Nationally Renowned Psychiatrist Joins OU Health to Advance Behavioral Health Care in Oklahoma

OU Health, the University of Oklahoma's academic health system, has recruited nationally renowned psychiatrist Dr. Rasim Somer Diler, M.D., MBA, DFAACAP, to serve as Paul and Ruth Jonas chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and clinical service chief of psychiatry and behavioral health at OU Health. He will begin in his role in July 2026.

Diler’s recruitment follows a highly competitive national search to lead the program at a time of pivotal need and opportunity for Oklahoma. A clinician-scientist with a national and international reputation who embodies the OU Health tripartite mission of clinical care, research and education, Diler has devoted his career to improving care for young adults with complex mood disorders and suicide risk. He is widely recognized for building high-performing teams, strengthening clinical operations, advancing quality and safety, expanding access and bringing innovation and integration to complex areas of modern medicine.

"This appointment comes at a uniquely important moment for behavioral health in Oklahoma," said Dr. Ian F. Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS, executive dean for the OU College of Medicine and OU Health chief physician executive. "With the opening of the Oklahoma Children's OU Health Behavioral Health Center planned for late 2026, we have an unprecedented opportunity to expand access, elevate standards of care and build a model of behavioral health that can serve as a beacon for our state and region. Dr. Diler's experience in innovative, outcomes-driven care aligns strongly with this vision and will accelerate our impact for patients and families across Oklahoma."

Diler is currently a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a physician leader at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Western Psychiatric Hospital, where he founded and serves as medical director of the nation's first inpatient pediatric bipolar disorder unit. This pioneering program has received multiple national awards.

Board-certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, Diler is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric bipolar disorder, specializing in novel care models, differential diagnosis, early detection, monitoring, treatment, and prevention of youth and young adults with or at risk for the condition. He edited the first international book on pediatric bipolar disorder, featuring perspectives from 11 countries. Diler has held numerous leadership roles on national and international advisory, scientific, and professional organization committees and boards, including chairperson, course director and conference organizing positions.

His scholarly contributions include more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, 120 national and international presentations and a strong record of external funding. He serves as principal investigator on two NIH-funded longitudinal studies focusing on neural and behavioral markers for early detection and treatment of bipolar disorder and mixed depression in youth. This work has incorporated neuroimaging and machine learning and innovative assessment methods combining wearable technology with mood and energy tracking. Diler also serves as the principal investigator at the Pittsburgh site for a multi-site study examining machine learning algorithms to predict school violence in adolescents.

Diler has received numerous national awards, including the Ryan Licht Sang/AACAP Quest for the Test for Bipolar Disorder Award, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Samuel Gershon Investigator Award, the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology New Investigator Award, Exemplary Teaching Faculty Award and the National Council's Excellence in Health Information & Technology Award for program innovation and technology integration.

He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), the International Business Academic Honor Society, after completing his MBA at the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. Diler earned his medical degree from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and completed residency training in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UPMC, shaping his lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

"I am honored to join OU Health and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine at such a pivotal time," Diler said. "The privilege to lead a department with such strong foundations while helping to shape the future of behavioral health care in Oklahoma and beyond is incredibly exciting. I am energized by the strengths I observed, encouraged by organizational alignment and the department’s drive for transformation, and inspired by the abundant opportunities that lie ahead. Guided by a shared commitment of OU Health to be ‘never done, never outdone.’”

Diler said he looks forward to working alongside colleagues to advance OU Health’s mission of providing exceptional, personalized, specialized care that is measurement-based, technology-supported, community-focused and fully integrated with groundbreaking research and the training of the next generation of psychiatrists.

The new 72-bed Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Behavioral Health Center represents a major expansion in comprehensive mental health services for children and adolescents, further positioning OU Health as a top-tier academic referral center with destination programs.

Dunn said that throughout the interview process, Diler's clarity of purpose, commitment to academic excellence and genuine enthusiasm to partner with faculty, trainees and staff consistently stood out. He added that these qualities will advance a future defined by compassionate care, scientific discovery and an unwavering commitment to serving Oklahomans.

“Dr. Diler’s leadership strengthens OU Health’s ability to deliver the full promise of academic medicine,” said Dr. Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of OU Health. “By integrating rigorous research with patient‑centered specialty care, we continue to change lives through discovery and healing.”

Diler will succeed Dr. Britta Ostermeyer, M.D., MBA, DFAPA, Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair and professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at OU College of Medicine and chief of psychiatry for OU Health.