Psychiatry Lectureships

The Department of Psychiatry hosts our weekly Grand Rounds Lecture Series at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays during the academic year, in person at the Rachel Upjohn Building or virtually via zoom. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

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Albert M. Barrett, MD (1871-1936), was a pioneering American psychiatrist and neuropathologist who served as the first Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. After earning his BA and MD from the State University of Iowa, Barrett trained at leading institutions, including the Danvers Insane Hospital and Harvard and pursued post-graduate study in Germany with renowned figures such as Emil Kraepelin. He joined the University of Michigan in 1906 as Associate Professor of Neuropathology and Director of the Psychopathic Ward and later became Professor of Psychiatry until his sudden death in 1936.

Barrett was highly involved in professional organizations, serving as president of the American Psycho-Pathological Association, Central Neuro-Psychiatric Association and the American Neurological Association and as a formative president of the American Psychiatric Association. He contributed to national committees on mental hygiene and helped establish the Michigan Society for Mental Hygiene and the Detroit Society for Neurology and Psychiatry.

Throughout his career, Barrett published and presented more than 35 scholarly papers in leading medical journals, significantly influencing the fields of psychiatry and neurology during a critical period of development in the early 20th century.

Past speakers include: Huda Akil, Ravi Allada, Kent Berridge, Floyd Bloom, Arvid Carlsson, Edward Edelman, Catherine Dulac, Gerald Edelman, David Van Essen, William Greenough, René Hen, Thomas R. Insel, Edward G. Jones, Shitij Kapur, George Koob, John H. Krystal, Joseph E. LeDoux, Helen Mayberg, Bruce McEwen, Michael J. Meaney, Eric J. Neslter, Pasko Rakic, Jack M. Parent, Marina Picciotto, Donald L Price, Bita Moghaddam, Catherine S. Woolley, Terrence J. Sejnowski, Carla J. Shatz, Edward Smith, Solomon Snyder, Larry Squire, Nora D. Volkow

In honor of Dr. John Greden’s exemplary leadership as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry from 1985 to 2007, the department established the John F. Greden, MD, Scholar in Residence Program. Dr. Greden not only maintained and elevated Michigan’s national reputation but also founded the U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center and the National Network of Depression Centers, playing a pivotal role in advancing research and reducing stigma around mood disorders.

Beyond his achievements, Dr. Greden was a dedicated mentor and educator, inspiring a generation of psychiatrists and leaders in the field. The Greden Scholar in Residence Program was created to celebrate his legacy by inviting an outstanding psychiatric investigator each year to U-M, where they share expertise with faculty and trainees and further strengthen the department’s commitment to excellence in research and care.

Past speakers include: Avshalom Caspi, Joshua Gordon, Tom Insel, Sarah “Holly” Lisanby, Husseini Manji, Eric Nestler, Rory O'Connor, Matthew State

The Annual Max L. Hutt Lecture, sponsored by the Psychology Training Program at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, is made possible by a generous endowment from Max Hutt and his family to support clinical psychology research and theoretical exploration.

Max L. Hutt, PhD, was a pioneering clinical psychologist who joined U-M’s Department of Psychology faculty in 1946, becoming one of the first clinically trained faculty members in the field. Remembered as a charismatic teacher and expert in psychodynamic psychotherapy, he also contributed to the Department of Psychiatry and served as a consultant to Neurology.

After leaving U-M in 1960 for the University of Detroit, Dr. Hutt’s lasting impact and generosity continue to benefit trainees in the Department of Psychiatry through this annual lecture series, which furthers the advancement of clinical psychology at Michigan.

Past speakers include: Norman B. Anderson, Toni Antonucci, Robert Bilder, Kathleen Carroll, Alfred W. Kaszniak, Sandra Graham-Berman, Terence Keane, Cheryl King, Robert F. Krueger, Catherine Lord, Jennifer Manly, Wilbert J. McKeachie, Allan F. Mirsky, Cary Savage, Robert Sellers, Peter E. Nathan, Gregory T. Smith, Arnold Sameroff, Claude M. Steele, H. Gerry Taylor, Christopher Peterson, William E Pelham Jr, Patricia Reuter-Lorenz, Douglas Whitman, Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, Frank Yates, John Jonides

Initiated in 2007, the Prechter Lecture series is hosted annually in Ann Arbor, Michigan, highlighting distinguished lived experience individuals, authors, researchers and others whose work focuses on bipolar disorder as keynote speakers.

