Marsal Sanches

Marsal Sanches, MD, PhD, FAPA is a Professor at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School-UT Health Science Center at Houston. He also serves as an Attending Psychiatrist and Associate Director for Research at the UT Health Dunn Behavioral Sciences Campus. Previously, he held positions at Baylor College of Medicine and The Menninger Clinic, where he served in leadership roles including Director of Medical Student Education and Research Education.

Dr. Sanches completed his Medical Degree at Santa Casa de Sao Paulo School of Medicine in Brazil, followed by a PhD in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from the Federal University of Sao Paulo. He completed his Residency in General Adult Psychiatry in Brazil and at UT Health Houston, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Mood Disorders at UT Health San Antonio and Houston.

His research focuses on mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, neuroimaging, psychopathology, and medical education. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is co-editor of four books on mood disorders and psychiatry. Dr. Sanches is particularly interested in the boundaries between psychopathology and normality, and the interface between psychiatry, humanities, and creativity.

Dr. Sanches serves as Associate Editor for Minerva Psychiatry, Debates in Psychiatry, and the Journal of Affective Disorders, and is on the editorial board of several other journals including Psychopathology and Academia Mental Health and Well-Being. He has contributed to Brazilian Psychiatric Association treatment guidelines for anxiety disorders and has published on diverse topics including stigma toward bipolar disorder, inflammation in mood disorders, and medical education during the pandemic.

• Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA)
• Co-editor of four books on mood disorders and psychiatry
• Contributor to Brazilian Psychiatric Association treatment guidelines
• Active participant in international research collaborations

Dr. Sanches maintains strong connections between US and Brazilian psychiatric communities, having completed his initial training in Brazil before moving to the United States. His work bridges clinical practice, research, and education in psychiatry, with a particular focus on improving understanding and treatment of mood disorders.