The University of Kansas Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences recognized four staff and faculty members for their service and accomplishments during its annual celebration Jan. 28.

Pam Wheeler, administrative assistant for the Division of Psychology, was honored with the Staff Service Award, which recognizes and promotes the service and collegiality of the department's staff. Edward Hunter, Ph.D., ABPP, and Amanda Klass, D.O., were presented with the Faculty Collegiality Award, which is given to one psychologist/doctoral researcher and one physician on the faculty. Barry Liskow, M.D., vice chair of the department, was the recipient of the Service Achievement award.

Nominated and chosen by department faculty and staff, honorees received plaques to mark the occasion.

The awards presentation was part of a broader department celebration, which drew more than 100 attendees to the Robert E. Hemenway Life Sciences Innovation Center on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City. In remarks during the annual gathering, William Gabrielli, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the department, declared perseverance was the event's theme and acknowledged the department's 75th anniversary this year.

Three of the department's residency programs - psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and internal medicine/psychiatry - also are celebrating their 70th, 60th and 25th anniversaries, respectively. In addition, this year marks the 54th anniversary of the methadone clinic, the eighth oldest methadone maintenance clinic in the nation.

Gabrielli talked about the rich history and tradition of the department and health system, which has grown from one person in 1945 to more than 600 people currently affiliated with the university and service line.

"Each one of us and all of us together, one project, one effort, one goal, every day," he said. "Our patients, the ones we help today, the ones who will be helped by our trainees down the line, the ones that are helped by the discoveries that we make, the ones for whom we advocate, and the ones helped by the programs we designed. Every day we make a difference is a good day. What are we celebrating? Your perseverance."

The department also recognized the service anniversaries of university faculty and staff as well as health system personnel. The annual celebration was organized by the department's Faculty Professional Development Committee.