Susan M. Szulewski, MD, McLean’s associate chief medical officer and medical director of the Clinical Evaluation Center, was recently awarded the prestigious 2022 Jonathan O. Cole Award.
The annual award—established in 2006, thanks to a gift from the Fleetwing Charitable Foundation—honors Dr. Cole, a former McLean psychiatrist.
The honor is intended to recognize individuals who embody many of Cole’s notable personal and professional qualities, including dedication to excellence, humility, compassion, innovation, perseverance, creativity, individuality, and a willingness to be unconventional.
“To be the recipient of the Cole Award is such an honor,” Szulewski said. “I feel privileged to be able to do this important work alongside some of the most dedicated and compassionate people—this award truly represents them. These past couple of years, facing the pandemic and sustained behavioral health surge, have demonstrated the true resilience and strength of McLean. I am proud to be part of the team.”
As this year’s recipient—selected by Scott L. Rauch, MD, McLean’s president and psychiatrist in chief, along with other key leaders across the hospital—Szulewski receives a discretionary monetary award to support McLean-led clinical, research, and training activities.
Rauch said Szulewski exemplified Cole’s ideals in her work at McLean, adding, “We are deeply grateful for the knowledge and expertise she has brought to the President’s Cabinet and her dedication to developing future leaders in the field.”
Szulewski has chosen to use the monetary award to support the Deconstructing Stigma campaign installation at McLean’s Oak Street facility, which opened in September of last year.
“Ensuring high quality, safe access to behavioral health care for all is something that has always been important to me,” Szulewski said.
“The Oak Street facility is the newest extension of McLean SouthEast, providing much-needed additional inpatient services for patients in that region. In my work there I have been beyond impressed by the staff who, in a short period of time, were able to create an atmosphere of high-quality, safe care from the point of admission to discharge.”
In explaining why she directed the award funding to Oak Street’s Deconstructing Stigma installation, Szulewski said, “Navigating the mental health care system can be complex for patients and families, especially during periods of crisis.”
“Deconstructing Stigma is an initiative that is helping change people’s perspective about mental health. The campaign captures the complexity of those living with a psychiatric disorder, seeking treatment, navigating insurance and health care systems, and facing stigma.”
Other recent recipients of the Cole Award include Joseph Stoklosa, MD, Charles F. Moore, MD, Diane Bedell, LICSW, and Amy Gagliardi, MD.
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