I have served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at LSUMC for the past 20 years.  The Department is committed to the finest quality medical student education, post-medical school training for residents and fellows in all aspects of psychiatry:  general psychiatry, infant, child and adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, emergency and administrative psychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry and addictionology.  We also provide excellent graduate and post-graduate training in social work and psychology.  The department provides major leadership in research spanning our field and makes important advances in the understanding of psychopharmacology and neuroscience, developmental disorders, psychodynamic psychiatry, and treatment of children and families exposed to community and family violence. It plays key roles related to transmission and treatment of HIV infection, prevention of school failure and incarceration among high risk youth and maintaining mental health in our senior citizens, to name but a few areas.  Our nationally recognized Harris Infant Mental Health Center trains professionals in several states to understand and treat the most vulnerable of our children and their families during the first three years of life. 

Since Katrina, the Department has remained in Louisiana and has played key roles in the State's Crisis Response Program in providing mental health services, throughout metropolitan New Orleans including services for first responders and their families, in meeting the mental health needs of returning and displaced children and their families, and in rebuilding communities' mental health infrastructure. 

We take much pride in the department's contributions to our community, the region and the state, Departmental programs at all stages in the life cycle make important contributions to enriching our community and serve as models for other areas of the country.  This is a very special time to join our department.  You can receive excellent training and participate in the rebuilding of our wonderful city.  We welcome you to our department and hope that you will find it an exciting place for the next step in your career.

Howard J. Osofsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Chairman
Department of Psychiatry

A fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Howard J. Osofsky, M.D., Ph.D., is also certified by the American Psychoanalytic Association.  He is the author or editor of several books and has written or co-authored more than 90 papers.  He is especially well known for developing programs for high-risk individuals across the life cycle.  Many of these programs have come to serve as national models.  He is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader for his effects to help children and families exposed to violence, terrorism, and warfare.

Locally he has received recognition from the New Orleans Police Foundation related to mental health evaluations of prospective NOPD recruits, their Badge of Honor Award in recognition of outstanding commitment to rebuilding the strength of the New Orleans Police Department. More recently, he received the Orleans Parish Medical Society's Award for Outstanding Excellence in Public Service/Public Education and the Mayor's Medal of Honor for outstanding contributions to the city.  Nationally, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry honored him with their first award for the Best Chair of a Department of Psychiatry because of his numerous efforts on behalf of children and adolescents.  Recently on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2006, Dr. Osofsky received an honor "Tribute to Katrina Heroes" by the Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA for his work in the community after Hurricane Katrina.