In August 2020, 74 scientists from five continents joined the Department of Psychiatry’s virtual Summer SWIM (Sleep and Circadian Workshop on Indispensable Methods), led by Martica Hall, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Clinical and Translational Science), and Daniel Buysse, MD (UPMC Professor of Sleep Medicine (Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science), of the University of...

We are proud to announce that Jason Rosenstock, MD (Professor of Psychiatry), has been appointed Associate Dean for Medical Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Since 2005, Dr. Rosenstock has served as Director, Medical Student Education in the Department of Psychiatry. An outstanding educator in the Department, Dr. Rosenstock has won multiple teaching excellence awards including the...

Sheena Kelemen, Donna Pandullo, Courtney Johnson and Sabrina George are well-known for skillfully helping to organize and manage the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) Office of Clinical Affairs (OCA) with efficiency and good spirit. The apparent omniscience and omnipotence of this team allows Department of Psychiatry clinical faculty and WPH physicians to provide the highest quality care to patients in WPH...

We are pleased to announce that Colleen McClung, PhD, and Carla Mazefsky, PhD, have been elected to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) Scientific Council. The BBRF is the top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants. The Scientific Council reviews and selects the most promising research proposals with the greatest potential to lead to breakthroughs in mental health research. Dr. McClung...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by impairing cognitive and behavioral symptoms including inattention, hyperactivity or restlessness, and impulsivity, which interfere with important activities of daily functioning for children and adults. While ADHD is most common in young people, the disorder can continue beyond childhood in 15–35% of those affected. Moreover, many individuals with...

We are delighted to announce that Cecile Ladouceur, PhD, has been appointed Tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Ladouceur has developed a highly collaborative research program focused on investigating the development of neural systems underlying cognitive, emotional, and social processes in childhood and adolescence, with the goal of potentially informing novel...

It is widely known that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that pregnant women refrain from drinking alcohol due to the risk of potential adverse outcomes for offspring. However, alcohol use trajectories among adolescent and young adult mothers have been understudied, leaving gaps in our ability to effectively address this important public health issue. In general, adolescence and young...

Congratulations to Karen Matthews, PhD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Epidemiology, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science), who has received the 2020 American Psychosomatic Society Distinguished Scientist Award. The award recognizes outstanding lifetime contributions to psychosomatic medicine. Dr. Matthews’s research focuses on the psychosocial factors involved in the etiology of...

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded Pitt Psychiatry a Center of Excellence (P50) grant to fund the Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms and Sleep (CARRS). The CARRS Center will be led by Colleen McClung, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science) and Daniel Buysse, MD (UPMC Professor of Sleep Medicine and Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science)...

We are pleased to announce that Timothy Allen, PhD, has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Allen received his PhD in child clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota Institute of Child Development. He completed his clinical psychology internship at Northwestern University, followed by postdoctoral training at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Toronto) and Penn State...