Alison Swigart

Alison Swigart, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Penn State College of Medicine. She serves as psychiatrist for CAPSTONE, a first-episode psychosis specialty clinic, and Program Director for the Public and Community Psychiatry Fellowship. Her clinical focus is on psychotic disorders, with teaching roles in the General Psychiatry Residency program. She holds board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (2013).

Education:

• MD: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (2005-2009)
• Pediatric Psychiatry Residency: Brown University (2009-2013)

Research Interests: Her work centers on mental health disparities, particularly cardiovascular outcomes in psychiatric populations, voting barriers for psychiatric inpatients, and optimizing care for individuals with psychosis. She investigates comorbidities like diabetes management in mental health patients and psychopharmacology practices in adolescents with borderline personality disorder.

Awards:

• 2021 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2019 Department of Psychiatry Teacher of the Year

Professional Roles: Active in community psychiatry training, supervising residency programs and leading clinical initiatives at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute's Division St. Clinic. Collaborates with Penn State Neuroscience Institute on interdisciplinary research.