At this year’s AADPRT Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Gene Beresin, MD, MA was honored with the AADPRT Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to psychiatric education and training. This award celebrates the achievements and contributions of important leaders who have had a significant impact on psychiatric residency education nationally, have demonstrated excellence in psychiatric residency education, and have provided generativity and mentoring in residency.
A true stalwart of our department, Gene’s career has been defined by an unwavering commitment to education, mentorship, and national leadership. He served as a psychiatry residency director for an astounding 32 years, a tenure that may well be unmatched in the field. During that time, he played a pivotal role in shaping both general and child & adolescent psychiatry training, ensuring that generations of psychiatrists emerged with the skills, insight, and compassion necessary to lead in clinical care and education.
Beyond his contributions as an educator, Gene has been a force in national psychiatry organizations. His work within AADPRT, AACAP, APA, ACGME, and the American College of Psychiatrists has helped shape training standards and national policies, including his leadership in the creation of the CAP Match and the development of psychiatric competency frameworks.
Gene’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. As a writer, clinician, and advocate for mental health education, he founded The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, a multimedia initiative dedicated to public mental health literacy. His efforts have brought psychiatric education to a wider audience through blogs, podcasts, and national media collaborations.
Of course, those who know Gene also appreciate his artistic talents—he is a gifted musician as well as a clinician, blending creativity with his deep dedication to psychiatry. And perhaps most importantly, he has been a mentor to scores of psychiatrists, guiding many through the early stages of their careers with wisdom, encouragement, and generosity.
We congratulate Gene on this well-earned recognition and celebrate his enduring contributions to our department and the field of psychiatry at large.
