We are pleased to announce that Brooke Molina, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics), has been named president-elect of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD). APSARD is dedicated to enhancing outcomes for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their families by fostering lifespan research on ADHD and sharing evidence-based practices...

We are delighted to announce that Zachary Freyberg, MD, PhD, has received conferral of tenure at the rank of associate professor by the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Freyberg has made critical contributions to research pertaining to the association between dopaminergic neurotransmission and psychiatric disorders including addiction, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. He is principal investigator (PI) of...

Interventional psychiatry is a major focus for many Pitt Psychiatry clinical and research faculty members. In the clinical environment, interventional psychiatry entails the development and implementation of novel psychiatric treatments using devices and innovative pharmacology, alone or with cognitive or behavioral treatment strategies. In interventional psychiatry research, investigators marry technology...

We are pleased to announce that Robert Hudak, MD, has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Hudak received his MD from Northeast Ohio Medical University and completed his psychiatry residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Following additional clinical and academic roles, Dr. Hudak joined the University of Pittsburgh faculty as Assistant Professor of...

Cardiovascular disease and poor sleep are both major health issues for women, with cardiovascular disease representing the leading cause of death in women. Poor sleep quality, elevated insomnia symptoms, and extreme sleep duration (short or long) are all associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Midlife (here defined as 40-65 years old) is often a time of accelerated vascular risk, as well as a time...

Physical activity is beneficial for mental health in older adults. It is effective as a treatment for late-life psychiatric disorders and as a prevention against clinical depression and anxiety. However, questions remain around the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of physical activity that may be most beneficial for mental health in aging, and around the moderating factors—including genetic factors— that...

We are pleased to announce that Rebecca Price, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology), has been selected as a member of the inaugural University of Pittsburgh Equitable, Inclusive, Innovation and Incubation (PittEI3) Fellowship cohort. The Pitt Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship established PittEI3 to expand access for women and other historically excluded people to the university’s expanding...

We are pleased to announce that Raymond Pan, MD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Pan received his MD from the University of Connecticut, and completed residency training at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH). Following residency, Dr. Pan completed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, as well as a National Institute of...

Congratulations to Justin Shuster, MD, MPH (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), and Laima Spokas, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry), who have been honored for excellence in teaching at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s annual Curriculum Colloquium. The Curriculum Colloquium honors outstanding faculty contributions to medical education through classroom and clinical teaching, mentoring, and...

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia—including apathy, anhedonia, and asociality, as well as blunted affect and alogia—are present during early stages of the disorder, and contribute to marked declines in social and occupational functioning. Few therapeutic options ameliorate negative symptoms, and much remains unknown regarding their neurobiological origins. To improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of...