Xavier E. Cagigas
Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
Clinical Assistant Professor
Point of Contact
Xavier E. Cagigas, PhD
Associate Clinical Professor
Pronouns: he/him
xcagigas@mednet.ucla.edu
Bio:
Xavier E. Cagigas, PhD is a bilingual, bicultural clinical and research neuropsychologist and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of the UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence and Co-Director of the Cultural Neuropsychology Program, and he is the Founding Director of the UCLA Cultural Neuropsychology Initiative. His scholarly interests focus on how cultural practices and bilingualism shape neurocognition, and his work is recognized within the emerging areas of cultural neuropsychology and cultural neuroscience. He has also led in clinical training and professional service, including prior leadership of UCLA’s Medical Psychology Assessment Center and national roles within the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society. He earned his PhD through the UC San Diego and San Diego State Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and completed a UCLA School of Medicine and Semel Institute internship in neuropsychology, and he provides care in both English and Spanish.
Dialogue Experience/Expertise:
Dr. Cagigas helps cultivate healthier, more accountable conversations in the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine community through restorative dialogue and facilitation. He serves on the Steering Committee for Restorative Practices in Academic Medicine (RPAM), is part of the RPAM Ambassadors program, and completed the Association of American Medical Colleges training in restorative justice for academic medicine. In this work, he supports RPAM circles and related practices that build community, improve communication, and offer a less punitive approach to addressing harm, translating restorative principles into actionable dialogue skills for academic medicine.
