University at Buffalo (UB)
Cynthia A. Pristach MD
Cynthia A. Pristach
MD
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Psychiatry
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDEducation and Training:
- MD, Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo (1983)
- BS, Biology, Niagara University, Summa Cum Laude (1979)
Employment:
- Professor, Psychiatry, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008-present)
- Attending Psychiatrist, Erie County Medical Center (1987-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1995–2008)
- Consulting Psychiatrist, Employee Assistance Program (1992–1997)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1994–1995)
- Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1987–1994)
- Consulting Psychiatrist, Horizon Human Services (1985–1988)
- Clinical Assistant Instructor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1983–1987)
Awards and Honors:
- Faculty Award of Excellence for Promoting Inclusion and Belonging (2026)
Journal Articles:
- Iacobucci GJ, Leo RJ, Pristach C. (2025) Examining the influence of cognitive bias delaying the diagnosis and treatment of Anti-MNMDA receptor encephalitis. Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry (Aug)(51-52)
- Pristach CA, Del Regno PA, Dubovsky S. (2019) More Than Meets the Eye: Using Art to Teach Psychotherapy. Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry (Feb), 43(1): 119-122.
- Mariano MT, Mathew N, Del Regno P, Pristach CA. (2013) Improving residents' performance on the PRITE: is there a role for peer-assisted learning?. Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry (Sep), 37(5): 342-4.
- Dubovsky SL, Kaye DL, Pristach CA, DelRegno P, Pessar L, Stiles K. (2010) Can academic departments maintain industry relationships while promoting physician professionalism?. Academic medicine :, journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.. (Jan), 85(1): 68-73.
- Pessar LF, Pristach CA, Leonard KE. (2008) What troubles clerks in psychiatry? A strategy to explore the question. Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry (Jan), 32(3): 194-8.
- Fan X, Pristach C, Liu EY, Freudenreich O, Henderson DC, Goff DC. (2007) Elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein are associated with more severe psychopathology in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry research (Jan), 149(1-3): 267-71.
- Fan X, Liu E, Pristach C, Goff DC, Henderson DC. (2006) Higher fasting serum insulin levels are associated with a better psychopathology profile in acutely ill non-diabetic inpatients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia research (Sep), 86(1-3): 30-5.
- Narendran R, Young CM, Pristach CA, Pato MT, Valenti AM, Fass AR. (2003) Efficacy of clozapine in the treatment of atypical antipsychotic refractory schizophrenia: a pilot study. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (Feb), 23(1): 103-4.
- Valenti AM, Narendran R, Pristach CA. (2003) Who are patients on conventional antipsychotics?. Schizophrenia bulletin (Jan), 29(2): 195-9.
- Leo RJ, Pristach CA, Streltzer J. (2003) Incorporating pain management training into the psychiatry residency curriculum. Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry (Jan), 27(1): 1-11.
- Narendran R, Young CM, Valenti AM, Nickolova MK, Pristach CA. (2002) Is psychosis exacerbated by modafinil?. Archives of general psychiatry (Mar), 59(3): 292-3.
- Narendran R, Young CM, Valenti AM, Pristach CA, Pato MT, Grace JJ. (2001) Olanzapine therapy in treatment-resistant psychotic mood disorders: a long-term follow-up study. The Journal of clinical psychiatry (Jul), 62(7): 509-16.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1999) Attitudes towards alcoholics anonymous by dually diagnosed psychiatric inpatients. Journal of addictive diseases (Jan), 18(3): 69-76.
- Smith CM, Pristach CA, Cartagena M. (1999) Obligatory cessation of smoking by psychiatric inpatients. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) (Jan), 50(1): 91-4.
- Smith CM, Barzman D, Pristach CA. (1997) Effect of patient and family insight on compliance of schizophrenic patients. Journal of clinical pharmacology (Feb), 37(2): 147-54.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1996) Self-reported effects of alcohol use on symptoms of schizophrenia. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) (Apr), 47(4): 421-3.
- Madoff SA, Pristach CA, Smith CM, Pristach EA. (1996) Computerized medication instruction for psychiatric inpatients admitted for acute care. M.D. computing : computers in medical practice (Jan), 13(5): 427-31, 441.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM, Perkins C. (1993) Reliability of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in psychiatric inpatients. Journal of addictive diseases (Jan), 12(4): 77-88.
