Canadian to Lead American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry

For Immediate Release – March 3, 2008 (TORONTO): This month, Bruce G. Pollock, MD, PhD, FRCPC, will become the president of the 2,000-member American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP). The newly-appointed Vice President of Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Dr. Pollock’s Canadian background will bring a unique perspective to AAGP, based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Part of the ‘reverse brain drain’, CAMH was fortunate to attract Dr. Pollock back to Toronto and CAMH from Pittsburgh in 2006. An internationally-recognized scientist and physician in geriatric psychopharmacology, Dr. Pollock's cutting edge research includes clinical studies examining both conventional and newly derived agents for the treatment of depression and the behavioral disturbances of dementia. As AAGP president Dr. Pollock will draw on his extensive research and clinical expertise to guide priorities in the safety and efficacy of psychiatric medications for the elderly, and access to quality mental health care for older adults.

“Older persons are the fastest-growing group of North Americans facing mental health problems, but many of the drugs that we prescribe to seniors have only been tested in younger people. We need to adjust our focus if we want to provide the best possible care for the elderly,” says Dr. Pollock.

"Dr. Pollock brings to the presidency of AAGP dedication and experience mentoring early career psychiatrists and developing innovative strategies as the association tackles the problem of a workforce that is not growing fast enough to meet the needs of the older population," said outgoing President Gary S. Moak, MD. "As a Canadian with a long history in the United States, Bruce appreciates the issues faced by both American geriatric psychiatrists and our Canadian colleagues, and how the collective work of both will enhance the field."

In addition to his roles as incoming AAGP president and CAMH’s Vice President of Research overseeing over 400 CAMH Research staff, Dr. Pollock is also the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Neuropsychiatry at the Rotman Research Institute, and professor and head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Pollock earned his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Toronto and his PhD in pharmacology from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine. He completed his internship at the Toronto Hospital and was Chief Resident at the former Clarke Institute in Toronto. Dr. Pollock has held several prestigious research career awards such as the Centennial Fellowship of the Canadian Medical Research Council, an Academic Award in Geriatric Mental Health, and an Independent Scientist Award from the United States’ National Institute of Mental Health.

In his first role as AAGP president, Dr. Pollock will address participants with his talk, "Medicine and Toxicity: Dose and Intent" at the AAGP annual meeting on Friday, March 14^th in Florida.

To arrange interviews please contact Michael Torres, Media Relations, CAMH at (416) 595-6015.

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addictions teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addictions and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development, prevention and health promotion to transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.