Ken Silk, MD, trained at Albert Einstein School of Medicine and Yale, and began his U-M career in 1975, making a significant mark as a clinician, educator and expert in treating personality disorders—especially Borderline Personality Disorder. He founded the Personality Disorders team at Michigan’s Ambulatory Care Clinic, positively impacting patients, trainees and colleagues until his retirement in 2014.

The annual Kenneth R. Silk, MD Lecture, supported by an endowment from Dr. Silk’s wife Joan Margeson and the community, honors his legacy by bringing a leading expert in personality disorders to U-M. The event features a lecture, research poster session and opportunities for trainees and faculty to connect, collaborate and advance the understanding and treatment of personality disorders.

2026 Conference

"Sleep and Circadian Rhythms: Implications for Psychiatry"

View the Conference Program

Albert Jack Silverman, MD, CM, was a distinguished psychiatrist, neuroscience researcher, and department chair whose leadership at the University of Michigan beginning in 1970 marked a transformative period for psychiatric research, education and treatment. He was known for bridging neuroscience-based psychiatry and traditional psychoanalysis, guiding the department through significant change. After stepping down as chair in 1981, Dr. Silverman continued to teach and conduct research until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1990, remaining active until 1997.

Born in Montreal in 1925, Dr. Silverman earned his science and medical degrees at McGill University, where he developed an interest in psychophysiology. His early career included psychiatric residency at the University of Colorado, faculty positions at Duke University, and pioneering research in space neuroscience and psychology for the U.S. Air Force. Later, he helped establish the medical school at Rutgers University, serving as founding chair of psychiatry and studying psychoanalysis at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute.

Dr. Silverman’s prolific work led to over 100 publications and key advances in both research and patient care. His legacy is honored through the annual Albert J. Silverman Research Conference, supported by an endowment from his wife, Mrs. Halina Silverman, ensuring his lifelong dedication to psychiatry, patients and trainees is remembered for generations.

Past speakers include: Aldo Badiani, Courtney L. Bagge, Lindsay A Bornheimer, Kirk J. Brower, Bernard J. Carroll, Gabrielle Carlson, Mark Chesler, Nick Craddock, William H. Coryell, Cindy L. Ehlers, Johannes C. Eichstaedt, Anne Fernandez, Kate Fitzgerald, John C. Fortney, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, William G. Iacono, Gregory Hanna, Brian Hicks, Lorrin M. Koran, Ned Kalin, Kathleen Merikangas, Marsel Mesulam, Melvin McInnis, Cynthia R. Pfeffer, Veronica Perez-Rosas, Jay Pettegrew, Courtney Polenick, Mark Olfson, John C. Fortney, Maureen Walton, Allison Lin, Rebecca Sripada, Chandra Sripada, Eva Van Cauter, Carol A. Tamminga, Lenore Terr, Elysse J. Thulin, Alan F. Schatzberg, Robert Drake, Lisa Dixon, David Goldman, Ronald Duman, Edward Nunes, Larry J Siever

Established in 1996, the Raymond W. Waggoner Lectureship on Ethics and Values in Medicine honors the legacy of Dr. Waggoner, a former department chair known for his integrity and commitment to ethics. This annual endowed event brings national and international experts to the University of Michigan to explore key issues in medical ethics and values, continuing Dr. Waggoner’s impact on the department and the profession.

Jack C. Westman, MD, a University of Michigan alumnus and former Associate Professor of Psychiatry, was Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin and president of Wisconsin Cares, advocating for child and family well-being. Nancy K. Westman, also a U-M graduate, dedicated her volunteer work to supporting children and families through various programs and initiatives.

Their passion for child advocacy and family well-being inspired the Westman Endowment at the University of Michigan Medical School. The annual Jack and Nancy Westman Lectureship supports education and public engagement around the real-life circumstances of young people and their communities.