Bicentennial Lectureship

The IOL has a longstanding history and tradition of thought leadership. From its founding over 200 years ago to today, the IOL has been at the forefront of approaching healthcare in a dignified and humanistic way. 

As part of the 200th anniversary, we built upon past tradition and launched this new annual initiative described as the Bicentennial Lectureship. 

The bicentennial lectureship is awarded to an outstanding individual in the early stages of their professional journey, working in mental health services as a registered health professional. 

We are seeking individuals who have demonstrated an impact through their work in innovation, advocacy, and patient-centered care. Nominations will require a CV and letter of nomination. Primary criteria will include: (1) Emerging thought leadership (influence, impact, and inspiration; (2) Role model for others; (3) Innovation in mental health service design and delivery. The process for the Bicentennial Lectureship will parallel the Burlingame award and be vetted through the Burlingame Award committee. A call for nominations is distributed in the fall of each year with a planned lecture taking place in the spring.

The Bicentennial Lectureship will typically involve a 2 day visit on site at the Institute of Living. The recipient will present Grand Rounds on a topic of their choosing and spend one day visiting with learners and staff. They will be invited to present a workshop focusing on skill-building for our community of colleagues. Their itinerary will be co-developed with the Lecturer and the IOL community.

Current Recipient

2025

Awais AftabAwais Aftab, MD

A sought-after expert and thought leader known across the country, his academic, educational, and public-facing work focuses on conceptual and critical issues in psychiatry. 

Awais Aftab, MD, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, USA, and a psychiatrist at Southwest General where he leads their intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization program. He is a senior editor for the journal “Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology,” and his academic work has been published in top psychiatric journals such as JAMA Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, and World Psychiatry. His first book, “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry,” is an edited volume of interviews published by Oxford University Press (2024). Dr. Aftab has also written for the New York Times and has been quoted in publications such as the Washington Post, LA Times, VICE News, and Rolling Stones Magazine, and writes and online  Substack newsletter Psychiatry at the Margins (www.psychiatrymargins.com).

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Past Recipients

2024
Caitlin Pinciotti

Caitlin Pinciotti, PhD

A psychologist and emerging thought leader in mental health with expertise in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Pinciotti is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a Trauma Psychology focus at Northern Illinois University and completed her pre-doctoral residency and post-doctoral fellowship at Rogers Behavioral Health in the OCD and Anxiety track. Dr. Pinciotti’s research focuses on the assessment, conceptualization, and treatment of OCD, trauma, and PTSD, in particular when these conditions and experiences intersect.

During her visit to The Institute of Living, Dr. Pinciotti held two workshops entitled “Disentangling the complex intersections of trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorder,” and a Grand Rounds Presentation entitled “Justice-based treatment considerations for identity-related OCD presentations.”

2023

Dr. Ahmed Hankir chosen as first Bicentennial Lectureship recipient

International Innovator Dr. Ahmed Hankir speaks on mental health stigma

Dr. Hankir and Dr. SukherabThe first IOL Bicentennial Lectureship recipient was Ahmed Hankir, MD, an internationally known speaker, author and thought leader who has personally experienced mental health challenges, is best known for his anti-stigma presentation “The Wounded Healer.” Dr. Hankir works as an academic and clinical psychiatrist for South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom. He brought his personal experience as an immigrant, a Muslim and someone who has overcome personal mental health challenges to his unique approach to healing and thriving.

During his two-day visit in January 2023, Dr. Hankir presented a grand rounds presentation on stigma and bias in healthcare as well as an in-person skill building community workshop that focused on the role of the arts and music in healing.

Both of Dr. Hankir’s lively presentations addressed the many aspects of the stigma and the fear of repercussions that some medical professionals have discussing their own personal mental health issues but also the benefits of sharing their lived experiences with patients. He praised the work of recovery support specialists and others who are open about their mental health history and encouraged all to work on rewriting the narrative and using tools like social media to further the message and “tweet against the dying of the light”.

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