To provide SMU students with a more unified system of health care, the Health Center has merged its Counseling and Testing Center with its Psychiatric Services. To manage its newly-created Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), the Health Center hired Dr. Mary Way as its director on Sept. 1.

“CAPS’ mission is to provide psychological and psychiatric services to SMU students,” said Way. “As a merged department, we can do this more efficiently.”

Way has served as director for Psychiatric Services since 2000, and has “been really instrumental in this merger and has worked really hard for it,” said Dr. Nancy Merrill, the co-medical director of the Health Center.

Merrill served as a committee member on the panel that interviewed candidates and then hired Way for the position of CAPS director.

“Everybody sees her dedication to the students and you want somebody who’s a good advocate for students to take over the position,” Dr. Merrill said.

Before coming onboard in 2000, Way shared night-call duties with Dr. Susanna Parker at the Health Center while running her Dallas-based private practice.

After graduating with a doctorate of medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, she completed her psychiatry residency and internship at the Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas and is board certified in psychiatry.

Students in need of psychological or psychiatric care can make an appointment with CAPS by calling the Health Center at (214) 768-2277. In an emergency situation, staff members are also available after hours at the same number.