Yale Child Study Center Recognizes 2025 Award Recipients and Retirees

On June 4, 2025, approximately 50 Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) faculty, staff, and trainees joined together in person for the department’s fourth annual awards and recognition event. Simulcast via Zoom for those unable to attend in person, the event is focused on the presentation of departmental awards recognizing outstanding contributions in various areas—including clinical excellence, supervision, teaching, mentorship, and community service—in addition to honoring upcoming retirees.

YCSC Chair Linda Mayes, MD, served as the emcee again this year, with awards presented by representatives of each award review committee. YCSC community members were invited to submit nominations for select awards in March, and these nominations were reviewed by respective committees. Awardees were announced internally in late May. A surprise recognition was included this year, honoring Andrés Martin, MD, for 18 years coordinating the department's Grand Rounds series

Clinical Excellence Award

Kristen Hammel, LCSW, was selected to receive this award, intended to spotlight an individual whose knowledge, skillset, and professionalism in day-to-day interactions with patients, families, and colleagues reflects their commitment to clinical excellence. YCSC faculty currently providing direct patient care are eligible for nomination by the community.

Jean Adnopoz Community Service Award

Eunice Yuen, MD, PhD, received this award, which recognizes members of the YCSC community who have contributed to the goal of maintaining children with their parent(s) and/or toward services that improve the life of a child through research, model development, clinical work, or administrative support. All YCSC faculty and staff members are eligible for this award, which is selected via community nominations.

Psychology Faculty Mentor/Supervisor Award

Brianna Brower, PhD, was chosen by YCSC psychology trainees to receive this award, honoring the contributions of a YCSC faculty or staff member who has demonstrated excellence in mentorship of psychology trainees. YCSC faculty and staff are eligible for this award, which is determined by current psychology fellows.

Research Mentor Award

Christina Cipriano, PhD, EdM, received this award, which recognizes the contributions of YCSC faculty whose dedication to mentoring researchers exemplifies our department’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders through exceptional dedication to mentoring researchers, facilitating discoveries that inspire care and advancing our mission of improving the lives of children and families. YCSC faculty are eligible for nomination for this award.

Sally Provence Award for Excellence in Supervision

Laine Taylor, DO, was the recipient of this award, recognizing exemplary supervision by a YCSC faculty member in any discipline. YCSC faculty from any discipline, including community and part-time faculty, are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Sam Ritvo Teacher of the Year Award

J. Preston Ebaugh, MD, was selected by YCSC child and adolescent psychiatry and integrated track trainees for this award, which honors the contributions of a YCSC faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentorship. YCSC faculty are eligible for this award, which is determined by current child and adolescent psychiatry fellows.

Social Work Fellowship Service Award

Anne Santello, BA, was chosen by YCSC social work fellows as the recipient of this award, which recognizes someone who embodies social work values and has demonstrated exceptional service and/or noteworthy contributions to the YCSC community, especially as related to the Social Work Fellowship. YCSC faculty and staff members are eligible for this award, the recipient for which is determined by current social work fellows.

Individual recognition for each of this year’s retirees has been or soon will be announced via the department’s internal announcements on SharePoint. Retiring YCSC faculty and staff members have individual choices around how they would like to have their retirement recognized by the department, though retirees are also briefly honored at the annual awards and recognition event each June. This year’s retirees are as follows.

• James Leckman, MD
• Steven Marans, PhD

Separately, Alexis Benedetto, MD, MPH; Nelson Rubio, MD; Sarah Abdallah, MD; Samuel Sondale, MD, PhD; and Max Rolison, MD, were recognized as the recipients of the John E. Schowalter Chief Resident Award at a resident recognition event.

An interdisciplinary department at Yale School of Medicine, the YCSC is comprised of faculty and staff with multiple areas of expertise working together to improve the mental health of children and families, advance understanding of their psychological and developmental needs, and treat and prevent childhood mental illness through the integration of research, clinical practice, and professional training.