Clinical and Administrative Overview

Andrew E. Skodol, M.D. Deputy Director The past year at PI was marked by highs and lows for Administration. While research at the Institute flourished and clinical care delivered to our patients continued to be compassionate and cutting-edge, we suffered, along with the rest of the City, State, and Nation, through the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and its aftermath. It was sometimes difficult to go on with “business as usual” under these trying circumstances. And, in some ways, it was not business as usual here at PI, as our scientists and clinicians banded together

with others in New York and across the country not only to provide expert mental health services to the victim survivors of September 11th but to try to learn as much as possible from their experiences and their suffering, so that all of us could be even better prepared to assist, if necessary, in the future.

A strong presence and tireless leader in PI’s response to September 11th was John Oldham, our Director. John organized and brought together the various Chairs of Psychiatry at the New York metropolitan area medical schools, so that psychiatry’s clinical and research response to the disaster would be smoothly coordinated. He also assisted Sharon Carpinello in coordinating the New York State OMH efforts at obtaining Federal assistance for mental health services and at overseeing the myriad research initiatives that came into the State. In March of 2002, however, we learned that John would be leaving PI, more than 30 years after he first arrived as a resident. He had accepted an offer to become the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Although this move provided John with a wonderful opportunity to lead an up-and-coming academic department, we in PI Administration will surely miss him. As his colleague and friend, I will miss him particularly, but, as I have said to many here at PI, our mutual research interest in personality disorders should give us many chances to collaborate in the future.

Despite the challenges of the past year, PI’s clinical and research services continued to be productive and well recognized. There were 527 inpatient admissions during the year 2001, compared to 489 for the year 2000. Bed occupancy averaged 85%, up from the previous year. The Schizophrenia Research Unit, under the direction of Roberto Gil, supported 15 different IRB approved research protocols, including new ones involving neuroimaging of patients with substance use disorders. The General Clinical Research Unit, led by Mary Bongiovi-Garcia, had 19 active protocols from 7 different research groups.

In addition to providing their usual high quality clinical care to residents of the community, the Washington Heights Community Service was actively involved in training clinicians and providing services to people affected by the September 11th terrorist attack and the crash of flight 587 in Queens. WHCS provided volunteer psychiatrists to the Family Assistance Center and to Ground Zero, in coordination with Disaster Psychiatry Outreach, and bilingual practitioners provided services to Allianza Dominicana. WHCS used the infrastructure of the Columbia University HIV Mental Health Training Project to rapidly offer education in the assessment and treatment of trauma victims to approximately 600 mental health providers. Staff also organized numerous on-site workplace meetings for employees of public and nonprofit agencies. In all, hundreds of hours of service were provided by staff in disaster-related efforts. PI Administration is very proud of these individuals and grateful for their dedication and hard work.

Other developments on the clinical services this year were the implementation of a new pharmacy management system by R.B. MacArthur (Med Solutions) and the beginning of preparation for the new OHM electronic medical records system (MHARS), led by Amy Bennett-Staub. Clinical psychology services at the Institute were reorganized, with the appointment of Dr. Laura Mufson as Director of Clinical Psychology. Dr. Mufson is further developing clinical psychology services, training programs, and research opportunities for psychologists at PI. Marcia Michaelson, Helle Thorning, and Matt Gold continued their exemplary leadership of Nursing, Social Work, and OT/RT, respectively.

In addition to Dr. Oldham, two other long-time stalwarts of PI announced their retirements. Willie Herriot retired as Chief of Safety after thirty-two years of state service and Hal Seligson retired as Head of the Business Office after more than twenty years at PI. Although they will also be sorely missed, we are lucky to have Peter Reynolds (Engineering), Harold Jones (Housekeeping), Gerry Segal (Information Technology) and R.B. MacArthur (Pharmacy) at their posts, insuring that PI continues to run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. Thanks to them all.