Rachel Davis, MD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry-Other CI Services

Professional Titles

• Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs and Strategy
• Service Director, Interventional Psychiatry
• Co-Director, OCD Surgical Program
• Medical Director, OCD Program
• Chief, CUMedicine Outpatient Psychiatry Practices

Recognition & Awards

• Distinguished Clinician, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2023)
  Awardees are recognized for their contributions and personal characteristics that have profound impacts on patients, families, and fellow clinicians.
• Extraordinary Service Award, University of Colorado Hospital Medical Staff (2023)
• Arnold P. Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2006)
  
• Alpha Omega Alpha , University of Colorado School of Medicine (2004)
  

Teaching

Publications

• Gault JM, Hosokawa P, Kramer D, Saks ER, Appelbaum PS, Thompson JA, Olincy A, Cascella N, Sawa A, Goodman W, Moukaddam N, Sheth SA, Anderson WS, Davis RA. Postsurgical morbidity and mortality favorably informs deep brain stimulation for new indications including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Front Surg. 2023;10:958452. PubMed PMID: 37066004
• Kennis M, Hale EW, Hemendinger E, Davis R, Ojemann SG, Strom L, Klepitskaya O. Suicide in Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study. J Parkinsons Dis. 2023 Mar 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36911947
• Hale EW, Davis RA. Supporting the future of medicine: Student mental health services in medical school. Front Health Serv. 2023;3:1032317. PubMed PMID: 36926507
• H.R. Winston and R. Davis. Obsessive-compulsive disorders and sleep. In: Clete A. Kushida, ed. Encyclopedia of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms (Second Edition). Academic Press; 2023: Pages 531-537. ISBN 9780323910941.
• Davis RA, Branagan T, Schneck CD, Schold JD, Thant T, Kaplan B. Lithium and the living kidney donor: Science or stigma?. Am J Transplant. 2023 May 24. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37236400
• Hitti FL, Widge AS, Riva-Posse P, Malone DA Jr, Okun MS, Shanechi MM, Foote KD, Lisanby SH, Ankudowich E, Chivukula S, Chang EF, Gunduz A, Hamani C, Feinsinger A, Kubu CS, Chiong W, Chandler JA, Carbunaru R, Cheeran B, Raike RS, Davis RA, Halpern CH, Vanegas-Arroyave N, Markovic D, Bick SK, McIntyre CC, Richardson RM, Dougherty DD, Kopell BH, Sweet JA, Goodman WK, Sheth SA, Pouratian N. Future directions in psychiatric neurosurgery: Proceedings of the 2022 American society for stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery meeting on surgical neuromodulation for psychiatric disorders. Brain Stimul. 2023 May 20. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37217075
• Davis RA, Branagan T, Schneck CD, Schold JD, Thant T, Kaplan B. Lithium and the living kidney donor: Science or stigma?. Am J Transplant. 2023 Sep;23(9):1300-1306. PubMed PMID: 37236400
• Gault JM, Hosokawa P, Kramer D, Saks ER, Appelbaum PS, Thompson JA, Olincy A, Cascella N, Sawa A, Goodman W, Moukaddam N, Sheth SA, Anderson WS, Davis RA. Postsurgical morbidity and mortality favorably informs deep brain stimulation for new indications including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Front Surg. 2023;10:958452. PubMed PMID: 37066004
• Kennis M, Hale EW, Hemendinger E, Davis R, Ojemann SG, Strom L, Klepitskaya O. Suicide in Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease: A Retrospective Case-Control Study. J Parkinsons Dis. 2023;13(3):415-419. PubMed PMID: 36911947
• Hale EW, Davis RA. Supporting the future of medicine: Student mental health services in medical school. Front Health Serv. 2023;3:1032317. PubMed PMID: 36926507
• Hitti FL, Widge AS, Riva-Posse P, Malone DA Jr, Okun MS, Shanechi MM, Foote KD, Lisanby SH, Ankudowich E, Chivukula S, Chang EF, Gunduz A, Hamani C, Feinsinger A, Kubu CS, Chiong W, Chandler JA, Carbunaru R, Cheeran B, Raike RS, Davis RA, Halpern CH, Vanegas-Arroyave N, Markovic D, Bick SK, McIntyre CC, Richardson RM, Dougherty DD, Kopell BH, Sweet JA, Goodman WK, Sheth SA, Pouratian N. Future directions in psychiatric neurosurgery: Proceedings of the 2022 American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery meeting on surgical neuromodulation for psychiatric disorders. Brain Stimul. 2023 May-Jun;16(3):867-878. PubMed PMID: 37217075
