Awards
Awards
Awards
Education and Training
BA, Philosophy, 1983, Georgetown University
PhD, Experimental Pathology, 1989, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
MD, 1990, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency in Psychiatry, 1990-1994, Yale University
Postdoctoral Research, 1993-1994, Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
Senior Staff Fellow, 1994-1996, Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, NIH
Employment
1996-1999: Chief, Geriatric Psychopharmacology and Geriatric Clinical Neurosciences Programs; Acting Chief, Adult Psychopathology, NIMH, Bethesda, MD
1999-2000: Associate Director, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, PA
2000-2001: Director, Clinical Operations, Worldwide Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. Cephalon Inc. West Chester, PA
2001-2003: Chief Medical Officer, Vela Pharmaceuticals, Lawrenceville, NJ
2003-2005: Senior Director, Neuroscience, GlaxoSmithKline, Triangle Park, NC
2005-2007: Executive Director, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, CA
2007-2009: Chief Medical Officer, Validus Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, NJ
2009-2011: Chief Medical Officer, Tonix Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY
2011-2017: Private psychiatric practice in several outpatient settings including Weissler Associates, Raleigh, NC. Easter Seals ACT Teams in rural NC, IPC Healthcare, Raleigh, NC, and Cognitive Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, ND
2017-2020: Director, ICON Plc. Triangle Park, NC
2020: Executive Vice President for Translational Medicine, Tonix Pharmaceuticals
New York, NY
While at the National Institutes of Health, I researched the molecular biology of Alzheimer’s disease, and contributed to a number of mental health initiatives including Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, DSM-IV-TR, and the STAR*D study of treatment-resistant depression.
Since joining industry, I have conducted research programs to develop new medicines for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, dementia, and chronic pain.
As a board-certified psychiatrist, I have extensive experience in clinical psychiatric practice serving in adult inpatient units, long-term care facilities, outpatient office settings, and Assertive Community Treatment Teams.
Other Positions
Member, Committee of Black Psychiatrists of the American Psychiatric Association (1994-2000)
Clinical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Howard University (1996-2000)
Awards
Washington Heart Association High School Summer Research Fellowship (1974)
Arthritis Foundation Summer Research Fellowship (1984)
Mellon Foundation Fellowship (1984)
Charles E. Culpepper Foundation Fellowship (1985)
Commonwealth Fund, National Medical Fellowship (1986)
Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship, NIH (1988)
Exceptional Employee Award, NINCDS, NIH (1988)
Chester E. Harris Memorial Medical Student Award (1989)
American Psychiatric Association Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry Travel Award, APA National Meeting, New York (1989)
L.W. Earley, M.D. Memorial Prize in Psychiatry (1990)
American Psychiatric Association Program for Minority Research Training in Psychiatry Travel Award, ACNP Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico (1991)
American Psychiatric Association/NIMH Minority Fellowship (1992)
Selected as Trainee-Consultant to the American Psychiatric Association/NIMH Minority Fellowship Program (1993)
NIMH Employee Recognition Award (1997)
NIMH Certificate of Appreciation (1999)
Innovator Award, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (2006)