency. She is a writer, speaker, and consultant in San Antonio and has used professional branding and social media to help her connect with her community. She also specializes in treating combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through STRONG STAR PTSD Research Consortium.

Career path

I began doctoral work with trauma survivors in 2009 and realized that treatments for PTSD can be very effective. During that time, I was also working with people with chronic medical conditions, and observed how prolonged high levels of stress and lack of self-care can lead to very real health consequences. Following these clinical research interests, I completed my Ph.D. with residency in affiliation with Harvard Medical School.

I’ve known for many years that I wanted to face the unknowns to create a career that is outside of the box -- it’s important to me to do work that I truly enjoy while also keeping things fresh and using alternative methods to reach new audiences. My training background gave me a platform from which I was able to start my own business focused on community and corporate health and wellness, and I plan to continue to take my interests in new directions. Through taking leaps of faith and facing fears, I’ve learned that paths begin to carve themselves once you start on them and often lead to things you would never expect!

Education

• Ph.D., Clinical Health Psychology, University of Miami, 2014
• Residency at Boston Consortium (Harvard Medical School & Boston University School of Medicine)
• M.S., Psychology, University of Miami, 2011
• B.S., Psychology, Texas State University, 2008