• Duffy KA, Fenstermacher EA, Thompson JA, Tanabe J, Patel MS, Ojemann S, Davis RA. Case report: Clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation contacts corresponds to local field potential signals in a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1279972. PubMed PMID: 38076699
• H.R. Winston and R. Davis. Obsessive-compulsive disorders and sleep. In: Clete A. Kushida, ed. Encyclopedia of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms (Second Edition). Academic Press; 2023: Pages 531-537. ISBN 9780323910941
• Lehto S., Hemendinger E., Sinsko K., Davis R. Learning how to increase learning: A review of what we have learned from teaching zoom only Exposure and Response Prevention. Department of Psychiatry Poster Session. March 2023
• Panchal Z. Mikulich-Gilbertson S., Davis R. Impact of nocturnal deep brain stimulator settings on sleep, mood, anxiety, and OCD symptoms in a patient with OCD. Department of Psychiatry Poster Session. March 2023
• Tarver M, Fenstermacher E, Gault J, Davis R. Deep brain stimulation for treatment-refractory schizophrenia. Department of Psychiatry Poster Session. March 2023
• Wolfe J, Lehto S, Davis R. A study of mental health symptoms in matriculating U.S. Medical Students. Federation of State Physician Health Programs Conference. May 2023. Minneapolis, MN.
• Hale EW, Davis RA. Supporting the Future of Medicine: Student Mental Health Services in Medical School. American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. May 2023. San Francisco, CA.
• Dukakis A, Patel M, Davis R. For those with debilitating OCD, a surgical procedure can help. Colorado Matters. Colorado Public Radio. Aired January 19, 2023.
• Warner R, Ortiz L, Davis R, Marsh A, Pomfret E. Altruistic donors helping strangers. Colorado Matters. Colorado Public Radio. Aired March 8, 2023
• Bressler K and Davis R. Episode 121: Lithium and Kidney Donation. Released September 2, 2023
• Myers J and Davis R. Lithium and the Living Kidney Donor: Science or Stigma? Podcast. Published online December 8, 2023
• Rachel A. Davis, Sixto Giusti, and Khush Damkevala. Episode 1: Hispanic Heritage Month. Transplant Talks. Aired October 13, 2023.
• Rachel A. Davis, Danel Kuhlmann, and Khush Damkevala. Episode 2: First Robotic Living Liver Donation in the Rocky Mountain Region. Transplant Talks. Aired November 1, 2023.
• Rachel A. Davis, Brandi Thornton, and Khush Damkevala. Episode 3: Double Donation. Transplant Talks. Aired December 1, 2023.
• Davis R. Deep brain stimulation can be life-altering for OCD suffers when other treatment options fall short. The Conversation. Published online September 28, 2022 at https://theconversation.com/deep-brain-stimulation-can-be-life-altering-for-ocd-sufferers-when-other-treatment-options-fall-short-186109
• Davis RA. Living Liver Donation [Internet]. Denver (CO). Personal website; 2022 July 11 [updated 2022 December 26]. Available from: www.livingliverdonation.com
• Davis R. A little bit about medication and OCD with Dr. Rachel Davis: Part One. Intrusive Thoughts: OCD Program Newsletter. November 2022. Published online at: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/docs/librariesprovider45/ocd-documents/nov-2022-newsletter.pdf?sfvrsn=ba607dbb_2
• Leschziner G, Davis R, Patel M. Phantoms in the Brain: I’m tired of feeling a prisoner to my thoughts – Moksha’s story. BBC Radio 4. Aired December 19, 2022 and published online at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g34w
• Merino D, Ware G, O’Shea, Fins J, Patel M, Davis R. Treating mental illness with electricity marries old ideas with modern tech and understanding of the brain – podcast. The Conversation. Published online November 24, 2022 at: https://theconversation.com/treating-mental-illness-with-electricity-marries-old-ideas-with-modern-tech-and-understanding-of-the-brain-podcast-195071
• Abramowitz J, King K, Davis R, McKay D, Olfson E, Abramovitch A. IOCDF Research Roundtable: From Genes to Brains to OCD. September 14, 2022. Online at https://youtu.be/oOM9_H0uDRg
• Davis R and Patel M. AskScience AMA Series: We’re Rachel Davis, MD and Moksha Patel, MD, instructors at the CU School of Medicine. With Rachel’s expertise, Moksha decided to undergo deep brain stimulation surgery for OCD. AUA! Published online May 3, 2022 at: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/uhdifs/askscience_ama_series_were_rachel_davis_md_and/?sort=new
