The Psychiatry Research Pathway (PRP) Symposium provides UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital residents engaged in research the opportunity to present their work to an audience of fellow residents, faculty mentors, T32 postdoctoral research program directors, and other members of our academic development community. This year, 10 residents presented current and/or future research, followed by Q&A and lively discussion...

The fourth biennial Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (CABS) conference, held virtually, addressed the theme “Untangling Bipolar Disorder in Youth: Comorbidity, Differential Diagnosis and Treatment.” The CABS conference presents current research and clinical knowledge about the treatment of bipolar disorder and comorbid conditions to professionals, patients, and families, and is organized by Boris Birmaher, MD...

We are delighted to announce that Nadine Melhem, PhD, has been appointed Tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Melhem examines the biological processes that link childhood adversity to suicidal behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults. She also studies the mechanisms underlying suicide risk and the impact of suicide on young survivors. In particular, Dr. Melhem...

On October 5, 2021, Pitt Psychiatry faculty members, trainees, and staff gathered—masked and socially distanced—in person once again for the Department’s Research Half Day and Research Resources Revue. This unique, combined event featured 96 posters highlighting the latest basic, translational, and clinical research findings from Department investigators, including health disparities research. Sixteen Research...

The annual Mindscapes art exhibition merges art and science to promote community awareness of mental illness, and raise funds for local organizations that provide services for individuals with mental illness. Mindscapes 2021 was a hybrid event, with an online sale and an in-person reception at Imagebox gallery in Pittsburgh, and was organized by Rebecca A. DeGiosio (University of Pittsburgh Center for Neuroscience...

We are pleased to congratulate Morgan Faeder, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology), and Shelly Kucherer, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), who have received UPMC Physician Excellence Awards. Honorees were celebrated during the 2021 Dr. Loren Roth Quality and Patient Safety Awards. Dr. Faeder is the second recipient of the Dr. Joseph C. Maroon Physician of Courage Award, named for its...

The Medical Students Pride Alliance at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is piloting a new mentorship program this fall to pair LGBTQ+ medical students with physicians in Pittsburgh. The program aims to connect students with faculty members who can help them navigate all aspects of their medical education, especially those that relate to being a sexual or gender minority. Ideally, mentors and students...

Please join us in congratulating Ken Nash, MD (Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Services, Department of Psychiatry; Chief, Clinical Services, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital), who has received a UPMC Physician Excellence Award – Senior Physician in Clinical Care. This prestigious honor recognizes a physician who demonstrates clinical excellence and has made exceptional contributions to clinical work and...

The Department of Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to four new faculty members: Tiffany Clark, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Clark earned her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine. Following psychiatry residency at Temple University, she completed her consultation-liaison fellowship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH). At the Temple University Hospital Health System, Dr...

Major challenges associated with the characterization and treatment of major depressive disorder are largely due to the heterogeneity of associated symptoms, though recent research has focused on anhedonia and negative affect as potentially useful treatment targets. In a recent JAMA Psychiatry study, investigators including Vanessa Brown, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), the study’s first author, studied if...