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O’Leary Award for Innovation in Psychiatry

The O'Leary Award for Innovation in Psychiatry was established by the APA Foundation with support of the O’Leary family during June 2022. The award provides seed money to launch innovative ideas in the field of mental and behavioral health.

The award is named for the late Dr. Paul J. O’Leary, M.D. Dr. O’Leary served as APA Assembly Speaker and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee; as a member of the APA Committee on Advocacy and Litigation Funding; as a member of the APA Political Action Committee Board of Directors; and as a member of the APA Delegation to the American Medical Association.

Notably, Dr. O’Leary, who’s mantra was “Never worry alone” received the APA Assembly Member-in-Training (MIT) Mentor Award for his work with residents and early career psychiatrists in 2013, and the 2022 Ira J. Myers Service Award posthumously from the Alabama State Medical Association.

APA Component(s): APA Assembly

Program Benefits

$5,000 (seed money), Plaque

Criteria / Eligibility

Open to all APA members at all levels of their careers. Non-members are welcome to nominate an APA member.

The strongest award nominations will reflect Dr. O’Leary’s values and will include business ideas that:

  • improve the efficiency of behavioral health care teams;
  • improve and expand access to care, and leverage economies of scale;
  • address crisis de-escalation, stabilization, and wrap-around services to support recovery.

Nomination / Application Details

Submissions should include responses to the following:

  • Statement of Need: What is the opportunity or problem to be addressed, the need for the idea or innovation, and how was that need determined?
  • Goals and Objectives:
    • What are the specific goals and objectives for the seed funding?
    • What are the specific, measurable activities to accomplish these objectives?
    • Indicate how the objectives will improve efficiency and/or access to care.

Nominate/ Apply Here

Deadline

February 1

Award Presentation

The Paul O'Leary Innovation in Psychiatry Award will be presented at APA’s Annual Meeting

Contact

APA Foundation
[email protected]

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