The following message was sent to the Department of Psychiatry by Chair John H. Krystal, MD.
Our friend and colleague, Michael J. Sernyak, MD died peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the age of 62. At the time of his death, Michael was professor, Deputy Chair for State Affairs, and Deputy Chair for Clinical Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry. Also, he was CEO of the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Michael arrived at Yale for psychiatry residency training in 1987, having graduated from Amherst College and Jefferson Medical College. After joining the faculty in 1991, Michael rose through the ranks, achieving professorship in 2003.
Michael aimed to advance the treatment of chronically ill patients. He began his career at CMHC, where he was chief of the Psychosis Studies and Treatment Unit and the Refractory Treatment Unit and Associate Director of the CMHC Inpatient Division. In these programs, he brought clozapine treatment to CMHC. In 1996, he moved to the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS), where he was Director of the Neuropsychiatry Firm. In 2000, he assumed the leadership of Psychiatry and the Mental Health Service Line in VACHS. He also became associate director of the VISN1 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center. As Chief of Psychiatry, Michael built an outstanding faculty team, promoted the educational mission, and supported research.
In some ways, Michael fully realized his vision for psychiatry when he assumed the roles of Deputy Chair for State Affairs and CEO of CMHC in 2009. There he supported the building of novel programs that fostered new ways of engaging community members, including the introduction of “Street Psychiatry” and the COMPASS Program. He built strong relationships with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Office of the Mayor of New Haven, and other stakeholders. With Dr. Jeanne Steiner, he created a Public Psychiatry Fellowship Program, which grew to one of the leading programs of its kind in the country.
Michael advocated to improve mental health in the context of enhancing overall health. For example, he was committed to advancing healthy diets. Because of the limited access of many CMHC clients to sources of healthy food, he regularly converted the CMHC parking lot into a Farmers’ Market. He also promoted healthy lifestyles. He was an avid bicyclist, bicycle racer, and a fan of cycling racing. He advocated for the establishment of bicycle lanes on New Haven roads, provided access to bicycles to several people, and he enjoyed riding with friends and colleagues.
Michael received several honors including the Chairman’s Award and the Fleck Award from the Department of Psychiatry. These awards recognized his leadership of clinical innovation.
He was an exemplary citizen of our Department and Medical School. Within the Department, he was on the Steering Committee and Community Subcommittee of the Department’s Anti-Racism Task Force. He also was on the Medical School Admissions Committee. Dr. Veronica Chiang, Assistant Dean for Admissions described him as a “pillar” of this Committee.
Michael had wide ranging interests outside of work. In addition to cycling, he was a history buff, an avid University of Michigan football booster, a sports car aficionado, a Formula 1 fan, and a leading expert on the merits of the Philadelphia pretzel.
After receiving his cancer diagnosis, with the support of his family, Michael courageously engaged in his treatment. He was consistently upbeat and forward looking. He made the most of his time, including enjoying drives in his sports car.
Michael’s death is a terrible loss for me and for the Department. Over the past 35 years, I watched him grow from an enthusiastic psychiatry resident into a psychiatric leader and close friend. He was a voracious reader and he had deeply rooted values that infused his approach to psychiatry and leadership.
Michael is survived by his wife, Ismene Petrakis, MD, professor and Deputy Chair for Veterans Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry; his son, Alexander; and his daughter, Zoe. He is also survived by his brother, Patrick Mattson (Ann).
A memorial service for Michael will be held at Battell Chapel on Sunday, June 2, at 2:00 pm. Battell Chapel is located on the corner of Elm St. and College St., 400 College St. New Haven, CT. Details on a reception, following the service, will be shared at the memorial.