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03/22/2007

MHLP faculty awarded the USF Distinguished Service Award

 

Dr. John Ward of the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy was awarded the USF Distinguished Service Award. This is one of the university's highest honors, and is given in recognition of many years of outstanding service that John has provided to USF.

Dr. Ward has a long and distinguished record of academic, administrative, clinical, and professional service to the University of South Florida, beginning with his initial appointment to the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) in February of 1982. As a licensed clinical psychologist, he served as the Director of Admissions and then Clinical Director of his department’s clinical demonstration projects where individuals with serious mental illnesses were admitted for treatment. Those FMHI programs were developed and evaluated to demonstrate innovative mental health treatment approaches before their dissemination to the professional practice community. Following accreditation of FMHI’s clinical research and demonstration projects by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, he served one term as Chief of FMHI’s Professional staff. For 16 years, Dr. Ward also held the position of Associate Chair of FMHI’s Department of Community Mental Health where he was also appointed as Interim Chair for one year. His reputation as an administrator and expertise as a clinical supervisor is admired and respected by his peers and supervisors within FMHI. He is often called upon for assistance and consultation by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in Florida as well as state mental health authorities and agencies in several other states where functional assessment measures developed by Dr. Ward and his colleagues have been adopted for monitoring effectiveness of behavioral health services. He currently serves as the Vice President of the USF Faculty Senate and continues to serve DCF as a member of statewide ad-hoc committees providing consultation and leadership on issues related to the delivery and evaluation of behavioral health services. His expertise has been especially utilized by DCF during reviews or updates of mental health laws in Florida.  

 

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