March 29, 2002

The MGH Board of Trustees announced last week the selection of Jerrold Rosenbaum, MD, as the new chief of Psychiatry. Rosenbaum, who has practiced at the MGH for more than 25 years, has served as interim chief for the last two years, since Ned Cassem, MD, stepped down as chief in 1999.

"We are indeed privileged to have Jerry Rosenbaum lead the MGH Department of Psychiatry into the 21st century," says Joan Sapir, vice president for Neurosciences and Pediatrics, who oversees Psychiatry. "Under Jerry's leadership, I am confident that the department will continue to flourish in clinical service, research and training. He is indeed a "triple threat" with expertise in all three areas of our mission."

Rosenbaum (at right) also is a professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is recognized as an authority on mood and anxiety disorders, with a special emphasis on pharmacotherapy. He has written more than 300 original articles and reviews and has published 12 books. He earned his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the MGH.

"The last two years spent as interim chief have been a great opportunity to learn and understand the strengths and needs of our department," says Rosenbaum. "This is an extraordinarily good place because of the quality and talent of our faculty, staff and trainees. I will pledge my best effort to lead this department with primary attention to the well-being of our departmental 'family,' as well as to those who depend on us for their care and those who may not have to suffer from psychiatric illness in the future because of our research efforts."

For the past six years, MGH Psychiatry has topped U.S. News and World Report magazine's national ranking of hospital psychiatric services. MGH psychiatrists' names also dominate any number of local and national "best-of" lists, and thousands of psychiatrists and psychologists from around the world flock to the hospital every year to take part in MGH Psychiatry conferences and seminars.

According to John Herman, MD, of MGH Psychiatry, the MGH has one of the most in-depth research programs of psychiatric departments worldwide. There are approximately 600 department members involved in research and clinical practice in a variety of specialties including: psychopharmacology, functional neuroimaging and neuroscience, psychiatric genetics and epidemiology, child, adolescent and geriatric psychiatry, consultation to medical and surgical services, acute psychiatric services and psychological and neuropsychological testing. Specialties also include psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapies as well as cognitive and behavior therapies.

"Jerry has been an amazing mentor for this department and has grown the psychopharmacology research enterprise from a very small one to now being among the largest research departments and clinical trial research programs at the MGH," says Herman.