iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 5h

Congratulations to Thomas Karikari, PhD, who has received the Millennium Excellence Award, which recognizes extraordinary individuals of African heritage and those who have rendered outstanding service to Africa and the global African community. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/thomas-karik...

Congratulations to Thomas Karikari, PhD, who has received the Millennium Excellence Award, presented by the Millennium Excellence Foundation. The Millennium Excellence Awards recognize extraordinary individuals of African heritage and those who have rendered outstanding service to Africa and the global African community across the fields of business, science, the arts, culture, philanthropy, and public service.

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 25/09/2026

Congratulations to Holly Swartz, MD, who received the ISIPT Klerman and Weissman Award for Excellence in Outreach, Teaching, and Dissemination! Dr. Swartz is an expert in optimizing psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments for mood disorders. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/holly-swartz...

Congratulations to Holly Swartz, MD, who received the International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy Klerman and Weissman Award for Excellence in Outreach, Teaching, and Dissemination! Dr. Swartz is an internationally recognized expert in optimizing psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments for mood disorders.

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 21/09/2026

Welcome to three new clinical faculty members, Morgan Ball, MD; Christopher Hensler, MD; and Alexis McCathern, MD! Meet them here: www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/introducing-...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 18/09/2026

Congrats to Brian Thoma, PhD, who has been promoted to Associate Professor! Dr. Thoma focuses on the mental health of sexual minority populations, with emphasis on issues such as disparities in suicidality and factors contributing to suicidal behavior. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/university-p...

Congratulations to Brian Thoma, PhD, who has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry! Dr. Thoma’s research focuses on the mental and behavioral health of sexual minority populations, with emphasis on issues such as disparities in suicidality and factors contributing to suicidal behavior among sexual minority youth.

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 10/09/2026

Recent review articles from the Department of Psychiatry have examined the association between sleep and substance use and sex differences in affective disorders in adolescents. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/pitt-psychia...

010

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 09/09/2026

Congratulations to Zachary Freyberg, MD, PhD, who has received the Parkinson’s Foundation Impact Award. The award recognizes innovative research projects that advance our understanding of Parkinson’s disease through groundbreaking or unconventional ideas. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/zachary-frey...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 08/09/2026

Recent research published in Alzheimer's & Dementia from Anne Cohen, PhD, and Victor Villemagne, MD, advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and progression. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/recent-resea...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 28/07/2026

Congratulations to Meredith Wallace, PhD, who has been promoted to professor! Dr. Wallace is an exceptionally innovative biostatistician, as well as a leader in the field of multidimensional sleep health. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/university-p...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 24/07/2026

Congratulations to Stephanie Stepp, PhD, who has received conferral of tenure from the University of Pittsburgh! Dr. Stepp is an internationally recognized expert on the developmental psychopathology of borderline personality disorder. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/university-p...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 17/07/2026

A study recently published in Nature Communications reported findings that suggest that developmental changes in dopamine-related brain systems may help explain why some adolescents are more likely to experiment with substances. Read: www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/nature-commu...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 14/07/2026

Congrats to Melanie Grubisha, MD, PhD, who has been promoted! Dr. Grubisha investigates the molecular underpinnings of psychiatric and neurological disease by working to identify the molecular pathways responsible for development across adolescence. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/university-p...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 08/07/2026

Congratulations to David Lewis, MD, who has received the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) Ariëns Kapper Medal. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of neuroscience and was presented by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

020

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 07/07/2026

Please join us in welcoming our new class of PGY1 residents in General Psychiatry, General and Child, Family Medicine and Psychiatry, and Triple Board tracks! www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/meet-our-202...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 25/06/2026

Part II of our Research Day roundup: posters galore! www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/pitt-psychia...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 24/06/2026

Read Part I of our Research Day recap here! --> www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/pitt-psychia...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 19/06/2026

Congratulations to the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Resident and Fellow Class of 2026! www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/congratulati...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 17/06/2026

New Research in AJP analyzes the somatostatin and parvalbumin interneuron subtypes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. www.psychiatry.pitt.edu/american-jou...

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 10/06/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 09/06/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 08/06/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 05/06/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 02/06/2026

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

020

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 21/05/2026

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

010

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 18/05/2026

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

020

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 15/05/2026

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

010

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 14/05/2026

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

010

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 11/05/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 08/05/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 05/05/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 29/04/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 27/04/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 17/04/2026

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

041

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 09/04/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 06/04/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 30/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 25/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 23/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 20/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 19/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 16/03/2026

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

031

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 13/03/2026

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

011

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 10/03/2026

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

010

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 06/03/2026

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

001

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 04/03/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 02/03/2026

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

001

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 20/02/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 18/02/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 16/02/2026

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

020

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 05/02/2026

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

000

Pitt Psychiatry @psychiatry.pitt.edu · 28/01/2026

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

010