Following a virtual conference in 2020, the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) was presented in a hybrid format, online and in-person in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Honorific Award Congratulations to Susanne Ahmari, MD, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), who received the 2021 ACNP Eva King Killam Research Award. This award honors outstanding translational research...

In fall 2021, Alzheimer’s Disease International published World Alzheimer Report 2021: Journey though the diagnosis of dementia, a compendium of research on the disease, currently the seventh leading cause of mortality worldwide. The report addresses numerous challenges and complexities—including the prevalence of myths and misinformation—that inhibit effective diagnosis and treatment Alzheimer’s disease. Pitt...

The annual Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference, now in its 38th year, presents the latest clinical and research findings to an audience of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, service coordinators, researchers, and mental health policy administrators, as well as to patients and families. Conference course director K.N. Roy Chengappa, MD (Professor of Psychiatry) leads UPMC Western Psychiatric...

We are delighted to announce that Cecile Ladouceur, PhD, has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Ladouceur earned her PhD in psychology from the University of Quebec, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been a member of the Pitt Psychiatry faculty since 2005. At the Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience & Development...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new faculty members who have joined our Department: Alain Altamirano-Espinoza, PhD (Research Instructor in Psychiatry) Dr. Altamirano-Espinoza received his PhD in neuropharmacology and experimental therapeutics from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV, Mexico) and conducted postdoctoral research at the...

A team of investigators including Pitt Psychiatry scientists Rebecca Thurston, PhD (Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Women's Health and Dementia and Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical and Translational Science, Epidemiology, and Psychology); Karen Jakubowski, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry); Minjie Wu, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry); and Howard Aizenstein, MD, PhD (Charles F. Reynolds III and Ellen G...

We are delighted to announce that Carla Mazefsky, PhD, has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Mazefsky earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, having completed her clinical internship at the Brown University School of Medicine. She remained at Virginia Commonwealth University for postdoctoral training at the Virginia...

This month, the most recent class of early-career clinician-educator faculty graduated from the Clinician-Educator Faculty Development Program (CEFDP), a professional development opportunity for Department of Psychiatry early-career clinician-educators, specially designed to enhance clinical and academic skills, and to foster peer network connections. Because the transition to a faculty position in an academic...

The October 2021 Behavioral Health and Aging Conference addressed challenges that clinicians face when working with older patients, including assessing and managing suicide risk, assessing ability to operate a motor vehicle, and considering the therapeutic options for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The conference was attended by a diverse group of physicians, nurses, front-line staff, case managers, service...

We are delighted to congratulate Colleen McClung, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science), who has received a 2021 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research. Dr. McClung was honored at the recent International Mental Health Research Virtual Symposium, where she delivered a presentation on the relationship between...