2025 Gala Speeches/Presentations
Dr. Dunlap has had a distinguished career as a clinician, an educator, and a prominent leader in organized psychiatry. She brings to all three spheres her energy, dedication, optimism, and results. Dr. Dunlap is a psychoanalyst and one of the preeminent clinicians in the Washington DC area. She combines her analytic approach with a strong background in psychopharmacology. She has been active teaching both in the psychoanalytic community and as a faculty member at George Washington University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. She has been a leader in the American Psychiatric Association and in the Washington Psychiatric Society having served as President of WPS, as WPS representative to the APA Assembly, Area 3 Council Representative, and on the Executive Committee of the APA Board of Directors. She continues to facilitate conversation on such topics as psychiatry and law enforcement and cultural struggles with integration, assimilation, and cooperation. Dr. Dunlap is thoughtful, articulate, and persuasive. She is straightforward without being blunt. She can ask the hard questions, inviting constructive exploration rather than confrontation. In addition to her storied accomplishments, her further service to our profession and our patients is in her engagement, gentle instructiveness of her conversation, and her gracious outreach to other members. I have attached a copy of her extensive CV and a brief bio outlining in more detail her major contributions to underserved populations.
Dr. Marketa Wills, M.D. M.B.A, FAPA, is the CEO/Marketa M. Wills of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). On June 1, 2024, she assumed the helm as the APA’s eighth CEO — and became the first Black American and first woman to occupy this critical role for the 180-year professional society. Most recently, Dr. Wills served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Johns Hopkins Health Plans (JHHP). Dr. Wills has worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company; was the director of physician affairs at The Medical Center campus of Memorial Hermann Hospital System and served as senior medical director for WellCare Health Plans. Dr. Wills earned her medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital program, serving as chief resident in her last year. She also has a master’s in business administration from The Wharton School at Penn. As a WPS member, Dr. Wills kicked off the new WPS advocacy webinar series on December 4, 2024.
Dr. Ayyub Imtiaz, M.D., B.Sc.
Dr. Ayyub Imtiaz, M.D., B.Sc., is a chief resident at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. In the past four years Dr. Imtiaz has fulfilled his clinical and administrative responsibilities in an exemplary manner. In addition, he has completed the Adult and Combined Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Fellowship programs at the Washington-Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. His research experience is also remarkable. He is the published co-author of seven peer-reviewed articles (one of them as first author) and is the co-author of 59 poster presentations (17 as first author). Dr. Imtiaz co-authored 14 of the 36 abstract submissions for the 2025 WPS poster competition.
Alicia Khan, MD
Dr. Khan is a PGY2 at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program. Her work on standardizing intimate partner violence screenings in emergency departments based on USPSTF recommendations showcases her dedication to evidence-based improvements in patient care. This builds upon her earlier leadership as president of Georgetown’s AMA chapter, where she established herself as a passionate advocate for women’s mental health and rights. Her recent publication in the International Journal of Academic Medicine on resident wellness demonstrates her insight into physician well-being. Her presentation at the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Conference on clozapine management in medically ill patients reflects her clinical sophistication in complex cases. Dr. Khan founded Medstar Moms in Medicine, providing support, education, and advocacy for physician mothers. This group exemplifies Dr. Khan’s ability to identify institutional gaps and create meaningful solutions that benefit colleagues and, ultimately, patient care.
As a distinguished Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dr. Lawson has established himself as a trailblazing figure whose influence extends far beyond academia. His commitment to human rights is evident in every aspect of his multifaceted career as an educator, clinician, scholar, and innovative researcher. Dr. Lawson’s academic credentials are impeccable, having received his medical degree from the University of Chicago, completed his residency at Stanford University Medical Center, and pursued a fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology at the National Institute of Mental Health. His scholarly contributions are equally impressive, with authorship of two books, Cross Cultural Psychiatry and African American Health: Peeling Back the Layers for a Vision of the Future, an Amazon bestseller, and over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. What truly distinguishes Dr. Lawson’s work is his unwavering dedication to addressing social determinants of mental health and combating systemic disparities. As Associate Dean for Disparities at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and during his fifteen-year tenure as Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Howard University, he has consistently championed equitable access to mental healthcare for marginalized communities. Dr. Lawson’s leadership extends beyond academia into direct community service. As the medical director of two nonprofit mental health and substance abuse public clinics—Springleaf Solutions and Prestige Mental Health—he works directly to reduce racial disparities in mental health care and substance abuse treatment. His research consultancy with Evon Medics and Emerson Research Institute contributes to developing novel treatments for opiate addiction and cognitive impairment, addressing two critical public health challenges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. His commitment to professional service is equally notable. Dr. Lawson has served as President of the Washington Psychiatric Society, Chair of the APA Committee of Tellers, Treasurer of the American Orthopsychiatric Society, and Past President of the Black Psychiatrists of America. His recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of the Solomon Carter Fuller Award in 2014 further attests to his standing in the field. Dr. Lawson’s advocacy for creative solutions to promote access to services for the severely mentally ill and his outspoken stance on ethnic disparities in mental health treatment align perfectly with the spirit of the WPS Visionary Award. His recognition as one of “America’s Leading Black Doctors” by Black Enterprise Magazine, receipt of the APA Jeanne Spurlock Award, and designation as a national mentor by the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill all speak to his impact on advancing human rights in psychiatry. Through his evidence-based strategies and innovative solutions, Dr. Lawson has dedicated his career to ensuring that quality mental healthcare is accessible to all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic background. His work exemplifies the principle that mental healthcare is a fundamental human right, and his efforts have significantly advanced this cause.
