https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-rss/?keywordId=382&orgId=109077&title=In+Memoriam A selection of the latest research, academic, and other newsworthy developments at Psychiatry en-us Copyright 2026 Yale School of Medicine Mon, 18 May 2026 00:01:43 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-lorig-kachadourian-phd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-lorig-kachadourian-phd/ Lorig Kachadourian, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and staff psychologist at VA Connecticut Healthcare, died April 16, 2026, after a long illness. She was 49. Dr. Kachadourian was recognized for her work in understanding and mitigating anger and aggression in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders. She was known for her strong commitment to providing excellent clinical care to veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders, and was dedicated to the education and mentorship of trainees at the VA. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-elise-snyder-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-elise-snyder-md/ Elise Snyder, MD, associate clinical professor of psychiatry, died January 9, 2026. She was 91. Dr. Snyder was a leading figure in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy education. She also was an innovator in the use of teleconferencing and then videoconferencing to advance psychoanalytic training internationally, particularly within China. Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-thomas-e-brown-phd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-thomas-e-brown-phd/ Thomas E. Brown, PhD, a pioneer in the understanding of attention deficit-/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a member of the Yale Department of Psychiatry’s voluntary clinical faculty for two decades, died at home on August 18, 2025. He was 83. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-robert-jay-lifton-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-robert-jay-lifton-md/ Robert Jay Lifton, MD, a member of the Yale Department of Psychiatry faculty from 1961 to 1984, died September 4, 2025, at the age of 99. A psychiatrist, historian, and social commentator, he was described as one of the nation’s leading intellectuals and a founder of the field of psychohistory. Mon, 08 Sep 2025 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-cheri-bragg-ba-msw/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-cheri-bragg-ba-msw/ The Yale Department of Psychiatry announces the passing of Cheri Bragg, BA, MSW, program manager (M&P) for the department's Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH). Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-ruth-westheimer-edd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-ruth-westheimer-edd/ 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. Fri, 02 Aug 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-michael-j-sernyak-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-michael-j-sernyak-md/ 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. Tue, 28 May 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-patrick-d-skosnik/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-patrick-d-skosnik/ 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. Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-jerzy-e-henisz-md-phd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-jerzy-e-henisz-md-phd/ 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. Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-miraj-u-desai-phd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-miraj-u-desai-phd/ 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. Fri, 10 Nov 2023 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-george-k-aghajanian-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-george-k-aghajanian-md/ 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. Fri, 07 Jul 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-frank-fortunati-jd-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-frank-fortunati-jd-md/ Frank Fortunati, JD, MD, assistant professor and deputy chair for Yale New Haven Health System for Psychiatry, died March 5, 2023. Mon, 06 Mar 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-anthony-e-tony-disalvo-phd/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-anthony-e-tony-disalvo-phd/ Anthony E. (Tony) DiSalvo, PhD, former associate administrator at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), died January 28 at the age of 83. Wed, 01 Feb 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-william-sledge-md/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/in-memoriam-william-sledge-md/ 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). Tue, 03 Jan 2023 04:00:00 Z