Congratulations to Priyanka Amin, MD, who has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Amin is a skilled emergency psychiatrist and a nationally recognized leader and expert in healthcare quality and safety. bit.ly/4ed8ZJk

Congrats to Julia Feldman, PhD; Rayan Mroué, MD; & Andréia Rocha, PhD, who received Best Poster Awards from the Pitt Postdoc Association. Congrats to Marina Scop Medeiros, MD, who received a People’s Choice Award & Kristine Wilckens, PhD, received the 2026 Postdoctoral Mentor Award! bit.ly/4unmWdy

Recent research in JAMA Pediatrics from Brant Hasler, PhD, and Meredith Wallace, PhD, advance our understanding of the association between sleep, circadian rhythm, and sleep outcomes in young people. bit.ly/4vBMhlf

Recent news from the Pascoal Lab (Principal Investigator: Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD) includes impactful new research published in The Lancet, membership with the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Society of Biological Psychiatry A.E. Bennett Award. bit.ly/4xdfMvf

The STAR-Center is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program designed to combat the problem of child & adolescent suicide. The 2026 annual conference addressed the theme Artificial Intelligence + Human Connection. bit.ly/4flWkGa

Congratulations to Akiko Mizuno, PhD, who has been promoted to Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Mizuno’s research is aimed at identifying mental processes and neural mechanisms underlying cognitive decline. bit.ly/4tPkbli

Pitt Psychiatry investigators have recently published papers in Neuropsychopharmacology reporting findings on biomarkers for suicidal behavior, as well as on harm avoidance in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder: bit.ly/43htgs2

Congratulations to Heather Joseph, DO, who has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Joseph’s research focuses on the identification of early cognitive, behavioral, and neural indicators of ADHD risk in infancy and early childhood. bit.ly/49wBW1i

In a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry, investigators reported that a randomized clinical trial provided causal evidence that intermittent TBS over the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex enhanced the translation of expectancies into mood. bit.ly/49OTZjj

At #SOBP2026, Pitt Psychiatry picked up a few awards! Congratulations to Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD (A.E. Bennett Clinical/Translational Research Award); and Manan Arora, MD; Thomas Kraynak, PhD; Manivel Rengasamy, MD; and Cecilia Westbrook, MD, PhD, who received travel awards! bit.ly/4trZFqs

Congratulations to Marie Anne Gebara, MD, who has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Gebara is an expert in geriatric and interventional psychiatry and serves as medical director of ketamine services at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. bit.ly/4eBfgk0

Congratulations to Sarah Pedersen, PhD, who has recently been selected for the prestigious Research Society on Alcohol Dora Goldstein Distinguished in the Sciences Award, as well as a 2026 Pitt Scientist Well-being Award! bit.ly/4cRHeXq

A recent UPMC symposium on mental health and student-athletes was attended by nearly 800 people. Mental Health and Student-Athletes: Managing the Invisible Injury presented the latest research around the vulnerability of student-athletes to mental health challenges: bit.ly/425Ma4D

“Truly Exemplary” | Dr. Eric Golden Receives UPMC Award for Commitment to Excellence in Service (ACES): bit.ly/4cMZDDd

Three papers published in Current Psychiatry Reports and Appetite by Christine Call, PhD, and colleagues in the Perinatal Health and Behaviors Lab, highlight advances in our understanding of eating disorders in pregnancy and the perinatal period. bit.ly/4mBmN4d

In addition to providing expert clinical care for individuals with OCD and teaching the next generation of physicians, Dr. Robert Hudak is dedicated to teaching mental health professionals and non-psychiatric physicians nationwide about treatment of the disorder. Read our interview: bit.ly/48bj2wv

Congratulations, Vernon Nathaniel, MD, who has received a 2025 UPMC Award for Commitment to Excellence in Service (ACES)! bit.ly/4vgb4vF

“Thoughtful, Considerate, Extremely Effective” – Samantha Stilson Receives UPMC Award for Commitment to Excellence in Service (ACES): bit.ly/4cfuyJi

Our 2026 Interventional Psychiatry Showcase focused on the use of ketamine and the use of ketosis in psychiatric treatment. Through lively roundtables, presentations, and panel discussions, attendees learned about new research & clinical application of each of these methods. bit.ly/4rXVe66

We are thrilled to announce the results of the 2026 Residency Match for the General Psychiatry, Child, Triple Board, and Family Medicine/Psychiatry tracks! Please welcome our new incoming PGY1 psychiatry residents: bit.ly/4rRxaSr

We are now accepting poster presentation abstracts for our Annual Research Day. Learn more and submit here! bit.ly/4boomyw Deadline to submit: 4/17

Patients with conditions including treatment-resistant depression, catatonia, persistent mania & difficult-to-treat schizophrenia can now receive care at a newly renovated, larger, brighter Center for Interventional Psychiatry on the ground floor of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. bit.ly/4rDVEi1

Congratulations to Stephen Smagula, PhD, who has received conferral of tenure! Dr. Smagula’s research focuses on circadian rhythm disruptions as a causal risk for depression, suicidal ideation, and dementia in older people. bit.ly/4uzcdOz

Congrats to Pitt Psychiatry faculty members who have received the following recognitions: Paul D. MacLean Award (Layla Banihashemi, PhD); University of Notre Dame William D. Reynolds Award (Kelly Beck, PhD, LPC, CRC); Fellows of the INS (Meryl Butters, PhD & Stuart Steinhauer, PhD) bit.ly/4bmlAs3

Congratulations to Fabio Ferrarelli, MD, PhD, who has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Ferrarelli’s research focuses on the study of neural oscillations during sleep, and how such oscillations affect fundamental aspects of brain function. bit.ly/4unhPvj

