Daniel Kirsch is the 2015 recipient of the new UMMS Faculty Vitality Award!

The UMMS Faculty Vitality Award provides support for faculty to pursue a career objective in a new area of research, education or clinical practice.  The Award is targeted for mid-career and senior faculty who have been productive but wish to acquire new skills and knowledge or pursue a change in career goals to remain engaged and productive at UMMS/UMMHC.  The award is intended to promote individual rejuvenation, career development, mentoring and academic vitality!

Dan’s Vitality Award provides support to redirect his clinical expertise in College Mental Health towards education and training and scholarly production.  In his Vitality year, Dan will 1) design a model curriculum for training adult psychiatry residents and child & adolescent psychiatry fellows in college mental health and transition age youth and young adult psychiatry; 2) implement a program in college mental health psychotherapy utilizing his relationships in the Worcester college counseling centers; and 3) develop an instrument to assess any institution of higher education’s capacity to provide optimal mental health services based on that institution’s specific needs, values, and resources.  He will be mentored by our Chair, Dr. Doug Ziedonis, and Drs. Sheldon Benjamin and Maryann Davis.  The Award provides funds for Dr. Kirsch to 1) visit several best practice sites providing broad care models for college students with mental illness in Boston and Philadelphia; 2) travel and meet with recognized experts in psychotherapy training and education; and 3) attend and present his work at several conferences -  The International Youth Mental Health Conference, the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training; and the Depression on College Campus Conference and its preconference research symposium.

For more information on this award, please visit the Office of Faculty Affairs website:  http://www.umassmed.edu/ofa/career/vitalityaward/