The Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center, established in 1986, is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program for teens and young children, part of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Services. The annual STAR-Center conference presents best-practices in clinical care incorporated into practical guidelines for educational and community settings. This year, more than 600 attendees...

The Office of Residency Training (ORT) and Office of Medical Student Education (OMSE) provide a stimulating learning environment for psychiatry trainees. Below, meet the staff who work closely with faculty leadership to create an outstanding educational experience for medical students, residents and fellows training in the Department of Psychiatry. Kim Kirchner (Director, Operations, Psychiatry Residency Training)...

I acknowledge the pain that we all share as a result of the unconscionable murder of George Floyd, and the resulting demonstrations that have erupted nationwide. Certainly, the murder of George Floyd is part of a larger history of violence and oppression that has been endured by people of color in our country. These events are profoundly distressing, and this most recent tragedy has served as a motivating...

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth McGuier, PhD, Department of Psychiatry postdoctoral research scholar, has received a Center for Interventions to Enhance Community Health (CiTECH) Practice Innovation Opportunity award. CiTECH is a unique partnership between the School of Social Work and the Department of Psychiatry dedicated to enhancing the quality and length of life of individuals living with behavioral...

Congratulations to Meryl Butters, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Butters has been awarded the Edith Kaplan Award, which is given biannually by the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society to a clinician/researcher in the field of neuropsychology who has continued to uphold the theory of the Process Approach to Neuropsychology. Dr. Butters is nationally and internationally...

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has recognized recent Pitt Psychiatry research on suicide as a “Notable NIMH Grant.” “2020 Spring Inside NIMH” featured “Notable NIMH Grants” among its Director’s Highlights. Notable grants are a selection of the NIMH’s recently funded projects that exemplify the Institute’s efforts to accelerate research on mental illness, and to advance the NIMH Strategic Plan for...

Adolescence can be marked by heightened reward drive and sensation-seeking behaviors, which engage the reward system. These behaviors are thought to be caused by a developmental peak in dopamine processing in the nucleus accumbens, part of the striatal reward system. However, a better understanding of the relationship between these behaviors and dopamine has been difficult to achieve because the standard techniques...

As schools and businesses close temporarily to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many communities are suffering from the impact of lost jobs and services. Some areas face urgent needs around the suspension of in-school breakfast and lunch programs, which many children depend on for nutritious meals. While some districts have successfully implemented meal-to-go distributions, the children of Clairton, PA, currently...

Congratulations to David Kolko, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology, and Clinical and Translational Science), who has received a Medical Student Research Mentoring Merit Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The Research Mentoring Merit Award recognizes outstanding Longitudinal Research Project mentorship of a graduating Pitt Med student and is traditionally presented at the...

UPMC is dedicated to providing access to care for individuals across western Pennsylvania. Below, meet the leaders who oversee UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH)’s more than 85 ambulatory programs and consultation services. Jessica Gannon, MD Dr. Gannon is Medical Director, Ambulatory Comprehensive Recovery Services (CRS), which provides comprehensive specialized services to adults with schizophrenia...