The Fort Worth Business Press in May named two from the UNT Health Science Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health to its 40 Under 40 Class of 2011: Mathew Avila, PhD, assistant professor, and Christina Burress, MBA, associate director.

Avila was recognized for his role in establishing the Byrne Foundation as a means for his family's construction business to support children's mental health programs. He is the foundation's president and has raised more than $800,000 to support local mental health endeavors. He also was key in establishing Art Station, a nonprofit art therapy center for children in Fort Worth. A successful scientist, Avila has published more than 20 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and earned several National Institutes of Health research grants.

Burress, in addition to overseeing the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health budget, helped shape a quality team in Psychiatry involving John Peter Smith Hospital and the Health Science Center, contributing to top-tier patient satisfaction ratings. She is developing administrative curricular topics for medical students on the clerkship rotation for psychiatry. Burress volunteers with the Junior League, Historic Fort Worth and the Baylor University Women's Council.

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