• Pieters K, Patel M, Davis R. OCD ruled Moksha Patel’s life until a rare surgical procedure changed everything. Podcast. CU Anschutz 360. Published online May 3, 2022 at: https://soundcloud.com/cuanschutz-360/ocd-ruled-moksha-patels-life-until-a-rare-surgical-procedure-changed-everything?utm_source=news.cuanschutz.edu&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fcuanschutz-360%252Focd-ruled-moksha-patels-life-until-a-rare-surgical-procedure-changed-everything
• Abramowitz J, King K, Davis R, Camprodon J. IOCDF Research Roundtable: Neurotherapy for OCD. April 13, 2022. Online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOBXsYuqrXw
• Davis RA, Wolfe J, Heiman N. Increasing utilization of student mental health services on a college campus: Eight actionable tips. J Am Coll Health. 2021 Apr 23;:1-5. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33891531
• Davis RA, Winston H, Gault JM, Kern DS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Abosch A. Deep Brain Stimulation for OCD in a Patient With Comorbidities: Epilepsy, Tics, Autism, and Major Depressive Disorder. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. Spring 2021;33(2):167-171. PubMed PMID: 33535803
• Kahn L, Sutton B, Winston HR, Abosch A, Thompson JA, Davis RA. Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Real World Experience Post-FDA-Humanitarian Use Device Approval. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:568932. PubMed PMID: 33868034
• Davis RA, Giordano J, Hufford DB, Sheth SA, Warnke P, Widge AS, Richardson RM, Rosenow JM, Rossi PJ, Storch EA, Winston H, Zboyan J, Dougherty DD, Foote KD, Goodman WK, McLaughlin NCR, Ojemann S, Rasmussen S, Abosch A, Okun MS. Restriction of Access to Deep Brain Stimulation for Refractory OCD: Failure to Apply the Federal Parity Act. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:706181. PubMed PMID: 34456762
• Koljack C, Mackenzie G, Davis R. Anti-stigma panel: a peer-led mental health initiatve. Capstone project. 2021 Mar 2.
• Camprodon J, Davis R, Dougherty D, Rodriguez C, Vidrine R. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for OCD. International OCD Foundation. Published online June 2021 at: https://iocdf.org/tms/
• Trondsen C, Davis R, Daniel J, O’Dunne K. Chris’ Corner: Struggling in School. IOCDF. August 25, 2021. Online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sSHZ3AFgVw
• Smith E, Davis R, Goodman W, Williams N. IOCDF Townhall: Biologically Based Treatments for OCD. June 3, 2021. Online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmPT9TIoBDI
• Camprodon J, Davis R, Dougherty D, Rodriguez C, Vidrine R. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for OCD. International OCD Foundation. Published online June 2021 at: https://iocdf.org/tms/
• Koljack CE, Garcia MLW, Davis RA. Anti-Stigma Mental Health Panel: an Initiative to Reduce Mental Health Stigma Experienced by Health Professional Students. Acad Psychiatry. 2020 Apr;44(2):246-247. PubMed PMID: 31975320
• Finger L, Thompson J, Davis R. Using diffusion tensor imaging to find optimal stimulation targets in obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment. The FASEB Journal. 2020. Vol 34(S1): Experimental Biology 2020 Meeting Abstracts.
• Coons H, Berkowitz S, Davis R. Self-care advice for health-care providers during COVID-19: Concrete strategies to help manage stress. American Psychological Association Service, Inc. Published online March 26, 2020 at: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/ce/self-care/health-providers-covid-19
• Coons H, Hunter W, Berkowitz S, Davis R, Rothberg B, Epperson C. Well-being services for health care workers during the COVID pandemic: program highlights from the department of psychiatry. The Health Psychologist. Published online August 4, 2020 at: https://div38healthpsychologist.com/2020/08/04/well-being-services-for-health-care-workers-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-program-highlights-from-the-department-of-psychiatry-university-of-colorado-school-of-medicine/
• Davis R, Rosenthal R, and Epperson N. Making a map in uncertain times: Tools and support for students during COVID-19. Podcast. Crazed. Episode 19. March 18, 2020. http://crazedpodcast.com/making-a-map-in-uncertain-times-tools-and-support-for-students-during-covid-19/
