Erika Wolf. Erika has been awarded first prize in the ISTSS graduate student DSM-V essay competition. Her essay on PTSD and comorbidity was selected from a pool of 51 essays submitted by graduate students from around the world. She will receive a $1,000 cash award, paid travel to attend ISTSS in Chicago, and her essay will be published in an upcoming issue of Stress Points. Erika has worked in the National Center for PTSD for about five years and this is the third impressive award that she’s won to date. Mark Miller, Ph.D. in the national center is her dissertation advisor and mentor.

Ashish Jha, MD, MPH. Dr. Jha has received the Alice S. Hersh New Investigator Award for his work on quality efforts and racial disparities in care in the VA healthcare system. This award recognizes scholars early in their careers as health services researchers who show exceptional promise for future contributions. Dr. Jha is researcher and staff physician at VA Boston, and faculty member at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Janet Richmond, LICSW in Mental Health. Ms. Richmond has been elected as Vice President of the American Association of Emergency Psychiatry and is now a published author.  Janet wrote the chapter on Trauma and Loss in the recently published book Emergency Psychiatry – Principles and Practice by Glick, RL; Berlin,J S; Fiskind,A; Zeller, SL (eds) thru Lippincott William & Wilkins Publishers. The book debuted at APA in April 2008.

Jennifer Moye, Ph.D., Director, Geriatric Mental Health, has won the 2008 Dean’s Community Service Achievement Award at Harvard Medical School for her work with the Shawmut Garden in Dorchester. Established in 1999, the Dean's Community Service Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding efforts to serve the local, national and international community.

Lisa Najavits, Ph.D. Dr. Najavits was recently elected to the office of President of Division 50 (Addictions) of the American Psychological Association, a noteworthy recognition for her important work in this area that is so germane to veteran care.

Sigmund Hough, Ph.D., ABPP, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Spinal Cord Injury Service. Dr. Hough was recently elected to the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society. Dr. Hough also was elected as Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) which will be confirmed at the 28th Annual 2008 NAN Conference.

VA Boston Researchers. In May, Terry Keane, PhD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, and his staff commemorated VA Research Week with exhibitions of a multitude of ongoing research projects and scientific studies within VABHS. On May 14, the department hosted a VA Research Week Poster Session at the West Roxbury BPO Elks Club, where investigators and scientists met and discussed their work among peers. The event concluded with an awards ceremony hosted by Dr. Keane, where Michael M. Lawson, Director, and Michael Charness, MD, Chief of Staff, awarded certificates and offered praise and support to those honored for their individual and project achievements.

Dr. Jillian Shipherd receiving a certificate acknowledging her promotion to Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine from the VA BHS Chief of Staff, Dr. Michael Charness.

Recipients of the PTSD/TBI Research Grant from the Department of Defense: Dr. Gary Kaplan, Dr. Jennifer Vasterling, Dr. Casey Taft, Dr. Brian Marx, Dr. Patricia  Resick, Dr. Terence Keane

Stephanie Jardeleza, MD. Dr. Jardeleza, a third-year BU resident and first author on the VA research project "Effect of trypan blue staining on the elastic modulus of diabetic and non-diabetic anterior lens capsules", has won the Sanford D. Hecht Research Award (first prize) at the New England Ophthalmological Society Meeting held in May 2008.

William Milberg, Ph.D., ABPP/CN, Neuropsychologist, Director. Dr. Milberg was awarded the Edith Kaplan Award at the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society 20th Annual Meeting and Science Symposium in June 2008 for his significant accomplishments and impact upon the field of neuropsychology.

Maxine Krengel, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist, Polytrauma. Dr. Krengel was recently elected to the Board of Directors and President of Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society.

Karen Acerra-Williams.   Ms. Acerra-Williams has served as Staff Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Staff Assistant to the Director at the VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) since joining the VA in 2004. In May 2008, she was bestowed the designation of Professional Employee of the Year - Administrative by the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board through its Excellence in Government Awards. These awards, established in 1974, serve as a means of recognizing and rewarding the "best of the best" in Federal service.

Michael M. Lawson, Director. Mr. Lawson is the recipient of the 2008 Secretary's Award to a Medical Center or Health Care System Director for the Advancement of Nursing Programs. This prestigious award recognizes his support for nursing staff via the incorporation of contemporary nursing practices into the facilities' existing nursing programs, programs for the recruitment and retention of nursing staff, opportunities for career growth and development, incentive and award programs, and more. Mr. Lawson received his award on May 12 from VA Secretary James B. Peake.

Shakti Sabharwal, M.D. Dr. Sabharwal was honored on May 8 by the Massachusetts Medical Society as the 2008 recipient of its Special Award for Excellence in Medical Service. The award honors a physician who has provided exceptional care and dedication to the medical needs of his or her patients and the general public. A native of India and a graduate of St. George's University School of Medicine, Dr. Sabharwal is a board-certified Internist with the VA Boston Healthcare System. She has served two tours of active duty as a US Army major, one in Iraq and another in Kosovo. She remains on active reserve status.

Juman Hijab, M.D.   Dr. Hijab has been appointed as Local Care Line Manager for Geriatrics and Extended Care and Medical Director of the Community Living Center (formerly known as the nursing home care unit). She has been at the Boston VA HCS from December 2001, as a full time attending physician in the Brockton Transitional Care unit (also known as 41C). She has previously held clinical and administrative positions in various organizations (HMO settings, Family Medicine residency programs, and inner city clinics). As the Local Care Line Manager, her plan is to build on the initiatives started by Dr. Madineedi in the Community Living Center as well as continue to foster strong bridges with systems that provide care to elderly veterans. The focus will continue to be that of working together to help elderly veterans maximize their health status.