Department news | June 30, 2017

One way our department celebrates faculty mentoring is through our Wayne J. Katon Outstanding Mentor Award. This annual award recognizes a Department faculty member who demonstrates sustained commitment to the creative, scholarly, professional and personal development of mentees. The award honors Wayne Katon, MD, a gifted and dedicated mentor who supervised medical students, psychiatry residents, research fellows and junior faculty across several departments, many of whom have become principal investigators of their own grant funded research programs. He directed an NIH-funded T-32 Fellowship Program in Primary Care Psychiatry for over 25 years that produced more than 30 successful researchers at the interface of medicine and psychiatry, including many members of our department.

The recipient of this year’s award is Mary Larimer, PhD. Her nomination packet detailed a remarkable generosity and investment in mentees throughout her career that has resulted in a deep and lasting impact on many individuals across a broad range of disciplines — their success as independent investigators is a credit to her thoughtfulness and time. A commitment to developing the next generation of researchers is central to Dr. Larimer’s work, and she is a role model for many faculty members in the department.

Other faculty members nominated for their outstanding mentoring were Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH, Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Tracy Simpson, PhD and Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA. The 2016 recipient was Raphe Bernier, PhD.

Thank you to Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH, who chaired the selection committee, to the committee members for all of their work, and to those department members who submitted nominations on behalf of their mentors. Thank you also to all of our faculty who mentor our trainees, junior faculty, and staff.

Department news | June 30, 2017

Congratulations to Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, who received the 2017 Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award at the American Medical Association (AMA) Annual meeting in Chicago on June 9. The AMA Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Awards program recognizes physicians who exemplify the highest values of volunteerism, community engagement, leadership and dedication to the care of underserved populations.

The Leadership Awards are presented annually to medical students, residents, fellows and early-career physicians who have exhibited outstanding leadership in community service, education, public health or organized medicine. The program provides leadership development training for these recipients to further strengthen their efforts of advancing health care in America.

Department news | May 31, 2017

Congratulations to Heidi Combs, MD, for being elected into the University of Washington Undergraduate Medical Education chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. The Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizes students, residents and faculty who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. GHHS members are the ones that others say they want taking care of their own family.

Third and fourth year medical students nominated Dr. Combs for her commitment to humanism in medicine, and she was ultimately selected by student members of the UW School of Medicine Gold Humanism Honor Society chapter. Her nominations were incredibly supportive, including the example below:

“In addition to being one of the best teachers at UW (as evidenced by her perpetuity award for teaching), Heidi is a warm, enthusiastic, and brilliant face for the Psychiatry clerkship. Despite the daily challenges of working with the some of the most severely ill patients in the state, and doing so in one of the most under-resourced medical specialties, she never fails to brighten students' days with fabulous lectures, encouragements, and delightfully quirky purses. However, where she really shines is as an example of how to be a compassionate listener while also providing necessary medical care and making difficult decisions, and as a clerkship director, she is also one of the most open and supportive faculty members I have encountered.”

Department news | May 31, 2017

Jeff Clark, MD, a psychiatry resident, received the Grand Prize for his work on Slumber Camp at the Psychiatry Innovation Lab held during the recent American Psychiatric Association meeting. Slumber Camp is an affordable, direct-to-consumer online course that teaches cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) skills. He noticed that many patients weren't able to access CBT-I in the community, and was disappointed by the quality and expense of current online offerings. Slumber Camp is the result of 18 months of work, and is planned for release in August 2017.

The Psychiatry Innovation Lab debuted at the APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting as a platform to accelerate innovative ideas and ventures that aim to improve the delivery of mental health care. This year, eight finalists from around the world pitched Psychiatric Innovations in a “Shark Tank” style event and received feedback from judges and innovation leaders from academia and industry. “It was great opportunity to connect with role models,” says Clark. “I got some great advice that will make Slumber Camp a stronger, more accessible product.” Clark received $2,500 as part of winning the Grand Prize.

Department news | May 31, 2017

At the recent VA Puget Sound Research Week Symposium, the Northwest Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America presented Andrew Saxon, MD, with the 2017 Jack Michaels Award for Excellence in VA Research, and Elaine Peskind, MD, with the 2017 Larry Searle Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenters at the symposium included Keren Lehavot, PhD (career development awardee), Stephen Thielke, MD (seed grant awardee) and Dianne Lattemann, PhD (seed grant awardee). The annual symposium celebrates the remarkable Research Program at VA Puget Sound Health Care System, now in its 92nd year!

Department news | April 30, 2017

Two of our residents will be working with the American Psychiatric Association in the coming year. Megan Riddle, MD, PhD, received the APA/APAF Leadership Fellowship designed to develop leaders in the field of organized psychiatry by providing opportunities for residents to engage, interact and participate at a national level and further develop their professional leadership skills, networks and psychiatric experience. Lucas McIntyre, MD, received the APA/APAF Public Psychiatry Fellowship that creates opportunities for residents to engage in several mentorship sessions, conduct public psychiatry program site visits, and interact with thought leaders in the field of public psychiatry. Congratulations to them both!

Department news | April 30, 2017

John Fortney, PhD, was recently approved to receive a VA Research Career Scientist award, an acknowledgement of scientific distinction and national recognition. This designation is awarded after competitive peer review to established, independent investigators who have distinguished themselves through scientific achievements and contributions to VA research and training programs. The Research Career Scientist award provides five years of salary support. Fortney is currently a Core Investigator at the VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care and the Director of the VA Virtual Specialty Care QUERI Program which is dedicated to promoting the adoption of technology-facilitated clinical practices designed to improve access, quality and outcomes for rural Veterans.

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.