Deanna L. Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP, professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, will deliver the 2024 G. Van Greene Distinguished Lecture at Mercer University College of Pharmacy in Atlanta.
The lecture, titled “Advancing Personalized Care in People with Severe Mental Health Conditions,” promises to offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of mental health treatment.
Dr. Kelly currently serves as the director and chief of the treatment research program at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. Her extensive involvement in psychopharmacology research has been marked by leadership in numerous clinical trials focusing on schizophrenia and severe mental illness.
Her contributions to research include authoring or co-authoring 19 books and book chapters, over 235 peer-reviewed articles, and participation in over 250 scientific posters. Additionally, she has delivered over 175 invited lectures on various psychiatric topics.
Dr. Kelly is past president of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (now the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists) and fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. She is also a Clozapine content expert for the American Psychiatric Association SMI Adviser.
The significance of Dr. Kelly’s work resonates due to the current state of mental health. Recent statistics from the National Institute of Health, reveal that over 57.8 million U.S. adults grapple with mental illness, with 5.5% facing severe forms. Notably, women and young adults aged 18-25 are disproportionately affected. Clozapine, a medication championed by Dr. Kelly, holds particular importance in treating individuals with schizophrenia who have not responded well to previous treatments.
The lecture, scheduled for 11 a.m. March 27 in Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Hall auditorium in Atlanta, is free and open to the public.
Named in honor of the late Dr. G. Van Greene, one of the College of Pharmacy’s most loyal supporters, the G. Van Greene Distinguished Lectureship program is designed to bring world-renowned health care professionals to campus to discuss contemporary topics in pharmacy.
