Holly Swartz, MD, Wins 2019 Gerald L. Klerman Senior Investigator Award from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

Congratulations to Professor of Psychiatry Holly Swartz, MD, who has won the 2019 Gerald L. Klerman Senior Investigator Award, presented by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The Gerald L. Klerman Award is the DBSA’s highest honor, recognizing researchers whose work advances knowledge of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. 
Dr. Swartz’s research interests include technology and mental health, treatment of bipolar II disorder and the intergenerational transmission of mood disorders and maternal depression. 

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Swartz expressed her gratitude: “It is a great pleasure to be the recipient of the Gerald Klerman Award. Dr. Klerman made many contributions to the fields of psychiatry and mental health, including co-developing Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with Myrna Weissman, PhD. I have devoted much of my professional life to studying and disseminating IPT (and its variants) for depression and bipolar disorder, so it is personally meaningful to receive an award named for someone who, despite his untimely death, has inspired me throughout my career. It was doubly meaningful to have been nominated for the award by Dr. Weissman, who continues to be a luminary in our field. I am grateful to the many mentors who have supported my career including Drs. John Markowitz, Ellen Frank, and David Kupfer. Finally, I believe that this award really belongs to the patients, families and caregivers who share with me their experiences of living with mood disorders. They are our teachers, and it has been my privilege to learn from them.”

Dr. David Lewis, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, noted that Dr. Swartz “has been an international leader in developing and implementing effective treatments, especially psychotherapy, for mood disorders. Her many past and ongoing important contributions are most deserving of this prestigious honor.” 

Dr. Swartz received the Klerman Award during at the American Psychiatric Association annual conference on May 20, 2019.