Cynthia A. Pristach MD
Cynthia A. Pristach
MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Residency Training in 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)
- Chief Psychiatrist, Erie County Medical Center (1987-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry, State Univeristy 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:
- Dr. Josie Olympia Award (2009)
- Royal College of Physicians Educator Accreditation (2008)
- Certificate of Recognition, Career Services Division of Student Affairs (2005)
- Department of Psychiatry Recognition Award (2004)
- Bruno Lima Award (2004)
- Distinguished Fellow (2003)
- Mentor of the Year Award (2001)
- Mentor of the Year Award (2000)
- Seventh Annual Nancy C.A. Roseske, M.D. Certificate of Recognition for Exce (1997)
- Mentor of the Year Award (1995)
- Mentor of the Year Award (1994)
- Outstanding Teaching Award (1990)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- January 1999–January 2000
Research for Health
Erie County
Role: Co-Investigator - January 1999–January 2000
Research for Health In Erie County
Erie County
Role: Co-Investigator
$15,000
Journal Articles:
- Smith CM, Pristach CA, Cartagena M. (1999) Obligatory cessation of smoking by psychiatric inpatients. Psychiatr Serv (Jan), 50(1): 91-94.
- Smith CM, Barzman D, Pristach CA. (1997) Effect of patient and family insight on compliance of schizophrenic patients. J Clin Pharmacol (Feb), 37(2): 147-154.
- Madoff SA, Pristach CA, Smith CM, Pristach EA. (1996) Computerized medication instruction for psychiatric inpatients admitted for acute care. MD Comput (Sep), 13(5): 427-431.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1996) Self-reported effects of alcohol use on symptoms of schizophrenia. Psychiatr Serv (Apr), 47(4): 421-423.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM, Perkins C. (1993) Reliability of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in psychiatric inpatients. J Addict Dis (Jan), 12(4): 77-88.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM, Perkins C. (1993) Reliability of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in psychiatricinpatients. J Addict Dis (Dec), 12(4): 77-88.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM, Whitney RB. (1983) Alcohol withdrawal syndromes - prediction from detailed medical and drinking histories. Drug Alcohol Depend (Apr), 11(2): 177-199.
- Pristach CA. (1987) Lithium intoxication of unusual origin. Psychosomatics (Dec), 28(12): 632 634-632 634.
- Pristach CA, Del Regno PA, Dubovsky S, Del Regno PA. (2019) More Than Meets the Eye: Using Art to Teach Psychotherapy. Acad Psychiatry (Feb), 43(1): 119-122.
- Smith CM, Pristach CA. (1990) Utility of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in schizophrenic patients. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Oct), 14(5): 690-694.
- Dubovsky SL, Kaye DL, Pristach CA, Del Regno P, Pessar L, Stiles K. (2010) Can academic departments maintain industry relationships while promoting physician professionalism?. Academic Medicine (Jan), 85(1): 68-73.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1990) Medication compliance and substance abuse among schizophrenic patients. Hosp Community Psychiatry (Dec), 41(12): 1345-1348.
- Pessar LF, Pristach CA, Leonard KE. (2008) What troubles clerks in psychiatry? A strategy to explore the question. Acad Psychiatry (May), 32(3): 194-198.
- Valenti AM, Narendran R, Pristach CA. (2003) Who are patients on conventional antipsychotics?. Schizophr Bull (Jan), 29(2): 195-199.
- Block B, Pristach CA. (1992) Diagnosis and management of the paranoid patient. Am Fam Physician (Jun), 45(6): 2634-2640.
- Leo RJ, Pristach CA, Streltzer J. (2003) Incorporating pain management training into the psychiatry residency curriculum. Acad Psychiatry (Jan), 27(1): 1-11.
- Narendran R, Young CM, Pristach CA, Pato MT, Valenti AM, Fass AR. (2003) Efficacy of clozapine in the treatment of atypical antipsychotic refractoryschizophrenia: a pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol (Feb), 23(1): 103-104.
- Narendran R, Young CM, Valenti AM, Nickolova MK, Pristach CA. (2002) Is psychosis exacerbated by modafinil?. Arch Gen Psychiatry (Mar), 59(3): 292-293.
- 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. J Clin Psychiatry (Jul), 62(7): 509-516.
- Pristach CA, Smith CM. (1999) Attitudes towards alcoholics anonymous by dually diagnosed psychiatric inpatients. J Addict Dis (Jan), 18(3): 69-76.
- Fan X, Pristach CA, Liu EY, Freudenreich O, Henderson DC. (2007) Elevated Serum Level of C-reactive Protein are Associated with More Severe Psychopathology in a Subgroup of Patients with Schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research (Jan).
- Fan X, Liu E, Pristach CA, 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 (Jan).
- Pessar LF, Pristach CA, Leonard KE. (2008) What troubles clerks in psychiatry? A Strategy to Explore the Question. Academic Psychiatry (Jan).
- Pristach CA Donoghue GD Sarkin R Wargula C Doerr R Opila D Stern M Single G . (1991) The development of a course to improve the teaching skills of PGY1 staff in multiple residency programs. Academic Medicine (Jan).
Books and Book Chapters:
- Pristach CA, Virk S. (2009) Principles of Inpatient Psychiatry. In: Education in the Inpatient Setting. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 155-167.
