Mark D. Williams, M.D.

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SUMMARY

The research of Mark D. Williams, M.D., focuses on better identifying and caring for mental health conditions in the primary care setting. Dr. Williams uses improved measurement to identify mental health conditions earlier. He also translates evidence-based care models into practice. Dr. Williams improves the tracking of mental health outcomes to ensure practice is well delivered and test new models of care.

Focus areas

• Early identification and management of bipolar disorder and addictions in the primary care setting. Dr. Williams has helped translate an evidence-based approach to manage depression in the primary care setting. He is working with teams to expand that model to better address bipolar disorder and addictions.
• Improved tracking of outcomes for measurement-based care to support research. Dr. Williams has worked with colleagues to develop a working electronic registry and dataset to support colleagues seeking to test new approaches. For example, at present, this includes testing the impact of single-session therapy for eligible patients.
• Exploring opportunities to prevent mental health morbidity. Dr. Williams is working to leverage Mayo's electronic health record to highlight patients with mental health symptoms earlier in their healthcare journey and explore ways to prevent these symptoms from worsening. Current efforts and interests include identifying patients who may be at risk of needing emergency services before those events happen. Dr. Williams also is working to strengthen longitudinal data across the life span to explore opportunities for interventions in childhood that may have more lasting impact into adulthood.

Significance to patient care

Evidence on new findings in healthcare research in general has shown that it can take a decade for a new approach to a healthcare issue to move from publication to general practice. This translation of ideas into care is magnified in mental health because many people find it hard to access mental health services for various reasons. This includes a shortage of mental health professionals. Given these access challenges, many patients seek mental healthcare in the primary care setting. These patients often find that this setting feels less stigmatized and more welcoming for ongoing care.

Dr. Williams is working to bring proven research into the primary care setting and create new models that work well in that setting. Doing so will allow more patients to get better and avoid the crisis that comes when an issue isn't addressed.

Professional highlights

• American Psychiatric Association:
  • Distinguished Life Fellow, 2022-present.
  • Guest co-editor, 2017.
  • Psychiatric Services Achievement Award, 2010.
• Chair, Quality Improvement, Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 2020-present.
• Member, Editorial board, Families, Systems, & Health, 2020-2022.
• Guest co-editor, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021.
• Guest editor, Hindawi Publishing Corp., 2011-2012.
• Excellence Through Teamwork Award, Mayo Clinic, 2010.
• Co-chair, Integrated Behavioral Health, Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 2002-2007.