• Heiman N, Davis R, Epperson N. Unstructured, Uncertain, Uneasy: Students During COVID-19. Podcast. Mind the Brain. May 4, 2020. https://soundcloud.com/anschutz-dept-psychiatry/unstructured-uncertain-uneasy-students-during-covid-19
• Davis R and Epperson N. Times are strange, but uncertainty is nothing new: managing COVID19 when you or a loved one has OCD. Article and Podcast. Mind the Brain. June 16, 2020. https://soundcloud.com/anschutz-dept-psychiatry/managing-covid-19-when-you-or-a-loved-one-has-ocd
• Theis, Lindsay. Inside a risky, rare brain surgery for OCD. Newsy. January 23, 2020: https://www.newsy.com/stories/rare-brain-surgery-may-treat-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/
• Naderi R, Camacho J, Wexler-Walter A, Davis R, Tsai S: Improving Wellbeing During CU GME Residency and Fellowship. https://ucdenver.instructure.com/courses/444401
• Davis R, Rosenthal R, and Vogel M. Making a map in uncertain times: Tools and support for students during COVID-19. Podcast. Crazed. Episode 19. March 18, 2020. http://crazedpodcast.com/making-a-map-in-uncertain-times-tools-and-support-for-students-during-covid-19/
• Heiman N, Davis R, Epperson N. Unstructured, Uncertain, Uneasy: Students During COVID-19. Podcast. Mind the Brain. May 4, 2020. https://soundcloud.com/anschutz-dept-psychiatry/unstructured-uncertain-uneasy-students-during-covid-19
• Davis R and Epperson N. Times are strange, but uncertainty is nothing new: managing COVID19 when you or a loved one has OCD. Article and Podcast. Mind the Brain. June 16, 2020. https://soundcloud.com/anschutz-dept-psychiatry/managing-covid-19-when-you-or-a-loved-one-has-ocd
• Davis RA, Hemendinger E, Lehto S. Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD [Internet]. Aurora (CO): University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; 2019 July 5 [updated July 1, 2022]. Available from: www.er4ocd.com
• Heiman N, Davis R, Rothberg B. A deeper understanding of depression and suicidality among medical students. Med Teach. 2018 May 9;:1-3. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29741422
• Williams S, Davis R. One-minute wellness: a no-cost mental health outreach initiative. Med Educ. 2018 May;52(5):554-555. PubMed PMID: 29480516
• Gault JM, Davis R, Cascella NG, Saks ER, Corripio-Collado I, Anderson WS, Olincy A, Thompson JA, Pomarol-Clotet E, Sawa A, Daskalakis ZJ, Lipsman N, Abosch A. Approaches to neuromodulation for schizophrenia. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018 Jul;89(7):777-787. PubMed PMID: 29242310
• Gault JM, Davis R, Cascella NG, Saks ER, Corripio-Collado I, Anderson WS, Olincy A, Thompson JA, Pomarol-Clotet E, Sawa A, Daskalakis ZJ, Lipsman N, Abosch A. Approaches to neuromodulation for schizophrenia. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2017 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29242310
• Davis RA, Epstein CH, Klepitskaya O, Sharp CS, Ojemann S, Abosch A, Heru AM. Disambiguating the Psychiatric Sequelae of Parkinson's Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Life Events: Case Report and Literature Review. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Jan 1;174(1):11-15. PubMed PMID: 28041000
• Davis RA. Response to Patient Suicide [Internet]. Aurora (CO): University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; 2017 Jun 2 [updated 2022] Available from: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry/education-pillar/suicide-response
• Davis R, Winston H, Gault J, Kern D, Mikulich-Gilbertson J, Abosch A. Deep brain stimulation for OCD in a patient with comorbidities: epilepsy, tics, autism, and major depressive disorder. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. Pending publication 2021.

Professional Memberships

• American Psychiatric Association (APA), Distinguished Fellow
• Colorado Psychiatric Society (CPS), Past President
• Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society (AOA), Member
• International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF), Member
• American Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP), Member
• Gold Humanism Honor Society, Member
• CU School of Medicine Center for NeuroScience, Member
• American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN), Member