On June 16th, the Psychology Section held its graduation ceremony for Psychology Fellows completing internships at the Connecticut Mental Health Center and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Seventeen fellows were joined by 80 family members and faculty members to celebrate successful completion of their one-year internship. For these students, completion of this predoctoral internship was the final step in the process of obtaining their doctorate in psychology.
All fellows had secured post-internship positions prior to graduation. The majority will complete a postdoctoral fellowship next year, which is the typical career path. Two secured faculty positions, which usually does not occur until completion of postdoctoral training. Five fellows will remain at Yale for advanced fellowships. Others will disperse across the country to very prestigious academic and clinical institutions, such as: the University of Pennsylvania; Emory University; Duke University; and the Cleveland Clinic.
Faculty Awards
The annual graduation of fellows also serves as an occasion to recognize faculty within the Psychology Section. The following awards were conferred this year:
The Sidney J. Blatt Award
Stephanie S. O’Malley, Ph.D.
The highest honor bestowed by the Psychology Section is the Sidney J. Blatt Award. Dr. Blatt was the Chief of Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry for over 50 years and excelled as a clinician, educator, and scholar. He maintained an active practice of psychotherapy, trained hundreds of psychologists and physicians, and pursued an active course of empirical research on psychodynamic theories and interventions. The award given in his name is bestowed on a faculty psychologist who similarly has excelled in clinical care, teaching, and research.
This year’s honoree was Dr. Stephanie O’Malley, Professor of Psychiatry; Director of the Division of Substance Abuse Research in Psychiatry; and Deputy Chair of Clinical Research. As a clinician Dr. O’Malley has dedicated her career to providing the best possible care to persons with substance use disorders. As an educator she has taught hundreds of doctoral and postdoctoral psychology fellows, psychiatric residents, and faculty about evidence-based clinical care and about research. With respect to research, she has dedicated her career to development of more effective treatments for substance use disorders, primarily alcohol and tobacco. Her landmark study on the efficacy of naltrexone contributed significantly to the decision by the Food and Drug Administration to approve this medication for use in the treatment of alcoholism.
Distinguished Faculty Award – Teacher
Nakia Hamlett, Ph.D.
As the recipient of this award, Dr. Naka Hamlett was recognized for her outstanding contributions as a teacher within the Department of Psychiatry and its Psychology Section. Receiving praise from her students, she has excelled as a teacher of psychology fellows in the West Haven Mental Health Clinic, the Young Adult Service, and the CMHC Acute Inpatient Service.
Distinguished Faculty Award – Supervisor
Erika R. Carr, Ph.D.
Joining the faculty just two years ago, Dr. Erika Carr has had a major impact on the training of psychologists in CMHC’s Acute Inpatient Service and has contributed significantly to strengthening the quality of care on that service. Revered by her students for her creative, caring, attentive, and patient approach to working with them, Dr. Carr received this award in recognition of her outstanding contributions as a supervisor within the Department of Psychiatry and its Psychology Section.
Distinguished Faculty Award – Voluntary Clinical Faculty
Michael Barrios, Ph.D.
Given in recognition of outstanding contributions to psychology training, Dr. Barrios was acknowledged for his 26 years of service to the Psychology Section as a supervisor and mentor of doctoral fellows. He was praised for this keen intellect and compassion in working with trainees. In the review of their work with Dr. Barrios, trainees have repeatedly noted his thought-provoking and supportive approach to supervision.