Awards

Research Awards
Enlightenment Award
Poster Display

Research Awards

THE HENRY AND AMELIA NASRALLAH ANNUAL OPPF RESEARCH AWARDS

Call for Submissions

The Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Foundation (OPPF) is pleased to announce its annual Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Research Awards, recognizing outstanding scholarly work and encouraging psychiatric research among OPPA members throughout Ohio.

Submissions are now being accepted in three categories:

General OPPA Members
Resident-Fellow OPPA Members
Medical Student OPPA Members

Awards and Recognition

One winner and one runner-up will be selected in each category.

Winners will receive a $250 cash award and a commemorative plaque.
Runners-up will receive a certificate of recognition.
Both winners and runners-up will receive complimentary registration to the OPPA Annual Psychiatric Update & Mental Health Clinical Summit, taking place April 3–4, 2027.

Submit Your Research!

Click HERE to view Submission Criteria and Guidelines.

Submission Deadline: December 31, 2026

Congratulations to the recipients for work published in 2025!

Our congratulations to all the winners and runner-ups, and our compliments to all those who submitted an entry to the OPPF Research Awards Competition.

Enlightenment Award

ENLIGHTENMENT AWARD

The Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Foundation (OPPF) is pleased to announce the Enlightenment Award. The award recognizes outstanding activities, presentations or publications during the past year, which

Enhances the public's access to treatment;
Enhances the public's understanding of mental disorders (including substance use disorders); or
Decreases the stigma often associated with mental illness.

Nominees can include an individual, organization, government entity, media (newspaper, radio or TV station or internet based communication) or a form of art.

Click HERE for the criteria and nomination form. Nominations can also be made ONLINE.

The submission deadline for next year ends on January 31, 2026.

This year's winner!

2025 Enlightenment Award Winner

Nominated by Dale Svendsen, MD, congratulations go out to Jenny Applegate, Associate Editor, Ohio State Alumni Magazine for her

The Enlightenment Award recognizes outstanding activity or presentations during 2024 which enhance: the public’s access to treatment; enhances the public’s understanding of mental and substance use disorders; and/or decreases the stigma often associated with these disorders

Poster Display

The Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association (OPPA) and Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Foundation (OPPF) invite all OPPA members, resident-fellow members and medical student members to submit abstracts for consideration in the 2027 Poster Display, held in conjunction with the OPPA Annual Psychiatric Update & Mental Health Clinical Summit, April 3–4, 2027.

The Poster Display provides an opportunity to showcase research, share knowledge, and highlight contributions to the field of psychiatry.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Abstract submissions are now being accepted! The 15 highest-scoring abstracts will be selected for onsite poster display. At least one author of each selected poster must register for and attend the meeting.

Submission Deadline: February 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT

Step 1 — Submit Your Abstract
The primary contact must complete the online Poster Display Abstract Submission Form, including the abstract and contact information for all authors.

Step 2 — Complete Financial Disclosures
Every author must individually complete the Disclosure of Financial Interests Form. The primary contact is responsible for sharing the link with all co-authors and ensuring that all disclosures are submitted by the deadline.

IMPORTANT: Incomplete or late submissions, including those missing financial disclosures, will not be considered.

For complete eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, and review criteria, please review the Poster Abstract Criteria and FAQs before submitting your abstract.

The OPPF wishes to thank all the authors, presenters and excellent posters that were submitted for display in 2026:

