Councilor Biographies
Lama Muhammad, M.D., CME Committee Member
Dr. Muhammad is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Board Certified in Neurology and Psychiatry Doctor at the University of California in San Diego UCSD.
She obtained her medical degree from Tishreen University in 2004 where she graduated at the top of her class. She then completed a transitional year in plastic surgery, burns, pediatrics, and internal medicine followed by a residency in dermatology and venereal disease at Damascus University in 2008.
She practiced as a board-certified dermatologist in Syria before emigrating to the United States. Thereafter she completed preliminary internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center before matching at the University of New Mexico in general adult psychiatry.
She was Chief Resident in Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and graduated with Diana Quinn Award for service, compassion, and dancing healer spirit and Medical Students' teaching award. Then she finished a Fellowship in Consultation-Liaison (Psychosomatic)Psychiatry from the University of New Mexico.
The many specialties Dr. Muhammad successfully did, allowed her to become an excellent psychiatrist to manage treatment-resistant disorders and medically complicated cases.
In addition to her medical career, Dr. Muhammad is a professional Arabic Magic Realism Writer who focuses on cultural dilemmas and has published eight books. She documented the middle east conflicts and civil wars in amazingly inspiring novels. Her areas of interest include human rights, cultural psychiatry, art in Psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and nonverbal communications.
Stephanie Martinez, M.D., Early Career Representative
Stephanie Martinez, M.D., graduated from her psychiatric residency at UC San Diego. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and then continued her medical education at University of Nevada School of Medicine. There, she was the Vice President of her medical school class in Las Vegas, and she became a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. While in medical school, she also became involved with teaching and mentoring activities, which included working with more junior medical students. Stephanie would also engage with high school students in order to spark their interest in science and guide them to a path in medicine. Additionally, she often worked with the underserved community and has a wide array of special interests in psychiatry which includes community psychiatry and college mental health.
Tim A. Murphy, M.D., California Medical Association Representative
Tim A. Murphy, M.D. graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biophysics from UC Berkeley in 1976. He completed his medical degree at Dartmouth Medical School and finished his adult psychiatry residency in 1986 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in New Hampshire.
Dr. Murphy has a well-established private practice in Fallbrook. He is a SDPS Past President (2000-01) in addition to serving as the Local Affairs Representative (1994-98) and Assembly Representative to the American Psychiatric Association (2004-2010).
In addition to his work with SDPS, he has also been active with the California Psychiatric Association. He is a Past President (2014-16) and was the Chair of the Organized Psychiatry in California Committee (2009-14). From 1993-96, he was the Chair for the San Diego County Mental Health Board.
Dr. Murphy is currently the California Medical Association Specialty Delegate Chair, as position he has held since 2015. He is also a member of the Council on Science and Public Health.
He has received numerous awards including the San Diego Psychiatric Society Service Award in June 2009; designated one of the county’s “Top Doctors” by San Diego Magazine in 2004, 2014 and 2015; the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in June 1983 and Air Force Humanitarian Service Award in 1980. In 2003, he was awarded the Distinguished Fellowship by the America Psychiatric Association (APA). In 2016, he received the APA Distinguished Life Fellowship.
He is active in organized medicine to serve our patients. He believes physicians need to maintain and improve the healthcare system and protect it from many threats that could weaken it. It also enriches our professional work, sense of identity and duty.