The Department of Psychiatry of the University of Pittsburgh and its affiliate hospital, the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), are well known for exceptional academic and clinical accomplishments.  The more than 200 primary faculty members of the Department are trained in a wide range of disciplines that encompass clinical expertise across brain and behavioral disorders and the lifespan and a number of basic science domains.  Educational experiences designed to successfully train the next generation of clinicians and investigators are provided via superb residency training programs, highly integrated medical student training, clinical psychology internships and a number of clinical and research fellowships.  The research prowess of the Department is reflected in its consistent ranking as the leading Department of Psychiatry in research funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health.

In October of 2009, the University appointed Dr. David A. Lewis, UPMC Endowed Professor in Translational Neuroscience, as the new Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director and Director of Research for WPIC.  An internationally recognized expert in translational neuroscience, an accomplished clinician and educator, and a member of the Department of Psychiatry faculty for more than 20 years, Dr. Lewis brings to this appointment as Chairman a wealth of experience which will provide strength and stability for the Department, while also advancing the Department’s mission to integrate clinical and basic research in order to deliver novel diagnostics and therapeutics.   Priorities for the Department include first and foremost, to provide the highest quality care for the individuals who seek clinical services and their families; second, to promote the career development of faculty, trainees, and staff to further advance the level of expertise in all areas; and third, to pursue the discovery and dissemination of new scientific knowledge in order to develop personalized and preventative treatments for mental illness and addictive disorders.  The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh is uniquely poised to build upon its rich heritage and to lead the way to future advances in psychiatric practice and research.