Endowed Funds Exist in Perpetuity
Most of the named professorships, clinical and research programs, lectureships, scholarships and fellowships at the George Washington University come from endowed funds, which exist in perpetuity. When an endowment gift is received, it is invested by the University and only a portion of the income (generally 4 to 5%) is used each year to support the program, professorship or student.
Naming of Funds Is a Donor Decision
Donors may choose to name their endowed funds for themselves or in honor or memory of someone else. Faculty holding a named professorship or lectureship and residents holding a named scholarship or fellowship are given information about the donor (if appropriate) and the person(s) for whom the fund is named.
Donors May Choose Focus of Endowment
Donors may decide to focus the fund's support for a particular area of interest or discipline related to psychiatry, or suggest other guidelines for the awards. Depending on the donor's wishes and the needs of the GW Department of Psychiatry, an endowed fund can provide full or partial support for a program, faculty member or resident. Endowed funds also can support other scholarly pursuits, including internships, conferences, or programs reflecting the wishes of the donors.
Donors May Contribute to Existing Funds to Support the GW Department of Psychiatry
Donors may determine that an endowed fund already exists to support their particular interest or wish to honor one of the esteemed individuals for whom the fund is named. A gift to one of these funds is a concrete and heartfelt way for friends, colleagues, patients, alumni and students to demonstrate their high regard for these exceptional individuals, as well as to ensure that their legacies will continue at GW.
Existing Funds in the GW Department of Psychiatry
The Leon M. Yochelson Professorship and Chair
This fund was endowed to honor the memory of Leon M. Yochelson, MD, chairman of the GW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from 1959-1970. The generous gift to endow this named professorship provides support for the position of the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
The Seymour Perlin, MD Lectureship on Suicidology and Life Threatening Illnesses
This fund was endowed to honor Seymour Perlin, MD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, former director of psychiatry residency training, and an authority on suicide and life threatening illness. The endowment supports an annual lectureship in suicidology and other life threatening illnesses.
The Daniel S. Prager, MD Lectureship in Psychoanalytic Psychiatry
This fund was made possible through a gift by friends in memory of Daniel S. Prager, MD who was for many years a practicing psychoanalyst and teacher in the Washington psychoanalytic community, affiliated with the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. This annual lectureship has grown into an annual visiting professorship and was established as an expression of Dr. Prager’s interest in the influence of psychodynamic principles on the theory and practice of psychiatry.
The Resnik Family Lecture in Psychiatry and Palliative Care
The Resnik Family Lecture in Psychiatry and Palliative Care fund provides support for an annual lecture in psychiatry as it relates to palliative medicine. The lectureship is designed to encourage psychiatry and palliative medicine collaborations with geriatrics, oncology, and internal medicine, and to expose medical students and residents to leaders in the field.
Harvey Resnik, M.D. is GW emeritus professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. His daughter, Rebecca Resnik, M.D. (SMHS 2002), is Medical Director at Hospice of Metro Denver and an associate clinical professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
The Jerry M. Wiener, MD Endowment Fund for Psychiatric Education
To support and advance programs designed to enhance psychiatric education in five primary areas:
- Residency training in psychiatry within a biopsychosocial model of specialty practice, teaching and research.
- Medical student education in the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, the psychological and psychosocial aspects of medical illness, and a basic understanding of the causes and treatments of psychiatric disorders; to include the annual bestowal of the Jerry M. Wiener, MD Award in Psychiatry to the graduating GW medical student entering the field of psychiatry who most exemplifies the qualities so listed.
- Training for primary care residents in the psychosocial and psychiatric aspects of primary care practice.
- An annual Jerry M. Wiener, MD Lecture to be given as grand rounds in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences on topics in the fields of psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry related to advocacy, mental health policy, and/or education and training.
- Exploration and collaboration with national institutions and organizations and/or inter-university collaborations that consider policy initiatives relevant to adult, child, and/or family mental health concerns.