Navigating Anxiety Treatment in Myasthenia Gravis Crisis with Prolonged QTc: A Consult-Liaison Case Report Authors: Garrison Burky, MD and Todd Ivan, MD Institutions: Summa Health System –Akron City Hospital, Akron, OH
The Effects of Social Determinants of Health on Mental Health in Ohio Authors:Kylie Munk, MS1, Matthew Correll, MS1 Mentor: Dr. Jeannette Manger Institution:Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Telehealth Approaches to Catatonia in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: A Case Series Authors: Sarah Craft¹, Austin Graham², Anuradha Haridhas¹, Rakefet Shenkar¹, Elizabeth Schindler¹, Brendan Carroll¹, Larrilyn Grant¹ Institution: Wright State University Department of Psychiatry
Enhancing Psychotherapy Education for Medical Students Through Live Observation and Simulated Therapy Demonstrations Authors:MaryyamDurrani, MS2¹,Hannah Redding, MD¹, Alexandra Fowler, DO¹, Ramzi W. Nahhas, PhD^1,2, JessicaPorcelan, MD, LarrilynGrant, MD¹ Institution:Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine; ¹Department of Psychiatry, ²Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Neuropsychiatric Considerations of a Rare Chronic Bacterial Infection: Literature Review of Whipple’s Disease Authors: Maximilian Fulop, Nita Bhatt MD Institution: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Golden Years Golden Care Optimizing Mental Health Care in the Geriatric Population Authors: Jacob Gerken, Margarita Kugotova, Blair Hermiller, MD, Navtej Mann, MD, Sabrina Khuder, MD,Dionis Kononov, DO Institution: The Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Social Media in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Patterns of Patient Use, Provider Presence, and Readability of Online Content Authors: Alina Jordan, Sugapradha Saravanan, Laura Bute, Alexandra Fowler DO, Larrilyn Grant MD, Ramzi W. Nahhas PhD Institutions: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Breastfeeding After Trauma: A Neuroendocrine and Psychological Framework for Postpartum Mental Health Authors: Shamamah Khan Institutions: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Schizencephalic Porencephaly: an Unexpected Finding in an Aggressive Individual with Polysubstance Use Disorder Authors:Chi Shing Lam, BS,¹ Caroline Sapp, MD,¹ Shira Bohrer,² Sana Chughtai, MD,³ Matthew Phillips, MD, MPH,⁴ Ethan Coffey, MD,⁵ Shazadie Soka, MD,⁶ Eleonora Klisovic, MD¹ Institutions:The Ohio State University,¹ University of Vermont,² Saint Elizabeths Hospital,³ University of North Carolina,⁴ Coffey Psychiatry,⁵ University of Michigan⁶
Neurobiological Overlap Between Bipolar Disorder and Binge Eating Disorder: Implications for Screening and Management Authors: Sofia Lopez BS, Henry A. Nasrallah, MD Institution: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Challenges in Managing Endometrial Cancer in a Patient with Bipolar 1 Disorder: A Case Report Authors: John McCaskey, OMS-IV, Nicole Smith, APRN Institution: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kettering Health Cancer Center, Dayton
The Path to Early Intervention: Understanding and Preventing Delays in Treatment of First Episode Psychosis Authors: Sean Percival¹, Julia N. Stimpfl, MD^2,3, Fabiano G. Nery, MD, PhD³, Henry A. Nasrallah, MD³Institutions: ¹Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, ²Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, ³Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati
Suicide Prevention in Older Adults: An Educational Intervention Improves Primary Care Providers' Confidence in Identifying and Addressing Warning Signs for Suicide Authors: Ellie Rizzo, DO, Maaeesha Pushpita, MD, Megan Schabbing, MD Institutions: OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
Female-Biased Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Glucose Stress in Drug-Naïve First-Episode Schizophrenia Authors: Angela Rooks¹, Aidan R. Butler¹, Selah G. McKenney¹, Grant Nelson¹, Roshan Sirole¹, John M. Vergis¹, Robert E. McCullumsmith^1,2Institutions:¹Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, The University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo ²Neuroscience Institute, ProMedica, Toledo
Systematic Review Protocol: Suicide Screening Instruments in Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Authors: Sugapradha Saravanan, Katherine McGreal, Chauntel Barrymore, Richard Sanders MD, Larrilyn Grant MD Institution: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Addressing Mental Health Needs: Strategies Implemented by Ohio Hospitals Authors: Michelle Siddiqui, OMS-III¹; Cory Cronin, PhD²; Khyathi Gadag, PhD²; Maddie Morgan²Institution:¹Ohio Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, ²Ohio University, College of Health Sciences and Professions
Are Depression and Anxiety Screenings Impactful at Annual Visits with Your Primary Care Provider? Authors: Justice L. Williams, MS¹, Yanique Attah ², Dr. Rhea Rowser, MD ³ Institution: ¹Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine ²Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine ³Kettering Health Medical Group Primary Care Miamisburg Byers South
Case Series on Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) in Adolescents and Adults with Intellectual Disability Authors: Bethany Winters, BS; Kari Harper, MD; Richard Sanders, MD; Ricky Steiner, MD; Larrilyn Grant, MD, MS Institution: Wright State University Boonshoft College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Cells and Crankhouses: Mental Illness at the Kansas State Penitentiary through 1940 Authors: David Zealley, MD Institution: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Within Normal Limits: AI-Powered Synthesis of Patient-Reported Experiences Across Online Health Communities Authors: Connor Tukel, MD Institutions: University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center