Eleven employees of the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) were presented with Dr. Michael J. Sernyak, Jr. You Made a Difference Awards during a ceremony at CMHC on May 30.

The awards are 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 CMHC. He died May 25, 2024.

Sernyak was dedicated to the treatment of chronically ill patients and a strong advocate for their overall health and wellness. He worked tirelessly to foster collaborations throughout the community to improve access to healthy food and lifestyles and had deeply rooted values that infused his approach to psychiatry and leadership.

The awards were named in his honor to recognize CMHC staff who make a special difference in the lives of patients and exceed expectations in their work.

The recipients were: Bob Forlano, Bonnie Hicks, Steve Kichuk, Chuck Lansdale, Karen Lee, Jennifer Mastriano, Christina Milazzo, Dale Sebastian, Dawn Stewart, Scheila Zayas, and Stan Mathis.

Among the many guests who attended the presentation ceremony was Sernyak’s wife, Ismene Petrakis, MD, professor of psychiatry at chief of psychiatry at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.

Read the award citations:

Bob Forlano

“Bob has been working here at CMHC in peer support for over 10 years. He is kind, passionate about his work, and always willing to lend a hand. More recently he has been supporting people receiving services here at CMHC to make sure they have the food they need, through food navigation. He goes above and beyond to help a person who is hungry to access food resources. Bob has also been an integral part of the Director's Advisory council and the Anti-Racism task force within the department of Psychiatry. Bob is open about sharing his story dealing with his experiences of mental illness and loves to help people.

Time and again, I have witnessed his compassion, commitment, and giving spirit. I have worked closely with Bob as we have built the food navigation program over the past few years. Bob has been the anchor for the program, providing the bridge between clinicians and people who are requesting assistance. In building that bridge, he employs the compassion and lived experience of a peer combined with the voice of an advocate stressing the urgency of addressing food insecurity on both the individual and organizational level.

The commitment to walking alongside people in their recovery journey is present in everything Bob does. From listening to and connecting with people who stop by the CMHC lobby, to co-facilitating several weekly groups, maybe most notably the Better Eaters Club and the Men’s Group with Rev. Brett, Bob is present and always looking for ways he can help and advocate for people. Bob has consistently been committed to growing his skills as a peer to be able to better meets the needs and encourage the dreams of people receiving services at CMHC.”

Bonnie Hicks

“Bonnie is an exceptional and excellent nurse, and a great leader. She is a mentor who shows respect, builds rapport with staff, and is trustworthy. She exemplifies what a great nurse is by going the extra mile in providing patient-centered care. She displays humility, kindness, compassion, empathy, listening, and a good attitude toward patients and staff. She is a definition of “You Made a Difference “. She leads by example by being dedicated, shows up to cover units callouts, and crises, and connects well with patients and staff. She makes impeccable suggestions that make the unit run smoothly despite the times of chaos. She is respectful and engages with everyone in a professional manner. She inspires others to grow and keeps on motivating them to succeed.”

Steve Kichuk

“I am nominating Steve for his outstanding dedication and exceptional service at CMHC. His commitment to the well-being of both research participants and colleagues goes far beyond expectations, making a profound impact on our workplace and the broader community.

Steve consistently demonstrates empathy, patience, and professionalism in every interaction. He takes the time to ensure that research participants feel safe, heard, and valued, going the extra mile to provide emotional support and resources when needed. His ability to connect with individuals facing mental health challenges fosters trust and encourages open communication, ultimately improving the quality of care and research outcomes.

Beyond his direct work with participants, Steve is a pillar of support for his colleagues. He actively promotes a culture of wellness by offering guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear to those facing the challenges of working in the mental health field. Through informal check-ins and his empathetic demeanor, he helps create an environment where everyone feels supported and empowered.

Steve's unwavering dedication, collaborative spirit, and passion for mental health advocacy make him an invaluable asset to CMHC. He not only meets the standards of his role but consistently exceeds them, embodying the core values of compassion, integrity, and excellence.”

Chuck Lansdale

“I would like to nominate Chuck Lansdale for going above and beyond when our Yale Research Group has challenging issues that need to be resolved. In the past, we have received a lot of "no that's not possible" or "we will look into it" but that is the extent. Despite the incredible workload on his plate right now, with the sprinkle project, he still makes things happen. I recently had a freezer that was purchased and it would not fit in the doorway of the room it was meant for. Even with the door removed from the hinges, it would not fit. Normally, I would hear, "it's not going to work, you are going to have to put it somewhere else". That is not what happened.. He called in reinforcements, aka Joe (thank you), removed the switch on the freezer that was causing it to stick out too far, and made it work. This just happened to be the most recent request that he came through for us. It has been a really great to have someone in charge who genuinely wants to assist so to that I say, thank you Chuck!!”

Karen Lee

“Karen is an exceptional case manager who truly cares about improving the quality of life for the clients on the CSP team. She has been an advocate for multiple clients who have been in unstable or unsafe living arrangements, so that they can be relocated to safer, more appropriate housing. Karen has developed positive therapeutic relationships with many of her clients, and I have heard multiple clients credit her with help in their successes.

