NAMI Recognizes America’s Exemplary Psychiatrists Awards Presented During APA Convention

Posted on May 8, 2001

Arlington, VA - The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) today honored 35 psychiatrists with its 2001 NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrists Awards during the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in New Orleans. The awards recognize substantial contributions in clinical care, public education, and advocacy at the national, state or local levels.

"NAMI is pleased to honor these extraordinary medical professionals who have gone the extra mile in helping people with severe mental illnesses and their families," said NAMI Executive Director Richard Birkel. "They have helped reclaim lives, sought to improve treatment systems, and contributed greatly to public understanding of brain disorders."

During the past 10 years, NAMI has presented the awards to more than 800 psychiatrists serving people with severe mental illnesses. To qualify for the awards, psychiatrists must set an example for professional colleagues--not only by guiding recoveries from mental illnesses, but also by demonstrating leadership and perseverance in one or more of the following areas:

• Fighting Discriminatory Policies: Has been a leader in fighting injustices and discrimination against people with brain disorders by taking a public stand against discriminatory policies in public or private systems of care, housing or employment.
• Increasing Public Understanding of Brain Disorders: Has routinely worked to educate the public about brain disorders and the people who have them, through public speaking, participation in public education programs, or similar events.
• Fighting Stigma: Has routinely worked to fight stigmatizing and stereotyping portrayals of people with brain disorders through speaking out, letter writing or similar activities.
• NAMI Campaign: Has personally supported and actively participated in NAMI's Campaign to End Discrimination, a campaign dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with brain disorders, ensuring dignity, raising public awareness, and increasing access to services and treatments.

2001 NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Awards

Alabama
Jorge Castro, M.D., Birmingham
Oliver Gregory, M.D., Florence
James C. Hancock, M.D., Huntsville
James A. Jeffrey, M.D., Decatur
Edward W. Love, Jr., M.D., Decatur

California
Christopher Reist, M.D., Long Beach (V.A. Medical Center)
Roderick Shaner, M.D., Los Angeles
Captane Thomson, M.D., Davis (American Board of Forensic Psychiatry)

Florida
Raymond Johnson, M.D., Fort Myers

Illinois
Deborah Couch, M.D., Maywood (Loyola University Medical Center)
Anil K. Gandhi, M.D., Harvey
Thomas Kramer, M.D., Deerfield

Indiana
Thomas Ford Liffick, M.D., Evansville

Massachusetts
Fernando Rodriguez-Villa, M.D., Belmont (McLean Hospital)

Maryland
Luke Grande, M.D., Wheaton
Lawrence Y. Kline, M.D., Bethesda (Suburban Hospital)
Hugh V. Sickel, M.D., Wheaton

Michigan
Timothy Florence, M.D., Ann Arbor

North Carolina
Jeffrey A. Lieberman M.D., Chapel Hill (UNC, Chapel Hill)

New Hampshire
Kala Kumar, M.D., Manchester
Douglas Noordsy, M.D., Manchester

New Mexico
Diana Quinn, M.D., Albuquerque

New York
Jeffery Jerome Grace, M.D., Buffalo
Thomas Hays, M.D., Williamsville

Ohio
L. Douglas Lenkoski, M.D., Cleveland (Case Western Reserve Univ.)
Cynthia S. Vrabel, M.D., Cleveland (Case Western Reserve Univ.)

Pennsylvania
Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, M.D., Beaver
Lindley Murray Winston, M.D., West Chester

Rhode Island
James Edward Greer, M.D.,Providence (The Providence Center)
Steven Alan Rasmussen, M.D., Providence

Texas
Michael Fuller, M.D., Galveston
Howard Leftin, M.D., Fort Worth (JPS Health Network)

Virginia
James Sellman, M.D., Richmond

Canada
Thomas Kolivakis, M.D., Quebec

Puerto Rico
Osvaldo Caro, M.D.,Carras