In Memoriam

Ruth Westheimer, EdD, known to the public as "Dr. Ruth," passed away on July 12, 2024. She was 94. At the time of her death, she held the rank of Lecturer in the Yale Department of Psychiatry.

Michael J. Sernyak, MD, died peacefully on May 25, 2024. He was 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.

With great sadness, we share news of the sudden and unexpected death of Patrick D. Skosnik, PhD, at the age of 50 on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Boston. At the time of his untimely passing, he was an adjunct Associate Professor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry having very recently taken a position as a tenured Professor, Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Schools of Nursing & Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences where he had opened a new chapter in his academic life.

The Department of Psychiatry sadly shares the news of the death of Jerzy E. Henisz, MD, PhD, retired faculty in the department. Dr. Henisz died January 16, 2024, at the age of 86 in his home in Washington, Conn., after a long struggle with cancer.

It is with immense sadness that the Yale Department of Psychiatry shares the news of the sudden death of Miraj Desai, PhD, at the age of 41 on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Miraj was an assistant professor at the Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH) of the Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.

The Department of Psychiatry sadly shares the news of the death of George K. Aghajanian, MD, at the age of 91 on July 4, 2023. At the time of this death, Dr. Aghajanian was the Foundations Fund Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry.

Frank Fortunati, JD, MD, assistant professor and deputy chair for Yale New Haven Health System for Psychiatry, died March 5, 2023.

Anthony E. (Tony) DiSalvo, PhD, former associate administrator at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), died January 28 at the age of 83.

William Sledge, MD, died on December 20, at the age of 77. At the time of his death, Dr. Sledge was the George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry. He had served in numerous roles within the department, including interim department chair (2007–2009).