As most of us know, housing and client placement is one of the more challenging and frustrating aspects of our work. I specifically nominated Karen Lee due to the perseverance she has demonstrated in helping two clients find new places to live. One of Karen’s clients was recently placed at a rest home, following months, maybe over a year of our consistent advocacy that the client needed a higher level of care. Karen consistently advocated for the client’s needs with the client’s conservator, with hospitals, and with the Area Agency on Aging. I was very impressed by Karen’s foresight and persistence in planning for this client’s future. Karen advocated for this client as I would hope that someone would advocate for me if I didn’t have family and was in a similar position. Aside from this particular client, I can think of several others who are in safer, more appropriate, and more comfortable living environments due in large part to her efforts.”

Jennifer Mastriano

“I have worked closely with Jenn and witnessed firsthand her extraordinary dedication. Despite not holding an official leadership title, she serves as the heart of the MAT clinic—coordinating patient care, managing logistics, liaising with pharmacies and insurance companies, and providing hands-on clinical support.

Beyond her expected duties, Jenn goes above and beyond. When we launched a Contingency Management program for patients with stimulant use disorders, she personally funded some of the materials to ensure its success. Recently, when a patient in crisis struggled to access medication, Jenn spent hours navigating insurance barriers—making multiple calls until the issue was resolved. These are just a few examples of her unwavering commitment.

Jenn is also a steady and respected presence among her colleagues, known for her kindness, expertise, and willingness to mentor others. She embodies the spirit of this award, consistently improving CMHC’s workplace and advancing its mission of care, research, education, and community.”

Christina Milazzo

Christina Milazzo has been nominated for her exceptional contributions and her unwavering dedication to both staff and patient care. Her commitment to fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement is evident in her innovative approach to training and education. Christina has introduced training programs that are not only effective but also engaging and fun, ensuring that staff remain motivated while gaining crucial skills. Christina also spearheaded the creation of a much-needed nursing education program, one that had never been implemented before. This program has filled a vital gap, providing invaluable resources and training that will benefit the entire team for years to come.

One of her nominators said, “I’ve seen firsthand how her revamped competency program has directly impacted fire safety training. In the past year, the units have reduced their fire drill response times, and staff knowledge of fire policy has improved, as demonstrated in late-night educational drills. These measurable improvements have shown me that Christina’s approach is not only engaging but also highly effective.

In addition to her educational contributions, Christina’s empathic and sympathetic nature shines through in all aspects of her work. She takes the time to listen and provide support, creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere within the team. Her genuine care for the well-being of others is felt by both staff and patients alike.

Christina’s passion for excellence, her innovative spirit, and her compassionate nature makes her an ideal candidate for the “You Did a Difference Award.” She truly exemplifies the best of our values and makes a lasting impact on all of us.

Dale Sebastian

“In the years I have worked at CMHC, I have seen him make a transformative impact on clients in inpatient. I witnessed a patient that had resided in the hospital for almost 7 years, discharge and do well; to this day he has not been re-hospitalized. I have seen several of his clients stabilize, discharge, and do well until they choose to stop taking their meds. I listen to him teach, and learn from him, I watch him help residents grow. He is helping shape the future of psychiatry through his teachings and by sharing his perspective. He contributes to the growth of the discipline and been a speaker at APA conferences; what an honor! He also champions change in our culture by promoting diversity and supporting those who have not had privileges others have had in this country. He embodies the change we read about in scientific literature. This man deserves this acknowledgement and award.”

Dawn Stewart

“Last summer, Law & Psychiatry needed urgent help after one of our administrative assistants left her position. Despite her grief after Dr. Sernyak's passing, Dawn volunteered to fill in, helping Law & Psychiatry to manage the flow of forensic evaluations through the Division. With her education in business administration, Dawn brought fresh eyes to the fiscal aspects of forensic evaluation, pointing out challenges with our current system and offering astute suggestions for how to improve it. All of this went above and beyond what would be expected of any administrative assistant, let alone a temporary helper. Dawn also helped organize the recruitment for a permanent administrative assistant, eventually allowing Law & Psychiatry to build the strong administrative team that we now have. Sometimes administrative support people go unnoticed in a mental health center because they do not work directly with patients, but Dawn's contributions to the Law & Psychiatry Division, especially at a time when she was coping with a significant loss, mean a great deal to us. Because of her intellect and effort, Law & Psychiatry is better able to serve the CMHC and New Haven communities, providing high-quality forensic evaluations to those in need.”

Scheila Zayas

“Scheila’s career within our facility exemplifies dedication, professional growth, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Scheila began her career at CMHC as a unit nurse, where her clinical expertise and compassionate care quickly distinguished her. Her leadership potential led to her promotion to CNRU Unit Supervisor, a role in which she excelled by fostering a supportive environment for both staff and patients and enhancing collaboration between Yale’s research needs and DMHAS policy and standards. Currently, as Nursing Supervisor/Quality Assurance (QA) Nurse, Scheila plays a pivotal role in developing and refining nursing policies, ensuring that our practices meet the highest standards of care.

Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning, Scheila is actively pursuing her Nurse Practitioner degree, balancing academic responsibilities with her professional duties. Her proactive approach is evident in initiatives like the creation of our nursing newsletter, which she not only launched but also sustains, providing valuable information and recognizing staff achievements.

Scheila's leadership style is characterized by intelligence, authenticity, and a genuine desire to enhance the well-being of our facility, patients, and staff. She builds strong relationships through support, kindness, and direct communication, embodying the qualities of an exceptional nurse leader.”