The Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) awarded the 2017 George N. Thompson Award to Society member Stephen Strakowski, MD, Inaugural Chair of Psychiatry at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, for outstanding service to promote the welfare of the organization. Dr. Kerry Ressler, President of SOBP, will present the award to Dr. Strakowski on May 19, 2017 at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Society in San Diego, California.
In presenting the award, Dr. Ressler expressed the Society's gratitude for Dr. Strakowski's leadership as president and councilor, as editor of the Society's newsletter, and for his continued support and guidance in developing a vision for the future of the Society.
An accomplished psychiatrist and professor, Dr. Strakowski served as President of SOBP from 2015 to 2016. In 2016, Dr. Strakowski began serving a 5-year position on the SOBP Council, and has served as the Newsletter Editor since 2010. He has also served as Chair of the Gold Medal Award Committee, Strategic Planning Workgroup, and member of the Journal Editorial Committee.
The SOBP established the George N. Thompson Award for Distinguished Service in 1982. The award recognized Dr. George N. Thompson's role as one of the founders of the Society in 1944 and his contributions over the years to the growth of the Society. An Honorific Committee composed of the current and past five presidents select the recipient from nominations submitted by SOBP members. The recipient may be honored for work in the areas of leadership, governance, development of publications, special projects, financial contributions, or other service recognized as distinguished by the Council.
A list of past George Thompson Award recipients can be found here.
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About the Society of Biological Psychiatry:
The Society of Biological Psychiatry was founded in l945 to encourage the study of the biological causes of and treatments for psychiatric disorders. Its continuing purpose is to promote excellence in scientific research and education in fields that investigate the nature, causes, mechanisms, and treatments of disorders of thought, emotion, or behavior.
To achieve its purpose, the Society creates venues for the exchange of scientific information that will foster the advancement of psychiatric neuroscience and therapeutics. To this end, the Society sponsors an annual meeting, maintains web-based resources, grants awards to distinguished clinical and basic researchers, and publishes the journal, Biological Psychiatry. The term "biological psychiatry" emphasizes the biological nature of behavior and its disorders and implies the use of the medical model; but in so doing, it encompasses other major elements of modern psychiatric medicine, including its humanitarian mission, psychological foundation, and socio-cultural orientation.
The vision of the Society of Biological Psychiatry is to be the leading professional organization in the integration, advancement, and promulgation of science relevant to psychiatric disorders, with the ultimate goal of reducing or preventing the suffering of those with these disorders. For more information, visit http://www.sobp.org or contact us at sobp@sobp.org or 904-953-2842.