About the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida
The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida was established in 1958 as part of the newly developed College of Medicine. During that first year outpatient and inpatient clinical psychiatry services were initiated and a general psychiatry residency was established. In 1960, the Division of Child Psychiatry was added, and the Child Psychiatry Fellowship soon followed. In 1967 the Gainesville Veterans Administration Hospital was completed as a Dean’s Committee hospital, and its psychiatric service was completely integrated with the Department of Psychiatry.
Our constant aim has been to provide a broad educational experience in a multi-faceted program with its hub centered in a major academic medical center. In the 1990’s, the department underwent tremendous growth in its research infrastructure, moving to a position of national recognition. Despite the challenges facing academic medicine – psychiatry and the other cognitive specialties, in particular – the last few years have been a period marked by growth and development in the three central missions of clinical care, research, and education of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida. Much of the credit goes to the talented and dedicated faculty and staff who share the vision of seeing the Department shine as a star in the southeast.
Our History
The Department of Psychiatry was established in 1958 under the leadership of Dr. Peter Regan as part of the newly developed College of Medicine. That first year outpatient and inpatient clinical psychiatry services were initiated and a general psychiatry residency was established. In 1960, the Division of Child Psychiatry was added, and the Child Psychiatry Fellowship soon followed. In 1964, Dr. Robert L. Williams succeeded Dr. Regan as Department Chairman.
In 1967 the Gainesville Veterans Administration Hospital was completed as a Dean’s Committee hospital, and its psychiatric service was completely integrated with the Department of Psychiatry.
In August 1974, Dr. John E. Adams became Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Since then our constant aim has been to provide a broad educational experience in a multi-faceted program with its hub centered in a major academic medical center. Dr. Adams passed away in 1989 and this effort continued under the leadership of Dr. John M. Kuldau who served the Department as Interim Chair from 1989-1992.
In 1992, Dr. Dwight Evans left the University of North Carolina to assume the chairmanship at the University of Florida. Under his leadership, the department underwent tremendous growth in its research infrastructure, moving to a position of national recognition. After five years at the helm, Dr. Evans returned to his home state and became chairman of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.
In October 1997, Dr. Wayne Goodman was recruited in 1993 from Yale University and was appointed Chairman of Psychiatry at the University of Florida in July 1998. His tenure was marked by growth and development in the three central missions of clinical care, research, and education.
In 2007, Dr Goodman took a sabbatical to the NIMH and then a permanent position. Mark S. Gold, M.D. was appointed Acting, then Interim and then Chairman of the Department. Dr. Gold re-joined the University of Florida College of Medicine, his Alma Mater. Under Dr. Gold’s leadership, the Division of Addiction Medicine rose to national prominence in addiction research, education, training, and service. Dr. Gold has worked to enhance the charitable missions of the Department and reconstituted the Division of Community Psychiatry, improved research and endowment infrastructure and funding. The Department of Psychiatry is now among the College leaders in endowment, Professorships, and clinical services. Much of the credit goes to the talented and dedicated Division Chiefs, faculty and staff who share the vision of seeing the Department shine as a star in the southeast.