The Vestermark Psychiatry Educator Award recognizes excellence, leadership, and creativity in the field of psychiatric education and is given annually to a psychiatric educator for outstanding contributions to the education and development of psychiatrists. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Seymour Vestermark, M.D., chief of the National Institute of Mental Health Training Branch from 1948 to 1959 and an authority in the field of professional mental health education. The award concentrates on the field of psychiatric education in its broadest context, with special emphasis on preparation of teachers, use of new educational tools, and improved teaching techniques in the field of mental health.

2025 Award Recipient

Dr. Tasman is Emeritus Professor and Schwab Endowed Chair in Social and Community Psychiatry at the University of Louisville. A leader in psychiatric education in medical student, residency, and CME, as APA program chair he introduced interactive learning sessions still in use. He was president of AADPRT, AAP, AACDP, and APA. He oversaw the establishment of the journal Academic Psychiatry and founded two other journals. He founded the school wide Distinction in Research program in Louisville, and the Distance Learning Program in psychotherapy in AAPDPP. As Secretary for Education in the WPA he implemented global training guidelines with a special focus on low resource countries. He is lead editor for an internationally acclaimed textbook, now called Tasman’s Psychiatry 5th edition. A sought-after lecturer, supervisor, and mentor, he has been recognized with multiple awards for psychiatric education.

Previous Award Recipients

• 2024: Sydney Zisook, M.D.
  "Caring for Ourselves"
• 2023: Laura Roberts, M.D., M.A.
  "Launching and Navigating a Successful Career in Academic Medicine"
• 2022: No Award Given
• 2021: No Award Given
• 2020: Jeffrey M. Lyness, M.D.
• 2018: Alan Kuo-Hin Luoie, M.D.
  "Why Artificial Intelligence and Computational Neuroscience Should Be Taught to Psychiatry Residents"
• 2017: Sandra Sexson, M.D.
  "Promoting Physician Competence Across the Lifespan: Targeted Lifelong Learning and Continuous Practice Assessment and Improvement"
• 2016: Robert E. Hales, M.D. & John H. Coverdale, M.D.
  "Psychiatric Faculty Development: Challenges for the 21st Century"
• 2015: Geraldine S. Fox, M.D., M.H.P.E
  "Stories that Stick: Teaching From the Heart Using Personal Narrative Stimulus Video" (given at IPS)
• 2014: Carol A. Bernstein, M.D.
  "Leading Change Through Education and Mentorship"

Program Benefits

Winner will present an award lecture on an educational topic during the Annual Meeting

Criteria / Eligibility

APA members that are in medical education.

Selection Criteria

Nominees for this award should have demonstrated evidence of work that includes contributions to medical education in the following areas:

• Medical student education
• Graduate education
• Continuing education
• Interdisciplinary programs
• Research in education

Innovations in education:

• Improved teaching methods
• Improved or new methods and strategies in evaluation
• Exploration in new and/or neglected areas
• Relation of education to service delivery and/or labor use

Administrative educational contributions, e.g., leadership in educational components of local and national academic organizations and/or institutions:

• Publications related to education.
• Duration and intensity of commitment to psychiatric education.
• Peer evaluation (comments of colleagues, supervisors, etc.), student evaluation, and other awards, prizes, or commendations received.

The Selection Committee is comprised of four APA members appointed by the President-elect. The committee uses the above criteria to score each nominee. The final selection will be forwarded to the Joint Reference Committee and the APA Board of Trustees for final approval.

Nomination / Application Details

An open call for nominations will be published in APA communications.

• Nominations by a colleague or department Chair are accepted.
• Nominations must include the following information:
  • Cover sheet to include:
    • Nominee Name, Email, Preferred phone number.
    • Nominator Name, Email, Preferred phone number (if not a self-nomination).
  • Abbreviated CV (maximum two pages) – including publications and documentation of experience as an educator.
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Maximum two-page narrative, demonstrating how the nominee exemplifies the selection criteria.

Submission Deadline and Instructions

June 1 of each year. Submissions will not be considered if they are incomplete or submitted after the deadline. Submit applications here.

Notification

Awardee will be notified no later than January 31.

Award Presentation

Awardee will receive the award and give an award lecture at the APA Annual Meeting. Awardees will also be posted on APA’s website.

Contact

• Ashley Turner, Director, Office of Accreditation and Compliance at [email protected]
• Stephanie Lloyd, Project Manager, Office of Accreditation and Compliance at [email protected]