- Block B, Pristach CA. (1992) Diagnosis and management of the paranoid patient. American family physician (Jun), 45(6): 2634-40.
- Pristach CA, Donoghue GD, Sarkin R, Wargula C, Doerr R, Opila D, Stern M, Single G. (1991) A multidisciplinary program to improve the teaching skills of incoming housestaff. Academic medicine :, journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.. (Mar), 66(3): 172-4.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1990) Medication compliance and substance abuse among schizophrenic patients. Hospital & community psychiatry (Dec), 41(12): 1345-8.
- Smith CM, Pristach CA. (1990) Utility of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in schizophrenic patients. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research (Oct), 14(5): 690-4.
- Molnar G, Pristach C, Feeney MG, Fava GA. (1988) A pilot study of managed lithium discontinuation. Psychopharmacology bulletin (Jan), 24(2): 217-9.
- Pristach CA. (1987) Lithium intoxication of unusual origin. Psychosomatics (Dec), 28(12): 632, 634.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM, Whitney RB. (1983) Alcohol withdrawal syndromes - prediction from detailed medical and drinking histories. Drug and alcohol dependence (Apr), 11(2): 177-99.
Professional Memberships:
- American College of Psychiatrists (2005–present)
- American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (1990–2023)
- Western New York Psychiatric Association (1990–present)
- American Psychiatric Association; Member (1983–present)
Presentations:
- "The Art of Cultural Humility: A Psychiatry Clerkship Teaching Exercise." Poster presentation at the ADMSEP Annual Meeting, Lexington KY 2026 (2026)
- "Enhancing Utilization of AIMS Assessments in an Inpatient Psychiatry Setting. A Quality Improvement Project." Poster presentation at the 11th Annual UB Department of Psychiatry Resident Quality Improvement and Research Projects Day, Buffalo NY 2026 (2026)
- "Improving Pregnancy Test Completion Rates on Psychiatrically Admitted Patients. A Quality Improvement Project." Poster presentation at the 11th Annual UB Department of Psychiatry Resident Quality Improvement and Research Projects Day, Buffalo NY 2026 (2026)
- "More than Meets the Eye: Using Visual Art in Residency and Medical Education" Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Psychiatry (2025)
- "The Art of Cultural Humility: A Psychiatry Clerkship Teaching Exercise" University at Buffalo Department of Psychiatry Annual Conference (2025)
- "Expanding Access to Harm Reduction in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting" Poster Presentation at the 10th Annual UB Department of Psychiatry Resident Quality Improvement and Research Projects Day (2025)
- "Initiation of Naltrexone Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder While Receiving Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment: A Quality Improvement Project" Poster Presentation at the 10th Annual UB Department of Psychiatry Resident Quality Improvement and Research Projects Day (2025)
- "Using Gamified Learning to Enhance Medical Student Knowledge in Psychiatry." Poster Presentation at the 10th Annual UB Department of Psychiatry Resident Quality Improvement and Research Projects Day (2025)
Service Activities:
- Ad hoc Committee on Appointment, Promotions, Tenure & Privileges; Chair (2025–2026)
- Academic Promotions Committee; Chair (2024–present)
- Ad hoc Committee on Appointment, Promotions, Tenure & Privileges; Member (2023–2025)
- Nickel City Canine Rescue; dog foster for abused and abandoned dogs; Volunteer (2023–present)
- Community Engagement Committee; Community Engagement Committee (2022–present)
- League of Women Voters/ voting recruiter; Member (2021–2023)
- Jacobs Educator Excellence Program; Mentor (2021–2023)
- Erie County Medical Response Team (SMART); Volunteer (2021–present)
- UB HEALS; Faculty Advisor and Volunteer (2018–present)
- Examiner; Human Rights Initiative, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2017–present)
- Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers; Volunteer (2014–present)
- Clinical Competency Committee; Member, Clinical Competency Committee (2013–present)
- American College of Psychiatrists; Member (2005–present)
- American Psychiatric Association; Distinguished Fellow (2003–present)
- Academic Psychiatry; Reviewer (1999–present)
- Lector, St. Benedict's Church; Volunteer (1993–present)
- American Psychiatric Association; Member (1983–2003)
- Western New York Psychiatric Society; Member (1983–present)