It has been an honor to chair the ISTSS Awards Committee in 2022. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Winnie Lau, Kathy Magruder, Naser Morina and Christin Ogle from the Awards Committee, as well as Maureen Allwood, Bita Ghafoori, Kathy Magruder and Shannon McCaslin from the Diversity Committee, to the awards process. ISTSS offers a variety of awards that recognize the research, clinical, policy, and advocacy achievements of individuals in the field of traumatic stress. Each of our award winners this year made an outstanding contribution in their area. It is with pleasure that I introduce you to the 2022 ISTSS Award Winners.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Anke Ehlers
This award is the highest honor given to an individual who has made a significant lifetime contribution to the field of traumatic stress. Congratulations to the 2022 winner, Dr. Anke Ehlers.
Dr. Anke Ehlers, PhD, is professor of experimental psychology and Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow in the Department of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, United Kingdom. She is also visiting professor at King’s College London, United Kingdom. Dr. Ehlers has undertaken a program of research over the past 30 years to advance psychological understanding and treatment of PTSD. Her seminal work on the cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive therapy for PTSD has been highly influential in the field of traumatic stress. Dr. Ehlers has published 285 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 books, and 70 book chapters, and has been cited more than 50,000 times. She is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and has been awarded the Wilhelm Wundt-William James Award (2015) by the European Federation of Psychology Associations and the American Psychological Foundation as well as the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology (2014) by the American Psychological Association.
Outstanding Service Award
Rick Koepke
The Award for Outstanding Service to ISTSS is designed to recognize a member of ISTSS who has contributed to ISTSS in a way that has enhanced the Society and helped it achieve its goals. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Rick Koepke.
Rick Koepke served ISTSS as its executive director for over two decades. In this role, he made a significant and sustained contribution to the society. During his tenure as staff lead for ISTSS, Rick supported over 20 ISTSS presidents, executive committees, and boards, as well as countless ISTSS volunteers, to carry out the mission and strategic initiatives of the organization. Rick’s achievements have been extensive, and he has made significant contributions to the society’s financial health, annual meetings, and strategic direction. Rick’s wealth of historical knowledge, his commitment and dedication to ISTSS, as well as his reassuring demeanour under all circumstances, has been invaluable to the society. For over two decades, Rick helped to guide the leadership of ISTSS so that our members could effectively contribute to the field of traumatic stress and the welfare of trauma survivors.
Chaim and Bela Danieli Young Professional Ward
Dr. Ateka Contractor
This award recognizes excellence in the traumatic stress field by an individual who has completed their training within the last five years. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Dr. Ateka Contractor.
Dr. Ateka Contractor is associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Texas. Dr. Contractor’s research focuses on heterogeneity in traumatic experiences and PTSD symptomatology and mechanisms of PTSD comorbidity. Dr. Contractor has also done extensive work in investigating cultural influences on PTSD symptomatology in different cultural groups. In this early phase of her career, Dr. Contractor has already made a substantial contribution to the field of traumatic stress as a researcher and mentor. She has published over 150 journal articles, received several competitive grants, and is an editorial board member of key journals in the trauma field.
Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement
Dr. Brian Marx
This award is given to an individual or group who has made an outstanding contribution to research in the field of traumatic stress. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Dr. Brian Marx.
Dr. Brian Marx is professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine at Boston University and deputy director of the National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System. Dr. Marx is an international scientific leader in the field of traumatic stress. Throughout his career, he has developed and updated key PTSD assessment measures and co-developed and evaluated (with Dr. Denise Sloan) Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD. He has published over 300 journal articles, chapters, tests, and books in the area of traumatic stress. Dr. Marx has also been awarded the Outstanding Researcher Award from the American Psychological Association Division of Trauma Psychology.
Sarah Haley Memorial Award for Clinical Excellence
Bluehub Clinical Team at Phoenix Australia
This award is given to a clinician or group of clinicians in direct service to traumatized individuals. Congratulations to this year’s winner, the Bluehub clinical team at Phoenix Australia, University of Melbourne.
The clinical team at Phoenix Australia (led by Head of Clinical Services Jane Nursey) has been responsible for establishing Bluehub—an evidence-based service for police members with posttraumatic mental health problems. This team has shown a high level of commitment to best-practice support for police members. Activities undertaken by the team include co-design with police members, engagement with stakeholders, training and ongoing support for a network of clinicians, the provision of evidence-based treatment, and the use of outcome data for continuous improvement and research. The Bluehub team is dedicated to providing high-quality care for police members and thus exemplify the spirit of the Sarah Haley Award.
Innovation Award
Dr. Roxanne Cohen Silver and Dr. E. Alison Holman
The Innovation Award is given to an individual or group who has used innovative methods to advance the field of traumatic stress in the areas of prevention, research, treatment, teaching, policy, or advocacy.
Congratulations to the 2022 winners of this award, Dr. Roxanne Cohen Silver and Dr. E. Alison Holman.
Dr. Cohen Silver and Dr .Holman have undertaken methodologically rigorous longitudinal research that has contributed to understanding of psychological responses to natural and manmade disasters. They have pioneered acute response surveys, a novel methodological approach for studying the impact of collective traumas on communities. This novel approach has led to significant advances in knowledge, including the demonstration of the powerful impact of media-based exposure to traumatic events and the role of acute stress in predicting ongoing physical health problems. The work of Dr. Cohen Silver and Dr. Holman has been disseminated widely, including in leading peer-reviewed journal articles, national and international media, and invited briefings to policymakers.
Underrepresented Scholars Membership Award
Dr. Uchechukwu Hope-Ekwueme
The Underrepresented Scholars Membership Award provides an avenue for membership and organizational involvement for talented young trauma professionals from around the world who identify as Black and/or Indigenous. Congratulations to the 2022 winner of the ISTSS Underrepresented Scholars Membership Award, Dr. Uchechukwu Hope-Ekwueme.
Dr. Ekwueme is a lecturer in educational psychology at the Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nigeria. Dr. Ekwueme’s work focuses on the provision of psychosocial support for children in emergency contexts and the adaptation of pedagogical approaches for early childhood education. Dr. Ekwueme is currently undertaking research on understanding the neuropsychological effects of trauma exposure amongst school children following militia killings in Nigeria and understanding how PTSD symptoms impact coping of children with disabilities in Nigeria.
Award for Excellence in Trauma Services for the Underserved: Policy, Advocacy, Research, and Clinical (PARC) Award
Dr. Lauren Ng
In 2022, ISTSS introduced the PARC award to recognize and promote excellence in trauma work being undertaken with underserved populations. It is with pleasure that I introduce the winner of the inaugural ISTSS PARC Award, Dr. Lauren Ng.
Dr. Ng is assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, and director of the Treatment and Research for the Underserved with Stress and Trauma (TRUST) lab. Her research focuses on developing, adapting, and implementing evidence-based and sustainable PTSD interventions and measures for underserved minority communities. Dr. Ng’s work focuses on multiply marginalized communities who are the most underserved and underrepresented in research and clinical care. Her research aims to develop PTSD interventions that address barriers to care and are contextually and culturally appropriate for diverse communities previously overlooked in PTSD research. In recognition of her work in this area, Dr. Ng was awarded the American Psychological Association Division 56 award for Outstanding Contributions by an Early Career Psychologist in Trauma Psychology (2021). Dr. Ng has also been a member of multiple task forces and advisory committees to address racism, racial justice, and to promote diversity.