VCU news

By Sathya Achia Abraham

Three Virginia Commonwealth University child mental health experts were each presented with Heroes in the Fight awards for their dedication and leadership in the mental health field.

Aradhana Bela Sood, M.D., Robert Cohen, Ph.D., and Brian Meyer, Ph.D., were recognized by the Voices for Virginia’s Children, in partnership with NAMI Virginia, the Virginia Federation of Families, the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB), Psychiatric Society of Virginia and Mental Health America Virginia. Isaac Abraham, Ph.D., department director with the VTCC Administration, received a nomination for a Heroes in the Fight Award.

Sood is division chair of the Department of Child Psychiatry at the VCU School of Medicine and medical director of the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) at the VCU Medical Center. Cohen is professor and vice chair of the VCU Department of Psychiatry, and executive director of the VTCC. Meyer is professor in the Department of Psychiatry and child psychologist at the VCU Medical Center.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Drs. Cohen, Sood and Meyer. Three of the seven awards in the state going to VCU psychiatry physicians shows what dedicated and distinguished individuals we have on our team. Our department is driven by a commitment to advocating for children," said Joel Silverman, M.D., chair of the department of psychiatry.

The Heroes in the Fight awards recognize health care professionals, community supporters and treatment teams who care and support those with serious and persistent mental illness and their families. In total, seven individuals from throughout the commonwealth received the awards and three of them went to individuals at VCU.

Sood, a nationally recognized expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, received the Individual Psychiatrist award. She has been engaged in all aspects of the child mental health system and is a policy advocate for children and their families. In 2007, she served on the panel reviewing the Virginia Tech shootings as a mental health expert. She also serves as chair of child and adolescent psychiatry to the State Board of Social Services, where she and the board examine regulations for assisted-living facilities, foster care and adoption. Additionally, Sood is a dedicated teacher and lecturer and speaks to families and professional groups at conferences across the country.

Cohen and Meyer each received Healthcare Professional Awards.

Cohen has been involved in research, teaching, program development and administration related to improving the quality of life of children and families for the past 40 years. He has worked to improve the public child mental health system and has been committed to helping the children and families in his care.

Cohen has conducted research on the practice of requiring parents to relinquish custody in order to obtain services for children with mental health disorders and performed needs assessments and program evaluations for a wide range of community agencies.

Meyer was recognized for ongoing advocacy on behalf of children with mental health problems and their families. He has worked directly with legislators to help shed light on the complexities of the mental health system and testified before legislative committees. In 2007, Meyer obtained a grant to launch the Youth Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic at the VTCC for the assessment and treatment of teens who have substance abuse and mental health disorder at the same time.

The clinic, which combines research, training and clinical practice, is the only one in Virginia, and one of just three evidence-based clinics in the nation serving youth, aged 12 to 17, with co-occurring disorders. His research interests include systems of care for children’s mental health, co-occurring disorders in adolescence and services for children involved with the child welfare system.

Cohen, Sood, Meyer and four other awardees were honored during a dinner ceremony Sept. 23 at the Science Museum of Virginia. Recipients were nominated by their peers.

The Heroes in the Fight program was established by Eli Lilly and Co.

Voices for Virginia's Children is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization that champions public policies that improve the lives of children. A recognized leader in child advocacy, Voices mobilizes support for initiatives by conducting research, recommending policies, building coalitions and helping people articulate their support for children.  For more information, visit www.vakids.org.