Department news | March 31, 2017

The UW was once again named a top medical school for its drug and alcohol abuse program, coming in at #8 in the nation. The ranking is complex and incorporates medical school teaching, clinical services, academics (journal articles and books), and funded research. Multiple people, Institutes and Centers affiliated with our department contribute to the culture of collaboration and excellence of the program. Over 50 faculty members contribute to our addictions activities and bring in a sizable amount of our research portfolio. Below is a sample of our major addiction research and training centers:

• The UW Psychiatry and Addictions Case Conference (UW PACC) series has been offered since July, 2016. Run by Mark Duncan, MD, and Rick Ries, MD, the series has provided over 1,200 hours of training to 160 individuals from 15 counties in Washington.
• The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, with Dennis Donovan, PhD, as the Principal Investigator, is in its 16th year of funding as the Pacific Northwest Node and Regional Research and Training Center of the National Institute on Drug Abuse National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network.
• Our Addictions Track directed by Rick Ries, MD -- the only such entry track in the country -- recruits residents to our department prior to and in their initial year. Our ACGME Addictions Psychiatry Fellowship directed by Andrew Saxon, MD, remains a top program in the country. Graduates from both programs function as clinical and research faculty at our various departmental sites and occupy key positions in regional hospitals and treatment centers.
• The T32 Psychology in Alcohol Research Training Grant, directed by Mary Larimer, PhD, provides pre- and post-doctoral support for fellows interested in pursuing a career in alcohol research, with an emphasis on the etiology and prevention of problem drinking and alcohol dependence.
• Mary Larimer, PhD, also directs the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors (CSHRB), dedicated to eradicating the harm caused by engagement in a variety of health risk behaviors through the development and implementation of novel prevention and treatment approaches.
• The Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit (FADU) directed by Therese Grant, PhD, studies fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) across the life span, disseminates research information, provides consultation for individuals affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, and intervenes with high-risk mothers to prevent future births of children with fetal alcohol and drug effects.
• The Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center directed by Susan Collins, PhD, and Seema Clifasefi, PhD, works collaboratively with substance users, community members and organizations to develop, conduct, evaluate and disseminate evidence-based interventions that help to reduce substance-related harm and improve quality of life for affected individuals and their communities.
• Translational research efforts at the Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), directed by Murray Raskind, MD, focuses on treatment for PTSD and its substance abuse comorbidities (alcohol and tobacco)..
• The Mental Health and Addictions Services at Harborview directed by Rick Ries, MD, is one of the most innovative in the country, provides integrated chemical dependency, mental health and medical primary care treatment in an outpatient setting to assist people with chemical abuse and dependency problems..
• Our psychiatric neurosciences division led by John Neumaier, PhD, MD, conducts a broad range of addictions-related basic research.

Again, this is just a sample of our addictions work and many more people and projects contribute to our robust program. A lot of work goes into a nation-wide top ten ranking – thank you to all of our addictions researchers, clinicians and educators who contribute to the effort, and a big thank you to Rick Ries, MD, the director of our Addictions Division!

Department news | February 28, 2017

The Center for Children and Youth Justice (CCJY) is honoring Eric Trupin, PhD, and his son, Casey Trupin, with the Norm Maleng Advocate for Youth Award at the annual CCJY breakfast in March. The Maleng Advocate for Youth Award recognizes those who show exemplary leadership, dedication, advocacy for and commitment to the youth and families of Washington who become involved in our juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems. The father-son honorees share a legacy of work in shaping better outcomes for systems youth.

Eric Trupin has had a life-long commitment to seeking improvements for children in the justice system. He is an ardent advocate for at-risk youth, writing and getting legislation passed to improve outcomes for children. Casey shares his father’s commitment to social justice and is currently a special advisor to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Homelessness and Poverty. A fierce sense for justice is a family trait for the Trupins. As Casey shares, his father helped him “understand why it’s important to focus on systems reform, and why it’s important to help young people.”

“I’m very proud to be receiving this recognition with my son whose work on issues of social justice has improved the lives of so many children and families,” says Dr. Trupin. We appreciate the great work that both Trupins do and congratulate them on this much-deserved award.

Department news | February 28, 2017

The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) honored Brenna Renn, PhD, with the Distinguished Student Award for her outstanding potential to make significant contributions in behavioral medicine via attendance at the SBM Annual Meeting. Dr. Renn has attended the SBM Annual Meeting since 2012 and recently served as the Annual Meeting Coordinator for the SBM Student Special Interest Group (2015-2016) and as Student Representative for the SBM Aging Special Interest Group (2012-2013). Her research has resulted in 12 presentations at these meetings, including an upcoming symposium on physical activity interventions in older adults in which she is serving as both chair and presenter. Dr. Renn will be recognized at the Presidential Keynote Address during the 2017 SBM Annual Meeting in San Diego. She is a senior fellow in the Geriatric Mental Health Services Research Fellowship program and is working closely with Patricia Areán, PhD.

