We are proud to announce that on April 28, UW Medicine officially dedicated the newly named Frank Chopp Center for Behavioral Health and Learning. The new name was approved by the UW Board of Regents to honor the visionary leadership and legacy of former state Rep. Frank Chopp, who was a member of the Washington Legislature for 30 years. Chopp was also the longest serving Speaker of the House of Representatives in state history and a primary sponsor of the legislation to provide funding for the construction of the Center for Behavioral Health and Learning.
 
In his leadership role, Chopp recognized the need for greater access to behavioral health services in our state. At the opening of the Center for Behavioral Health and Learning last year, he spoke  about his own sister’s struggle with mental illness and his gratitude for the care and support she received from her family and her UW Medicine caregivers. By creating a new inpatient care and teaching facility with state funding and in partnership with UW Medicine, he looked forward to bringing supportive care and treatment advances to patients and their families for generations to come. Chopp passed away in March 2025 at the age of 71.
 
During the official dedication, new exterior building signage was unveiled along with a plaque including a tribute to Chopp near the ground floor elevators. Department Chair Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA made remarks, as did a number of state and local elected leaders and Chopp’s wife, Nancy Long. She can be seen in the above photo as Dr. Unützer and Ian Goodhew, JD unveil the plaque in Chopp’s honor.
 
In honor of Rep. Chopp, our department plans to establish a Chopp Scholars Program in Behavioral Health Policy that will help train clinicians working in behavioral health in Health Policy. Chopp Scholars will have opportunities to meet and work with UW Medicine government relations team and/or state legislators, complete an independent self-directed behavioral health policy project, participate in networking  dinners and events with health policy experts, and become part of a state-wide network of clinicians engaged in behavioral health policy. Please reach out to Andie Uomoto, MPA (uomotoa@uw.edu) or David Chow (chowd@uw.edu) if you would like to learn more about this program.