Education:

• M.S.W., 1972, Social Work, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
• B.S, 1967, Psychology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

Professional Experience:

• Coordinator, Leadership Neurological Disabilities Program, Center for Disabilities, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 18, 2004 to present.
• South Dakota State Coordinator of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Four State Consortium Project, Center for Disabilities, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, January 6, 2003 to present.  Employer change only.
• South Dakota State Coordinator of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Four State Consortium Project, University Physicians, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May, 2001 to January 5, 2003.
• Care Manager, University Physicians, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, part time, working with a Principal Investigator on an ADHD research grant, September 2000 to July 31, 2002. 
• Coordinator of Mental Health Services, University Physicians, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, part-time - February 1992 to December 1994; full-time - January 1995 to April 30, 2001.
• Director of Social Services, Charter Hospital of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, February 15, 1992 to January 1995.
• Utilization Review Coordinator, Charter Hospital of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, January 1994 to August 1994.
• Counseling Center Manager, Charter Hospital of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota --February 1989 to February 1992.
• Clinical Supervisor, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1984 to 1989.
• Family Counselor, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1981 to 1984.
• Director, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, 1974 to 1982.
• After Care Counselor, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, 1972 to 1974.
• Child welfare worker, Cascade County Department of Public Welfare, Great Falls, Montana, 1968 to 1970.
• Caseworker, South Dakota Department of Public Welfare, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1967 to 1968.

Current Academinc Involvements:

• Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota

• Department of Psychiatry:
  • Assistant Professor
  • Department Executive Committee
  • Appointment Promotion and Tenure Committee
• Cross appointment in Department of Pediatrics

Membership in Professional Organizations, Advisory Councils, Boards, Etc.:

• National Association of Social Workers
• Developmental Disabilities Sub-Committee, South Dakota Oral Health Coalition
• Sioux Falls Area Counseling, Lutheran Social Services of SD Advisory Board
• South Dakota Voices for Children, Children's Mental Health Awareness Initiative
• MAPP-SD METH Task Force/Partnership for a Drug Free South Dakota

License:

• Licensed Certified Social Worker-Private Independent Practice, State of SD

Publications:

• Bhatara, V.B., Vogt, H.B., Ellis, R.L., Ghyath, A., and Patrick, S. Web-Based Classroom Collection in ADHD: A Best Practices Case Study. S Dakota J Med 2003 56:385-389.
• Bhatara, V., Loudenberg, R., Ellis, R., Association of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Gestational Alcohol Exposure. J of Att. Dis. 2006 9(3)515-522.
• Bhatara, V.S., Vogt, B., Patrick, S., Doniparthi, L., Ellis, R. Acceptability of a Web-based Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Scale (T-SKAMP) by Teachers: A Pilot Study. J of American Board of Family Medicine 2006 19(2)195-200.
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Support Specialist Training, Component One, Four State FAS Consortium, 2003 (co-author)
• FAS Poster Presentations

Honors Received:

• Southeastern Behavioral Health's Roy C Knowles Friend of Mental Health, 2003
• South Dakota Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care 2008