The 70th annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), held in October 2023 highlighted and honored the innovative clinical and research achievements of Pitt Psychiatry faculty and trainees. AACAP Distinguished Fellows Heather Joseph, DO (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics), and Justin Schreiber, DO, MPH (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics) were named...

We are pleased to announce that Leonardo D’Aiuto, PhD, has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After earning his undergraduate degree in biological sciences, Dr. D’Aiuto received two fellowships in molecular cytogenetics at the Institute of Genetics in Bari, Italy. Upon receiving his PhD in molecular genetics and evolution at the University of Bari...

The Pascoal Lab (PI: Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD; Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology) and colleagues have published recent research findings in Alzheimer's & Dementia and Nature Aging examining biomarkers and pathophysiological progression of Alzheimer's disease. “These two publications contribute to our understanding of the biomarkers and pathophysiological processes associated with the progression of...

Congratulations to Robert Howland, MD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), who has been recognized with a 2023 Excellence in Patient Experience Award. Dr. Howland was honored at the 2023 Loren Roth Quality and Patient Safety Awards Celebration. The awards are based on patient ratings and are presented to top UPMC providers in recognition of their dedication to the population they serve and their compassionate care...

Congratulations to Antoine Douaihy, MD (Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine), who has been named a 2023 UPMC Grand Champion. The Grand Champion Award recognizes an individual who has provided unparalleled leadership in cultivating better communities. Dr. Douaihy is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on the treatment of substance use disorders and the use of motivational interviewing. Board...

We are pleased to announce that Rachel Kolko Conlon, PhD, has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Conlon earned a PhD in clinical psychology from Washington University in St. Louis after completing her clinical internship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Upon receiving her doctorate, Dr. Conlon remained in Pittsburgh for postdoctoral...

We are delighted to report that Daniel Buysse, MD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science, and UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine), has received the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine 2023 Annual Prize. Dr. Buysse is an internationally recognized expert in sleep medicine research. His pivotal work on sleep disorders has set national and international...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new faculty members: Bruna Bellaver, PhD (Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Bellaver earned her PhD in biological sciences: biochemistry in 2020 from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil (UFRGS). Upon completion of her doctorate, Dr. Bellaver undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at UFRGS investigating the involvement of astrocytes in...

The October 2023 Behavioral Health and Aging Conference focused on two broad themes, sleep and cognitive impairment. Invited speakers, who focused on the association between geriatric mental health and sleep, discussed the link between sleep and both emotional and cognitive health in later life, behavioral approaches to improving sleep, and the use of hypnotic medications. Speakers addressing age and cognition...

Congratulations to Eric Thut (Residency Program Coordinator), and Meghan Wander (Academic Manager), of the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) Office of Residency Training, on their receipt of the 2023 UPMC Medical Education Outstanding Team of the Year! The award honors the hard work and dedication of a GME team that has gone above and beyond to support each other, their trainees, and their program, and was...