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Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to announce a new academic leadership appointment for the Department of Psychiatry.
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Effective May 1, 2015, Dr. Nicola Casacalenda will be appointed as Associate Chair, Clinical Affairs. In his new position as Associate Chair, Dr. Casacalenda will assume responsibility in the organization and management of all issues pertaining to the Department of Psychiatry’s clinical mission. ÌýHe will work alongside the Chair and hospital site chiefs to oversee fundamental processes pertaining to clinical staff, including clinical recruitment and reappointments. Ìý Dr. Casacalenda will work closely with the Chair to develop a strategic plan of clinical services for the McGill Department of Psychiatry. Ìý
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Dr. Casacalenda obtained his medical degree in 1992 and joined the Department of Psychiatry in 1998. He is actively involved in the training of psychiatry and family medicine residents as Training Director and Clinical Supervisor at the Jewish General Hospital. ÌýHe has chaired the McGill Department of Psychiatry Curriculum Review Committee, Collaborative Mental Health Task Force, and Family Skills Training Task Force. ÌýHe is also former vice-chair of the Psychiatry Examination Board of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ÌýHe is Director of the Collaborative Mental Health Program at the Jewish General Hospital where he serves as a consultant to the Herzl Family Practice Centre and the Mental Health Team of CSSS Bordeaux-Cartierville/Saint-Laurent. Ìý Ìý
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Dr. Casacalenda is a two-time recipient of the Jewish General Hospital Department of Psychiatry Henry Kravitz Award for Best Teacher and three-time recipient of the McGill Psychiatry Residents’ Association Award for Best Teacher. ÌýIn 2011, Dr Casacalenda was named to the McGill Faculty Honour List for Educational Excellence.

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The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry of Canada (ACPC) chose Dr. Casacalenda as recipient of the 2013 Award for Excellence in Education. The object of this prestigious national award is to highlight the importance of education in Canadian universities by rewarding exceptional contributions to education in psychiatry.
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I invite you to join me in welcoming Dr. Casacalenda to this new leadership role and in expressing appreciation for his commitment and willingness to take on this important role and mandate.

Sincerely,

Gustavo Turecki

Chair, Department of Psychiatry