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.