Dozens of Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences faculty members and trainees received noteworthy awards and honors, published books, or took on new leadership roles in 2025:
Awards
Faculty Awards
- R. Alison Adcock, MD, PhD, received the School of Medicine Professionalism Award, which recognizes faculty members who exemplify professionalism and personify Duke’s guiding principles.
- Jeannie Beckham, PhD, received the Barnwell Award for Veteran Research, the Veterans Affairs Office of Research & Development’s highest honor for outstanding achievement in clinical science, given in recognition of scientific contributions that change clinical practice for veterans.
- P. Murali Doraiswamy, MBBS, FRCP, received a 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from Duke Health, which honors the life and legacy of Dr. King and his powerful message, “It starts with me,” by recognizing Duke Health individuals and teams who go above and beyond in support of our missions.
- Harold Kudler, MD, received the Outstanding Service Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, which honors an ISTSS member who has made a significant and sustained contribution to the Society.
- Professor emeritus John Looney, MD, MBA, former president of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, was the first recipient of that organization's Distinguished Service Award.
- Gary Maslow, MD, MPH, received the 2025 Outstanding Academic Service Award from the North Carolina Pediatric Society, selected for his leadership in academic collaboration to promote child health in the community.
- Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Graduate Medical Education Awards:
- Dhipthi Brundage, MD, and Rhonda Merwin, PhD, received the Outstanding Didactic Teaching Award for demonstrating outstanding skills in didactic/classroom teaching, delivering teaching sessions that are impactful, effective, engaging, and memorable.
- J. Nathan Copeland, MD, MPH, and Chris Mauro, PhD, received the Outstanding Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Educator Award for demonstrating excellence in clinical teaching, supervision, and medical education of child and adolescent psychiatry fellows.
- Paul Riordan, MD, received the Outstanding Mentor Award for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to supporting the professional and personal development of trainees and serving as an exemplary role model within the department.
- Max Schiff, MD, and Marla Wald, MD, received the Outstanding Clinical Teaching Award for demonstrating a passion and talent for clinical teaching and supervision and making a significant contribution to resident education.
Trainee Awards
- Psychiatry resident Emily Aarons, MD, received the 2025 James H. Carter, Sr. Community Service Award, which recognizes one or two Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences trainees each year for outstanding commitment and service in community psychiatry.
- Psychiatry residents Kelli Avalos, MD, Brynna Eisele, MD, PhD, Ben Haseen, MD, and Arny Johannesdottir, MD, received 2025 Appleseed Teaching Awards, which recognize residents who go above and beyond in their roles as educators and mentors to medical students.
- Psychiatry resident Molly Fessler, MD, received the Graduate Medical Education Safety Advocate Award, which recognizes trainees who demonstrate a commitment to safety by reporting safety events and making an extra effort to maintain a safe environment of care for patients.
- Clinical psychology doctoral intern (’25) Anna Laakman, PhD—now a faculty member in the department—won the Karen C. Wells Professionalism Award, given to an internship graduate who upholds the highest standards for professional and ethical behavior and personifies Duke’s values of excellence, integrity, teamwork, respect, and inclusion.
- Child and adolescent psychiatry fellow (’25) Alexander Norton, MD, received a 2025 Excellence in Family-Oriented Care Award from the Association of Family Psychiatrists; the award recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to family-centered mental health, honoring pioneering work in family-focused therapy and promoting holistic family well-being in psychiatric practice.
- Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Graduate Medical Education Awards:
- Hania Ibrahim, MD, received the Outstanding Resident Educator Award for demonstrating a passion and talent for teaching and making a significant contribution to the learning of others.
- Alexander Moghadam, MD, PhD, received the Outstanding Resident Researcher Award for demonstrating excellence in research carried out during training and embodying the qualities of an outstanding physician-scientist.
- Lara Thibodeau, MD, received the Outstanding Resident Clinician Award for demonstrating clinical excellence and exemplifying professional and compassionate clinical care of patients.
- Layne Walker, MD, received the Duke Psychiatry Residency Impact Award for embodying the Duke psychiatry residency spirit and making a strong impact on our residency community.
New Faculty Leadership Roles
- Karen Carmody, PhD, was promoted from deputy director to co-director of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, joining current co-director Lisa Amaya-Jackson, MD, MPH.
- Caroline Dorfman, PhD, was appointed co-director of the department's Division of Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences.
- Jessica Lunsford-Avery, PhD, was named the department’s associate director of appointments, promotion, and tenure (APT).
- Jonathan Posner, MD, was named the department’s executive vice chair.
- Katherine Ramos, PhD, was elected president of Division 20 (Psychology and Aging) with the American Psychological Association, a three-year term. She was also appointed to serve on the editorial board for the Frontiers in Psychology Journal Section of Psychology and Aging.
- Maggie Sweitzer, PhD, was named director of the Psychiatry Clinical Research Unit.
Other Honors & Accomplishments
Faculty Honors & Accomplishments
- Karen Carmody, PhD, was selected as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association for Division 37, the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice. This honor recognizes APA members “who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology” with a national impact.
- Robin H. Gurwitch, PhD, retired with emeritus status after 13 years of service with Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
- David J. Madden, PhD, retired with emeritus status after 48 years of service with Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
- Gary Maslow, MD, MPH, was named the Gorrell Family Distinguished Professor in Children’s Psychiatry.
- Robert A. Murphy, PhD, retired with emeritus status after 21 years of service with Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
- Angel Peterchev, PhD, was elevated to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow for his contributions to device development and modeling for electromagnetic brain stimulation. The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization, and less than 0.1% of voting members are elevated to Fellow status annually.
- Jonathan Posner, MD, was one of four Duke faculty members selected to serve as a Provost Faculty Fellow for 2025-26. The program aims to introduce Duke faculty members to key leadership roles and responsibilities and areas of strategic focus of the university.
- Department chair Moira Rynn, MD, was named the J. P. Gibbons Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
- Bryan Sexton, PhD, was appointed vice president of clinician well-being for Duke Health. In this role, he'll lead the advancement of clinician wellness at Duke Health through coaching, assessments, interventions and resources to improve professional fulfillment, well-being and culture for clinicians.
- Jonathan Young, MD, published TMS and Neuroethics, a book he co-edited with Veljko Dubljević, PhD, the Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Science at NC State University.
Psychiatry Residents’ Honors & Accomplishments
- Noorin Damji, MD, was selected as an associate editor for the Residents’ Journal of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
- Linda Kerandi, MD, received a 2025 American Psychiatric Association SAMHSA Funded Resident Fellowship Program, which recognizes dedication and commitment to ensuring high-quality mental healthcare for everyone through improved access, effectiveness, and patient-centered care.
- Joyce Meza Vanegas, MD, received a Diversity Leadership Fellowship from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. This fellowship helps residents prepare to teach, administer, and provide culturally competent, evidence-based mental health and substance abuse services to diverse minority groups and at-risk populations.
- Julia Rothschild, MD, received a Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Fellowship, which gives outstanding residents and fellows a unique opportunity to work collaboratively in an informal setting with leaders in psychiatry.