Jan Hutchinson, MD, MPH
Dr. Jan Hutchinson majored in sociology in college, attended the Medical School of Cincinnati, has an MPH from the University of Illinois, and is dual boarded in Pediatrics and Psychiatry. During her final year of medical school, Dr. Hutchinson worked at the JFK Hospital in Monrovia Liberia. In the early 1980s, Hutchinson joined the Rush University Medical School as adjunct faculty. Disinterested in private practice, she joined the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps before taking a leave of absence to work in a refugee camp outside of Bangkok, Thailand. When she returned to the United States, she completed a child and adolescent fellowship at the Institute for Juvenile Research (IJR) at the University of Illinois. At the same time, she served as a public health doctor at the American Medical Association (AMA) where she worked on issues of teen pregnancy and child abuse. When the HIV antibody was identified in 1982, she was concerned about the devastating effect of the disease on children and helped to organize the AMA’s first major HIV conference in the mid-1980s. Additionally, Dr. Hutchinson has spent time in Haiti ministering to those suffering after disasters. After Dr. Hutchinson completed her residency in adult psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati and at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. , she was selected as the medical director and administrator for Children’s Mental Health Services in Washington D.C.’s Department of Mental Health. Hutchinson worked at Howard University where she was an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and the residency training director in psychiatry for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Board certified in pediatrics, adult and child psychiatry, Hutchinson has taught and written about child abuse, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, children’s impulsivity and aggression, incarcerated juveniles and mental illness, the use of antidepressants with children and youth suicide. In 2005, she received the American Psychiatric Association’s Irma Bland Excellence in Teaching Award. Hutchinson co-authored Losing Control: Loving a Black Child with Bipolar Disorder with Cassandra Joubert and Linda Thompson Adams in 2007.
Elizabeth Morrison, MD
or nearly four decades, Dr. Morrison has been a steadfast pillar of psychiatric practice in our community. Since establishing her private practice in 1984 following honorable service as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she has provided comprehensive psychiatric care to countless patients. Her clinical expertise spans diagnostic evaluations, psychopharmacologic treatment, criminal forensic psychiatric evaluations, and various psychotherapeutic approaches for a wide range of psychiatric conditions. Dr. Morrison’s contributions extend far beyond her clinical practice. Her courageous advocacy work has been particularly notable in the area of medical aid in dying, where she has provided thoughtful, compassionate testimony distinguishing this practice from suicide. As she eloquently stated, “Medical aid in dying is different from suicide in that a terminal illness is going to imminently cause death. The individual’s motivation to seek aid in dying is to reduce suffering in the context of that imminent death.” Her clear articulation of these complex ethical distinctions demonstrates both her intellectual rigor, her courage, and her deep compassion. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Morrison has also made significant contributions to forensic psychiatry, providing expert evaluations, reports, and testimony since 1982. This work reflects her commitment to ensuring that psychiatric expertise informs our legal system in cases where mental health considerations are paramount. As a past president of the Washington Psychiatric Society, Dr. Morrison has demonstrated exceptional leadership within our professional community. Her guidance has helped shape our organization’s direction and reinforced our commitment to excellence in psychiatric care. Following her tenure as WPS President, Beth went on to very capably represent WPS in APA Assembly. During this time, she excelled at bidirectional reporting from WPS to the Area 3 Council and general Assembly and back to the WPS Board and membership.
Raymond F. Patterson MD
Dr. Raymond F. Patterson is a forensic psychiatry expert witness from District of Columbia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1973 at Northwestern University. Then he also completed his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977 at Howard University College of Medicine.
Currently, Dr. Raymond F. Patterson MD is an associate professor of psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine. He is also an associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Department of Psychiatry. He is a forensic expert with about 40 years of experience combating the negative effects on individuals experiencing extended stays in prisons and forensic psychiatric facilities. He worked with federal courts and the District of Columbia district court. He participated in civil, criminal, and family matters. In addition to his main employment, Patterson also was building a private practice of clinical adult psychiatry where he expanded his experience in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Extra work at a nearby community mental health center offered opportunities to do group and family therapy. He gradually developed a connection to nearby law enforcement agencies such as the U. S. Secret Service, the U. S. Marshal Service, the District of Columbia Police, Baltimore City Police, and the U. S. Capitol Police. These agencies sought consultation about the interaction between psychiatric illness and violence and how to manage those individuals in need of urgent care. He employed his forensic skills in consultation to jails and prisons; secure forensic hospitals; state and federal courts where he served as a monitor for the court; the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act; and the local Protection and Advocacy agencies. The invitations augmented recognition of his national identity as an expert witness in cases related especially to the standard of care in different types of hospitals and institutions providing clinical care in a context of custody and rehabilitation..
Erminia Scarcella, MD
Dr. Scarcella has a long history of service to WPS and to the diplomatic community in Washington. She has been a member of the WPS Board, the founder of the WPS Embassy Disaster Preparedness Program, and has been the designated psychiatrist for the Embassy of Italy since 2000. Dr. Scarcella served our country as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and is also a Knight of the Republic of Italy. She is a Jungian psychoanalyst and maintains a private practice in DC. In 2013 she coordinated a day long program for psychiatrists and the diplomatic community on Mass Disaster in Metropolitan Areas at the Embassy of Italy. She has maintained close contact with many of the medical attachés of several countries including Canada. In short, in her extensive outreach to the diplomatic community, Dr Scarcella has been a good ambassador for our profession.