Aniyizhai Annamalai, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, has been honored with two awards in recognition of her professional work.
Annamalai received the Michael J. Sernyak Jr. Award for Advancing Well-Being for People with Serious Mental Illness in June 2025. Given by the Connecticut Psychiatric Society, the award recognizes the dedication to overall wellness of people with serious mental illness, addressing both their mental and physical health.
The award is named for Sernyak, professor of psychiatry; deputy chair for state affairs; deputy chair for clinical affairs for the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine; and CEO of the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC). He died May 25, 2024.
Annamalai was also a 2025 Immigrant of the Year Honoree by the Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the cultural life, advocacy, and well-being of immigrant communities across the state of Connecticut. It was given in May 2025.
At Yale, Annamalai is director of the Adult Refugee Clinic and director of the Wellness Center at CMHC.