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| A newsletter for research & medical education | January 2012 |
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FEATURE Benjamin Liptzin MD, Department of Psychiatry, Receives 2011 TUSM Distinguished Faculty Award
Dr. Benjamin Liptzin, Chair, Department of Psychiatry and international expert in geriatric psychiatry, has been honored with the Tufts University School of Medicine's Distinguished Faculty Award for 2011. "Considering that TUSM has 5,000 clinical faculty, it’s an important recognition, and I feel both humbled and gratified to receive it." Dr. Liptzin believes that receiving the American Psychiatric Association's Jack Weinberg Award earlier this year for his leadership and excellence in clinical practice, teaching, and research in geriatric psychiatry was a key factor in TUSM's decision. “Getting that kind of national recognition is important to Tufts.” New Residency Recognized as a Significant Achievement According to Dr. Liptzin, TUSM acknowledged that starting up the Psychiatric Residency in 2009 was a major accomplishment, particularly receiving accreditation the first time they applied, and filling all their positions in the Match the first year—and every year since. Liptzin gives most of the credit for the residency's success to Dr. Steven Fischel, Program Director. Remarkably, for a new program that hasn't even graduated its first class, this Fall they received full 5-year reaccredit ion with commendation. The Review Committee requested permission to include their innovative year-long Mindfulness Training Curriculum, developed by Drs. Steven Fischel and Robert Smith, in a notable practices database on the ACGME website. Acknowledging Accomplishments of His Faculty Dr. Liptzin is particularly proud of creating an environment that fosters scholarship and research. Recently, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division were one of four sites in the U.S. to field test new diagnostic criteria for childhood behavior disorders being proposed by APA for DSM5. “We were in the company of Stanford, Columbia and University of Colorado – some of the most prestigious programs in child psychiatry in the country. Yet, we recruited more subjects.” Dr. Barry Sarvet helped develop the Child Psychiatry Access Project that created a statewide network of child psychiatrists to provide consultation to pediatricians, and help patients and parents get needed services. Looking Ahead Liptzin says, “As healthcare systems evolve under healthcare reform, and as Baystate develops as an Accountable Care Organization, we need more models like Dr. Sarvet’s Access Project that integrate psychiatry and behavioral health and primary care.” He hopes to develop a similar model for geriatric patients on Medicare. “There is a great need because fellowships around the country are only graduating 40 – 50 geriatric psychiatrists a year while there are 350,000 baby boomers turning 65 each year.” Moving forward, Dr. Liptzin plans to further develop the residency and research programs. And, he's eager to see his first class graduate and launch their careers. Past Distinguished Faculty Award Winners at Baystate Five BMC faculty have previously been honored with this award:
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