The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) presented James Hudziak, M.D., professor of psychiatry, pediatrics and medicine at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, with the 2017 Irving Philips Award for Prevention at the organization’s 64th Annual Meeting on October 25, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

The Irving Philips Award for Prevention was established in 1993 in honor of Irving Philips, M.D., who served as AACAP president from 1985 to 1987 and was renowned for his work in the field of prevention. This award recognizes a child and adolescent psychiatrist and AACAP member who has made significant contributions in a lifetime career or single seminal work to the prevention of mental illness in children and adolescents. Hudziak was selected in recognition of his significant contributions throughout his career to the prevention of mental illness in children and adolescents, as well as for his scholarship’s balance and depth across disciplines and the notable, impactful programs he has created at UVM.

As the Irving Philips Award recipient, Hudziak delivered a presentation, titled “Child Psychiatry Inspired Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Goes to College,” at the AACAP Annual Meeting.

The Achenbach Chair in Developmental Psychopathology and director of the Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, Hudziak is known internationally for his work in psychiatric genetics and developmental neuroimaging of child and adolescent behavior. Based on his more than 25 years’ experience in genetics and neuroscience, he determined that the best way to promote health in children and families is to help the family and developed an approach, called The Vermont Family Based Approach, which is being used in clinics around the world. Hudziak is also the creator and director of the UVM Wellness Environment (WE), an incentive-based program focused on health promotion, illness prevention and behavioral change, which is set up at UVM to provide students with an environment to live and grow where making healthy choices is the norm. Hudziak received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed an internship and residency in psychiatry, as well as a fellowship in child psychiatry, at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He has published more than 180 peer-reviewed publications.

About AACAP

Representing 9,200+ child and adolescent psychiatrists worldwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children's mental illnesses. AACAP Members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families. For more information, please visit www.aacap.org.