The same organization awarded Katherine (Kate) Hoerster, PhD, MPH, with their Early Career Investigator Award. Dr. Hoerster is an investigator at the Seattle VA’s Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, providing care to Veterans in the Seattle VA’s PTSD Clinic. Kate’s work focuses on understanding and addressing the influence of socio-cultural and environmental factors on health and health behavior, particularly among Veterans with psychiatric conditions. She has first- or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, many of which are in highly ranked journals, including American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. She is currently funded with a five-year VA HSR&D Career Development Award focused on studying MOVE!+UP, a peer-led behavioral weight loss intervention for Veterans with PTSD.

Congratulations to you both!

Department news | January 31, 2017

Jennifer Piel, MD, is the new Editor of the Legal Digest section of the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. The quarterly publication serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas at the interface of psychiatry and the legal system. Dr. Piel, based at VA Puget Sound, will manage all aspects of the Legal Digest section that highlights recent legal cases and their application to psychiatrists, forensic evaluators, and patients with mental health needs.

Department news | December 31, 2016

On November 30, Forefront honored Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH, at its fourth annual suicide awareness dinner. For two decades, Comtois has offered Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) training to psychology and psychiatry residents at the UW. Her research extends to evaluating DBT in large healthcare systems such as UW Medicine.

In response to a 2012 legislative mandate, Comtois has been conducting training in Collaborative Assessment and Management for Suicidality (CAMS), a program that helps patients learn to self-manage factors of suicide risk. She is also the principal investigator on clinical trials to improve services to suicidal individuals.

Department news | December 31, 2016

Lucy Berliner, MSW, director of the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress, was named to Seattle Magazine’s Hall of Fame in the “Research/Medicine/Science” category for being a trailblazer in the field of child sexual abuse and in training clinicians to assess and treat young sexual assault victims. Lucy works with victims of trauma and crime, and researches the impact and effects of trauma. “I am honored to be recognized for helping make the world a better place for victims,” said Lucy. “They so deserve it.” Full article

Department news | October 31, 2016

Jai Gandhi, UWMC Inpatient Chief Psychiatry Resident, received the Association for Academic Psychiatry (AAP) Fellowship Award at the organization’s annual meeting this September in Puerto Rico. The award honors psychiatry residents who demonstrate particular promise as educators and scholars in academic psychiatry as shown by their demonstrated ability as a teacher; commitment to an academic career; publications, presentations, and educational, or research projects in which the nominee has played a major role; and personal qualities that bear upon the nominee’s capacities in academic medicine.

Suzanne Murray, director of our psychiatry residency program, received the Distinguished Fellow Member award given to people who unselfishly guide the next generation of academic psychiatrists and who have achieved mastery in a career dedicated to educational endeavors.

Department news | September 30, 2016

UW Psychiatry will be a common name at the upcoming annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine in November. Drs. Ratzliff, Pellegrino, Fann and Unützer are all receiving recognition for their work.

The Integrated Care Pathway started by Anna Ratzliff received the 2016 Alan Stoudemire Award for Innovation and Excellence in Psychosomatic Medicine Education on behalf of the Fellowship and Awards Committee. The Career Enrichment Pathway for psychiatry residents, one of the first of its kind, provides a rich array of experiences to learn about integrated care and to develop unique clinical skills.

The Fellowship and Awards Committee also awarded Laurel Pellegrino, UW Outpatient Chief Resident, with the 2016 Dorfman Journal Paper Award for Best Case Report for her article in APM’s journal, Psychosomatics, “Service Dogs in the Hospital: Helpful or Harmful? A Case Report and Clinical Recommendations.” This case report was co-written with Joe Cerimele and Amelia Dubovsky.

Jesse Fann is the recipient of the 2016 Dlin/Fischer Clinical Research Award for his paper “Impact of a Telehealth Intervention on Common Comorbid Conditions of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Active Duty Service Members: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” This award, determined by the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee, is given to the author of the paper judged to be the most outstanding submission to the APM annual meeting.

The same committee awarded Jürgen Unützer the 2016 Don R. Lipsitt Award for Achievement in Integrated and Collaborative Care. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence and innovation in the integration of mental health with other medical care through collaborative care.

Congratulations to all four for their APM sweep!