Emma Samelson-Jones

Dr. Emma Samelson-Jones is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Department of Medicine. She serves as an attending psychiatrist in the Adult Psychiatry Clinic and General Medicine Clinic at Mount Zion, while also directing medical student education through the Psychiatry Site Director and PISCES Program liaison roles.

• Harvard University A.B. in Chemistry and Physics (2002)
• UCSF M.D. in Medicine (2009)
• Columbia University Psychiatry Residency and Public Psychiatry Fellowship (2013)
• UCSF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training (2017) and Teaching Scholars Program (2020)

Her research spans psychiatry, addiction medicine, and psychopharmacology education, with a focus on integrating mental health into primary care. Notably, she developed the PsychSnaps curriculum—a case-based email newsletter and online platform (psychsnaps.com) for primary care physicians (PCPs).

Publications reveal expertise in transplantation tolerance, thymus function, and mental health outcomes in medical patients. While her earliest works (2004-2006) centered on organ transplantation immunology, recent contributions (2025) focus on competency-based medical education frameworks for psychiatry residents, highlighting her evolving role as a clinician-educator.

Scientific Awards
• 2024 Faculty Innovation in Education Award
• 2022 American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology Certification
• 2021 Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators Induction
• 2018 Exceptional Physician Award (UCSF Health)
• 2017 Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Samelson-Jones actively shapes psychiatry training programs, teaches psychopharmacology to senior residents, and contributes to diversity initiatives through UCSF’s DEI Champion Training (2017). Her work bridges clinical practice, translational research, and educational innovation.