November 2009

Elizabeth Weller

Dr. Elizabeth Weller died November 29, 2009.  Elizabeth served with distinction as Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and was the first Chair of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), as well as the first woman to hold an endowed professorship in psychiatry. Ever grateful for her care at the Abramson Cancer Center, Elizabeth prevailed over breast cancer for many years—attending to all of her academic activities, caring for her many patients, and rarely missing a single day of work, working until the very end. Elizabeth was a national leader recognized for her scholarship in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders—depression and bipolar disorders. She was a fierce advocate for and deeply committed to the relief of suffering and the mental health of children and adolescents. She led by example and was an exemplary teacher, mentor, and clinician who was beloved by her trainees as well as her patients and their families. She was an extraordinarily productive and highly acclaimed child psychiatrist--literally an icon in her field. Elizabeth was a professor of child psychiatry and pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, She has been the president of the Society of Biological Psychiatry and the president of the American Board of Psychiatry and neurology, as well as a number of numerous other professional organizations, and is well known as an advocate in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.  She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Dr. Ronald Weller, their two children; Andrew Weller and Christine Weller, her brother Varoujan Boghossian, sister-in-law Knarig Boghossian, and her niece Marie Markarian and nephew Hagop Boghossian, Father-in-law Dr. Lowell Weller and mother-in-law Eloise Weller as well as numerous cousins and friends.

September 2009

Elizabeth Young

Dr. Elizabeth Young, died September 1, 2009.  Elizabeth, with remarkable support from her husband Peter, battled her leukemia illness for nearly a year.  Symptoms began as she had just started a sabbatical in London. Through their blog, they shared their difficult journey and showed a kind of courage and equanimity that moved us all.  Elizabeth was a remarkable physician, scientist, colleague, mentor and friend.   PDF

Wagner H. Bridger (PDF)
A research pioneer in the fields of biological psychiatry, psychopharmacology and neonatology, past president of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, and Editor Emeriti of its journal, Biological Psychiatry.

Elizabeth Dorus

Elizabeth Dorus, distinguished scientist in genetics and biological psychiatry, died in February 2009 following a long, courageous battle with multiple sclerosis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Dorus, MD, and is survived by their son, Steve Dorus, PhD, his wife Halley, and their son Robert. She was the recipient of many grants, including a Research Career Development Award from NIMH. Among her numerous publications were three in the journal Science.  She was an extraordinary mentor, role model, and lover of life, as well as a prolific researcher.  She will be sorely missed.