Overview
Leadership
33 S. Ninth Street
Suite 210
Philadelphia, PA 19107
- 215-955-8420
- 215-923-8219 (fax)
Welcome from the Chair, Dr. John Lauriello
Welcome to the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. As one of the academic and clinical departments within Sidney Kimmel Medical College, we are proud to advance Jefferson's longstanding tradition of excellence in patient care, education, research, and community service. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, our department is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of the individuals and communities we serve through compassionate, evidence-based, and innovative psychiatric care.
Our faculty, trainees, and staff share a commitment to clinical excellence and academic rigor across the full spectrum of psychiatric practice. Through our inpatient, outpatient, consultation-liaison, child and adolescent, geriatric, addiction, and sleep medicine services, we provide comprehensive care for patients with diverse needs. At the same time, we are dedicated to training the next generation of psychiatrists and mental health professionals, fostering scientific discovery, and advancing the understanding of the complex relationship between brain, behavior, and human experience. We invite you to learn more about our department, our programs, and the people who make this community so exceptional.
Our History
The Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior traces its origins to 1942, when Dr. Baldwin L. Keyes was appointed the first Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Jefferson. The creation of the department reflected a growing recognition of the importance of mental health within the broader practice of medicine and marked a significant milestone in Jefferson's commitment to comprehensive patient care. In 1957, through the leadership of Dr. Keyes and the generosity of Mrs. Mabel Pew Myrin, Jefferson established one of Philadelphia's first dedicated psychiatric inpatient units, creating new opportunities for treatment, education, and innovation.ver the following decades, the department experienced remarkable growth in its faculty, residency training programs, and clinical services. Under the leadership of distinguished chairs including Drs. Daniel Lieberman, Paul J. Fink, Troy Thompson, Stephen Schwartz, Michael J. Vergare, and John Lauriello, the department became recognized for its commitment to excellence in psychiatric education and expanded its expertise across family therapy, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, substance use treatment, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and community-based care.
Today, the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior is a vibrant academic community based at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and integrated throughout the Jefferson Health system. As one of the four departmental members of the Vicky and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, our department has helped establish and lead the David Farber ASPIRE (Advancement of Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Research, and Education) Center and the Farber Institute Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center. Building upon more than eight decades of leadership, innovation, and service, the department continues to advance the understanding and treatment of mental illness while preparing future leaders in psychiatry. Our history reflects an enduring commitment to compassionate care, academic excellence, and the belief that mental health is essential to overall health and well-being.