A recent Pitt Psychiatry study, published in JAMA Neurology, tested whether daily low-dose lithium carbonate could delay cognitive decline in adults aged 60+ with mild cognitive impairment. Results confirmed that low-dose lithium was safe and well tolerated in older adults. bit.ly/46J6ATV

Congratulations to Thomas Karikari, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine! Dr. Karikari is an internationally recognized expert in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. bit.ly/3OYF7Y8

Findings from a recent study suggest that exploration targets are identified through coordinated activity binding prefrontal default network value representations to posterior hippocampal maps. Find out more: bit.ly/4ua2lLe

Congratulations to Victor Villemagne, MD, who has been elected to the Association of American Physicians! Dr. Villemagne is one of the most highly regarded global experts in Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. bit.ly/4aGK0w3

Due to the generosity of donor families, the Pitt NBB is an invaluable resource for investigators using postmortem human brain tissue for research and is uniquely equipped to provide postmortem brain specimens to scientists investigating psychiatric disorders: bit.ly/3OfGth3

Congrats to Mary Woody, PhD, who has been promoted to Associate Professor by the University of Pittsburgh! Dr. Woody's research focuses on adolescent depression, with a primary goal of identifying risk factors that can be targeted in clinical prevention and intervention programs. bit.ly/4rWoOJD

Pitt Psychiatry investigators recently published articles that describe advances in clinical care in the diagnosis of bipolar/psychotic disorders, guidelines for deprescribing benzodiazepine, the promise of infant MRI studies, and assessment for risk for suicidal behavior. bit.ly/3NQHQm9

Congrats to Antoine Douaihy, MD, who has received conferral of tenure at the rank of professor! Dr. Douaihy is an outstanding clinical leader, teacher, and researcher with expertise in addiction medicine and dual diagnosis, motivational interviewing, & substance use and co-morbid HIV. bit.ly/49O2uMd

Pitt Psychiatry had lots of good news from @acnporg.bsky.social, including awards and new memberships! See our story here: bit.ly/4jW2lK3

Results of a recent study showed that hesitation--which gives humans and other animals crucial extra time to deliberate on the best option in uncertain situations--is mediated by indirect, but not direct, pathway neurons in the dorsomedial striatum. bit.ly/3YQnETG

It is with deep sadness that we report that our friend and colleague, Kurt Ackerman, MD, PhD (Clinician Emeritus of Psychiatry), has passed away. Please read our memorial tribute on our website. bit.ly/4sUFbrE

Congrats to Leslie Horton, PhD, who has been promoted! Dr. Horton helped found and serves as director of the WPH Hope Team clinic, which specializes in interventions for young people at risk for psychosis. She conducts research focused on the mechanisms of risk for psychosis in youth. bit.ly/49Eh7QL

Dr. Karikari and Dr. Thurston are among 12 Health Sciences researchers invited to present their research in a lightning talk presentation on 1/14. Selected papers are recognized for providing deep biological or practice-changing insight. Congratulations! bit.ly/4qipsk6

Diseases of despair (DoD) in midlife adults and suicidal behavior in youths may be related, since in a recent study, having a parent with a DoD was associated with nearly double the hazard of a suicidal event in their offspring. bit.ly/4sDdG5t

Congratulations to Angela Ianni, MD, DPhil, who has been selected for the Member in Training Award by the AAGP! Dr Ianni’s research focuses on the neural processes underlying suicidal behavior in late-life depression. bit.ly/4stLzpv

CARRS focuses on risk factors for substance use disorders that emerge from the interaction of reward, cognitive control, circadian rhythms, and sleep, which show marked developmental changes during adolescence. The Center is led by Colleen McClung, PhD, and Daniel Buysse, MD. bit.ly/4bjlcwa

Lori Scott, PhD, led a study of whether stressors like social/targeted rejection are associated w/increased likelihood of suicidal ideation/behavior. Findings suggest that clinicians should ask about recent experiences of targeted rejection when assessing risk for suicidal behavior bit.ly/49bXoYv

In a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported regional specificity in dendritic spine alterations. These findings may help explain how both perceptual processing and higher-order cognitive functions are impaired in schizophrenia. bit.ly/4pPGTbA

The Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference presents clinical/research findings to psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, policy administrators & patients and families. The program includes art and & by individuals receiving treatment for schizophrenia at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital bit.ly/4s0p4YR

Congratulations to Ann Cohen, PhD, who has been elected to the NIA National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Steering Committee! The NACC serves as the centralized data repository, collaboration, and communication hub for the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRC) Program. bit.ly/49hIcKw

Congratulations to Nermin Toukhy, PhD, who has received an International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR) Early Career Research Award for the biological studies of suicide. Learn more about Dr. Toukhy here: bit.ly/3KNoFYZ

In JAMA Psychiatry, scientists including Kristen Eckstrand, MD, PhD, discuss the psychiatric and ethical concerns raised by care denial for transgender youth: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Pitt Psychiatry investigators have recently published research studies on mental health in late life in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Nature Communications, and Neuropsychopharmacology. See more from Minjie Wu, PhD; Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD; Helmet Karim, PhD; and Carmen Andreescu, MD: bit.ly/3KziYxR

Scientists led by Carla Mazefsky, PhD, created the EASE Program to improve emotion dysregulation in autistic adolescents and young adults. They tested its efficacy this population, and found that EASE resulted in greater declines in emotion dysregulation than a comparison therapy. bit.ly/4rwF84t

At this year's AACAP meeting, Pitt Psychiatry news includes two faculty members who were recognized as distinguished fellows--Abigail Schlesinger, MD, and Rameshwari Tumuluru, MD--and residents received awards and honors: Alexis McCathern, MD, and Kalyan Tripathy, MD, PhD. More: bit.ly/4olzob5