Administration
Department Chair
Eric Silk
PhD, MSCP
Department Chair
Clinical Associate Professor
MSCP
Office: 749D • Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center • Meridian Campus
Dr. Silk is the Chair of the Clinical Psychopharmacology Program and a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University. Dr. Silk has an extensive history of experience in psychopharmacology and assessment of psychological, neuropsychological, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Silk earned a B.S. in psychology from Michigan State University. He completed a M.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He then worked as a Research Coordinator at the Substance Use Research Center at the New York State Psychiatric Institute affiliated with the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. His Ph.D. is in Clinical Psychology with a Specialization in Neuropsychology from Nova Southeastern University. He also completed a post-doc M.S. in psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern.
Dr. Silk’s career path led him to Wyoming, where he continued to teach, developed a psychological practice, and pursued leadership in the Wyoming Psychological Association. He was an associate professor of psychology at Northwest College and is currently an Assistant Lecturer at University of Wyoming and University of Idaho. He was the president of the Wyoming Psychological Association from 2017-2018. Dr. Silk is a licensed clinical psychologist in Wyoming and Idaho. Dr. Silk currently serves on the Idaho Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Administrative Assistant
Shari Halcomb
Administrative Assistant I
MSCP
Office: 749 • Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center • Meridian Campus
Faculty
Professors
Mark Austin
PhD
Professor
MSCP
Dr. Austin’s research has focused on the molecular neurochemistry of the serotonin system in major depressive disorder. During his career it become evident that major depression is a very heterogeneous disorder that is associated with a high rate of other serious medical comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, diabetes, obesity and repetitive concussion syndrome. Dr. Austin has begun to develop a broader research program that has expanded and evolved into investigating epigenetic, developmental, cytoskeletal and signal transduction mechanisms underlying depression, chronic stress, obesity and repetitive traumatic brain injury. His research projects involve a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular biology disciplines and utilize a variety biochemical and molecular biological techniques as well as in vitro cell culture and in vivo small rodent models.
Dr. Austin is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Washington State University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular and behavioral neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD.
Clinical Associate Professors
Patrick Bartos
PsyD, MSCP
Provisional Prescribing Psychologist
Clinical Associate Professor
MSCP
Office: 756 • Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center • Meridian Campus
Dr. Patrick Bartos is a Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology in the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Kenyon College, his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology – San Francisco Bay Area, and his M.S. in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Idaho State University.
With more than two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Bartos has worked across diverse settings, including college counseling centers, primary care, and private practice in Portland, Oregon. In addition to his clinical practice, he has provided clinical supervision to doctoral psychology trainees, future prescribing psychologists, and physician residents. Academically, he has taught at the graduate level at both Boise State University and Idaho State University.
As a member of ISU’s Clinical Psychopharmacology faculty, Dr. Bartos is involved in teaching, clinical supervision, and providing integrated care at ISU’s Integrated Mental Health Clinic in Meridian. His professional interests center on the integration of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, as well as psychodynamic and person-centered approaches to prescribing. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Bartos enjoys trail running and spending time outdoors.
G. Lucy Wilkening
PharmD
Clinical Associate Professor
MSCP
Office: 755 • Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center • Meridian Campus
Dr. Wilkening is a Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology in the College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University. She also provides mental health management services in the ISU Integrated Mental Health clinic. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy. Dr. Wilkening completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency, and graduated as Resident of Distinction from the psychiatric pharmacy specialty residency at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Wilkening is an active member of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), and serves as an editor for AAPP’s peer-reviewed publication, the Mental Health Clinician. She is also active in AAPP's Government Affairs committee. Her other professional affiliations include the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Delta Chi, and the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.
Dr. Wilkening’s research interests include: innovative, integrated approaches to treating mental illness, impacts of teaching strategies on student interactions with patients with mental illness, and integration of prescribing psychologists into primary care services.
Affiliate Faculty
Jennifer L. Adams
PharmD, EdD, FAPhA, FNAP
Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Professor
PPRA
Office: 749G • Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center • Meridian Campus
Pharmacy Law • Health Policy • Advocacy • Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, FAPhA, FNAP, serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, overseeing the quality and alignment of the College’s educational standards and goals. A licensed pharmacist, Dr. Adams holds a Doctor of Education focusing on educational policy, higher education administration, curriculum design, and instructional methodologies. As a tenured Associate Professor, she has an extensive publication record in teaching and learning and legislative and regulatory initiatives. She teaches pharmacy law and health care systems to first-and-third-year student pharmacists, and pharmacy law to clinical psychopharmacology students. Widely respected for her leadership in national, regional, and state professional associations, Dr. Adams is also recognized for her substantial contributions to advocacy and pharmacy practice reform. She is a proud graduate of Boise State, Idaho State, and George Washington University.
Abhilash Desai
MD
Psychiatric Director/Consultant
Dr. Abhilash Desai is a psychiatrist with St. Alphonsus that specializes in geriatric psychiatry, developmental disabilities, and deprescribing. He received his doctoral degree from Seth GS Medical College in Mumbai, India and completed his fellowship at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is board certified in psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry. He brings his many years of experience to our program as a consultant in the Idaho State University Integrated Mental Health Clinic, as well as doing some didactic teaching and clinical rotation supervision.
Padma Gadepally
MD, MS
Director of Anatomy Laboratories
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Padma Gadepally (Dr. G) is an accomplished medical professional and educator with over two decades of experience spanning healthcare, clinical research, and anatomy education. Currently serving as the Director of Anatomy Laboratories at Idaho State University (ISU), she leads innovative anatomy education programs for a diverse range of learners, from high school students to graduate professionals.
Dr. Gadepally’s expertise includes teaching and curriculum development across multiple formats, grant writing, program evaluation, and mentoring future healthcare professionals. She holds an MD from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, a Master of Health Sciences from Boise State University, and is pursuing a PhD in Medical and Health Professions Education at Eastern Virginia Medical School. A dedicated member of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA), Dr. Gadepally has made significant contributions to the expansion of ISU’s anatomy programs and community outreach, leveraging her strong communication skills and passion for lifelong learning to inspire students and colleagues alike.
Jeff Johnson
PharmD, PA-C
MSCP
Jeff graduated from the ISU PA Program in 2002. He is also a graduate of the ISU College of Pharmacy earning a PharmD degree. His experience is primarily in emergency and urgent care medicine. He has also worked as a community pharmacist. He joined the ISU PA Program in 2011.
Christopher T. Owens
PharmD, MPH
Associate Vice President for Health Sciences
Professor
PPRA
Office: 136 • Gravely Hall • Pocatello Campus
Interprofessional Education • Medical Ethics
Dr. Christopher T. Owens, PharmD, MPH, serves as Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Idaho State University and is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences at the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy. He works on the Pocatello campus. He earned his PharmD from ISU in 2002 and his MPH in 2013. He also earned a Certificate in Biomedical Ethics in 2017. He completed a residency in Ambulatory Care at the Southeast Idaho VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in 2003 and worked as a prn community pharmacist for over 15 years and a clinical pharmacist at Health West in Pocatello.
For over 20 years, he has taught and published on professionalism, ethics, evidence-based integrative health, and population health topics. He has lectured on clinical topics as well as health care ethics at Idaho State University since 2003 and has been part of the interprofessional curriculum task force with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2020. Dr. Owens has served as president of the Healthcare Ethics Special Interest Group (SIG) for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and is passionate about advancing interprofessional education, working collaboratively to promote evidence-based patient care and population health, and preparing an appropriately-trained healthcare workforce for rural settings and underserved populations.