Four faculty members in the Department of Psychiatry were recognized with Distinguished Faculty Awards from the Division of Psychology. The four recipients of these awards showcase excellence in clinical care, faculty mentorship, innovation, and leadership.
Shilpa Taufique, PhD, Chief of the Division of Psychology and Vice Chair for Faculty Development in Psychiatry, presented these awards at the 2026 Psychology Graduation.
“Our faculty are the foundation of our Division’s excellence, advancing patient care, education, research, and innovation every day. These Distinguished Faculty Award recipients exemplify the talent, dedication, and leadership that inspire our community and shape the future of academic psychology,” she said.
Distinguished Faculty Award Clinical Excellence 2026
Gregory Gagnon, PhD
Gregory Gagnon, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, exemplifies sustained clinical excellence through his leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to patient care across both inpatient and outpatient settings.
As the supervising psychologist on the general adult inpatient unit and in the integrated outpatient service at the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center, Dr. Gagnon consistently provides exceptional care to patients with complex clinical presentations while maintaining a strong focus on ethics, access, and quality. He has expanded clinical services through the introduction of Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) and other group treatment modalities, enhancing care options for patients.
In addition to his clinical contributions, Dr. Gagnon plays a vital role in developing the next generation of psychologists through his work as Assistant Training Director, overseeing a large externship program and providing outstanding clinical teaching and mentorship. His ability to seamlessly integrate clinical excellence, program development, and educational leadership makes him deeply deserving of this recognition.
Distinguished Faculty Award Education and Mentorship 2026
Elizabeth Ochoa, PhD
The career of Elizabeth Ochoa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, has been defined by an extraordinary commitment to education, mentorship, and the development of future generations of psychologists.
Over more than three decades at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and now at the Mount Sinai-Behavioral Health Center, she has provided visionary leadership of the Psychology Internship Training Program, guiding it through multiple successful accreditation cycles and fostering a training environment known for its excellence in clinical education, supervision, and professional development.
As Chief Psychologist since 2009, she has mentored countless trainees, junior faculty, and colleagues across all stages of their careers, earning a reputation for her generosity, wisdom, and unwavering investment in the growth of others. Her leadership was instrumental in ensuring the continuity and success of the training program during its transition to the Behavioral Health Center, preserving a strong culture of learning and mentorship. Through her teaching, scholarly contributions, advocacy for the profession, and profound impact on the careers of generations of psychologists, Dr. Ochoa has left an enduring legacy that exemplifies the very best of education and mentorship in academic psychology.
Distinguished Faculty Award Scholarship and Innovation 2026
Yulia Landa, PsyD
Yulia Landa, PsyD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, is a nationally recognized clinician-scientist whose scholarship and innovation have transformed the field of psychosis prevention and early intervention.
Through a highly productive, federally funded research program, she has developed rigorously evaluated novel and scalable interventions that improve identification, engagement, and treatment for individuals at risk for or experiencing psychosis. Her pioneering work—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for clinical high-risk populations, Early Stage Identification and Engagement, and the ComPsych communication framework—has advanced both the science and practice of care, with widespread dissemination across clinical, community, and training settings.
Beyond intervention development, Dr. Landa has distinguished herself through her commitment to implementation, clinician training, and systems-level change, ensuring that evidence-based innovations reach the patients and families who need them most. Her national leadership, influential collaborations, extensive scholarly contributions, and extraordinary mentorship of emerging clinician-scientists have left a lasting impact on the field and exemplify the very highest standards of scholarship, innovation, and translational research.
Distinguished Faculty Award Leadership and Systems Impact 2026
Ashley Doukas, PhD
Ashley Doukas, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and system-level impact through her vision, operational excellence, and commitment to expanding access to high-quality behavioral health care.
As Clinical Director of the Center for Stress, Resilience and Personal Growth, she has transformed and significantly expanded a unique service dedicated to supporting Mount Sinai health care workers, their adult dependents, and other trauma-exposed populations. Under her leadership, the program has grown into a thriving multidisciplinary service, maintaining timely access to care while achieving outstanding clinical outcomes. She provides exemplary oversight of clinical operations, workforce development, supervision, and care pathways, ensuring that evidence-based practices are delivered with consistency and excellence.
Dr. Doukas has also demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, guiding the continued growth and financial viability of the program while contributing to scholarship that has advanced understanding of effective mental health interventions for health care workers. Through her leadership, teaching, mentorship, and dedication to supporting the well-being of the health care workforce, she has created lasting institutional impact and exemplifies the highest standards of leadership in academic health care.