Professional Memberships:
- American College of Psychiatrists (2005–present)
- American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (1990–present)
- Western New York Psychiatric Association (1990–present)
- American Psychiatric Association; Member (1983–present)
- Association Of Academic Psychiatry
- Research Society on Alcoholism
Presentations:
- "An Abundant Shortage: The Role of Psychiatry Residents in Generating Medical Student Interest in Psychiatry" Annual Conference; American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training (2011)
- "Small Group Teaching: An Interactive Approach" Annual Conference; 37th Annual American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (2008)
- "Psychological Sequelae of Disasters" Annual Conference; ; Protecting New York from Terrorism and Disaster: Taking Stock, Setting Directions, Looking Forward Conference (2008)
- "Tips for Teaching Large Classes: Classroom Management Issues" Quarterly Meeting; Teaching and Learning Center; University at Buffalo (2008)
- "C-Reactive Protein and Psychopathology Profile in Patients with Schizophrenia" Annual Conference; American Psychiatric Associationq (2004)
- "Using Creative Problem Solving Techniques at a Faculty Retreat to Establish a Reliable Resident Assessment Form" Annual Meeting; American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (2004)
- "A Curriculum in Pain Management for Psychiatry Residents" Annual Conference; American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training Meeting (2002)
- "Emotional Stress Among Resident Physicians" Annual Meeting; American Psychiatric Association (2001)
- "Sexual Dysfunction in Schizophrenics on Atypical Antipsychotics" Annual Meeting; American Psychiatric Association (2001)
- "Treatment of Atypical Antipsychotic Resistant Schizophrenia" Annual Meeting; American Psychiatric Association (2001)
- "Depressive Symptomatology in Psychiatric Inpatients with Comorbid Alcohol Abuse" Annual Conference; 151st Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (1998)
- "Curriculum Changes: Measuring Outcome" Annual Conference; 27th Annual American Association of Directors in Residency Training Midwinter Meeting (1998)
- "Depression in Women" Annual Conference; Excellence in Women's Health Care: Total Woman 2000 Conference (1997)
- "Attitudes towards Alcoholics Anonymous by Dually Diagnosed Psychiatric Inpatients" Annual Conference; American Orthopsychiatry 74th Annual Meeting (1997)
- "Training in Turbulent Times: New Directions in Professional Education-A Multidisciplinary Perspective" Annual Conference; American Orthopsychiatry 74th Annual Meeting; Invited workshop (1997)
- "Effects of Abrupt Smoking Cessation on an Inpatient Psychiatric Population" Annual Conference; 45th Institute for Hospital and Community Psychiatry (1993)
- "Computerized Medication Instruction for Acute Psychiatric Inpatients" Annual Conference; 44th Institute on Hospital and Community Psychiatry (1992)
- "History of Alcohol Abuse by Psychiatric Patients-Screening Tests and Interview" Annual Conference; Research Society on Alcoholism (1991)
- "Alcohol Screening in Acute Psychiatric Inpatients" Annual Conference; American Psychiatric Association (1991)
- "The Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) in Schizophrenic Patients" Annual Conference; 5th Congress of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (1990)
- "Alcohol Abuse in a Schizophrenic Population" Annual Conference; American Psychiatric Association (1989)
Service Activities:
- UB/RCP Planning Committee; Member (2009–present)
- Residency Evaluation Subcommittee; Member (2002–present)
- IFR Research; Member (2002–present)
- IFR Research Committee (Advisory); Member (2002–present)
- Graduate Medical Education Residency Grievance Committee; Member (2002–2003)
- Resident Allocation Advisory Team; Member (2002–2003)
- Psychological Services Review Committee; Member (2002)
- Child Psychiatry Division Chief Search; Member (2001–2002)
- Graduate Medical Education; Chair (2000–present)
- Residency Program Selection; Chair (2000–present)
- Residency Program Selection Subcommittee; Chair (2000–present)
- Graduate Medical Education Committee; Chair (2000–present)
- Curriculum Subcommittee; Chair (2000–present)
- Host, Honors Undergraduate Student Program; Other (1998)
- Faculty Senate; Alternate Member (1997–1999)
- Faculty Senate; Alternate Member (1997–1999)
- Student Affairs & Academic Standing; Member (1997–1999)
- Faculty Council; Alternate Member (1995–1996)
- Medical School Family Weekend Department of Psychiatry Faculty Participant; Panel Member (1995)
- Faculty Council; Alternate Member (1995–1997)
- Medicine Chair Search Committee; Member (1995–1996)
- Apppointment, Promotions,Tenure & Privileges; Member (1995–1996)
- Faculty Council; Member (1992–1994)
- Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Physician Initiative Subcommittee; Member (1992–1993)
- Psychiatry Chair Search Committee; Member (1992–1993)
- Residency Evaluation Subcommittee; Chair (1990–2002)
- Faculty Development Committee; Member (1990–1994)
- Faculty Development; Member (1990–1994)
- Stress Recognition Committee, Incoming Residents Week; Member (1990–1998)
- Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee; Member (1989–2000)
- Undergraduate Medical Education Committee; Member (1989–present)
- Residency Program Selection; Member (1988–2000)
- Curriculum; Member (1988–2000)
- Residency Program Selection Subcommittee; Member (1988–2000)
- Curriculum Committee; Member (1988–2000)
- Graduate Medical Education Committee; Member (1988–2000)
- Graduate Medical Education Committee; Member (1988–2000)
- Research Committee; Member (1988–1994)
- Research Committee; Member (1988–1994)
- Teaching Committee, Incoming Residents Week; Chair (1988–1989)
- Institutional Self Study Process and LCME Evaluation Department of Psychiatry Representative; Member