Dr. Daniel Mamah was announced as this year’s recipient of the 2021 Dr. John M. Anderson Excellence in Mental Health Award. The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund honors a mental healthcare professional each year who has made significant contributions in the field of behavioral health. Dr. John M. Anderson was an African American psychiatrist who was a pioneer in the field of mental health in St. Louis. Each recipient of the award demonstrates the values of generosity, excellence, inclusion, and integrity as well as visionary leadership through their passion and dedication to their life’s work.
This year, under Dr. Mamah’s leadership, the Washington Early Recognition Center (WERC) was founded in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University of Medicine, which is the first early psychosis center in the St. Louis area. This lab was formed with the goal of preventing at-risk adolescents and young adults (aged 13-30 years) from developing mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Research at WERC aims to identify individuals at risk, while monitoring brain and behavior changes over time, and developing effective interventions against illness progression. In addition, research at WERC hopes to achieve further innovations in psychiatry and brain neuroimaging methods.
In collaboration with Washington University faculty in the Departments of Radiology and Physics, he is also working to develop newer imaging acquisition methods for measuring brain tissue abnormalities. Dr. Mamah is also actively engaged in important cross-cultural studies of mood and psychotic disorders, spearheading projects in Kenya and Rwanda as well as his ongoing work in St. Louis. Dr. Mamah will be presented with the award during the St. Louis American Excellence in Health Awards luncheon