Congratulations to Nadine Kaslow, PhD (Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) as the winner of the 2020 Lifetime Service & Leadership Award! Read excerpts from the nomination letter below.
Nadine Kaslow, PhD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
"Since 1990, Dr. Kaslow has provided compassionate, evidence-based care to adults with serious mental illnesses and their families as Chief Psychologist at Grady. She is often called upon to provide debriefings following crises. For over two decades, she has chaired the Emory Medical Care Foundation Research Committee. At Grady, she founded and directs Nia Project, a nationally recognized, culturally-informed program for low-income African American women with a history of domestic violence and suicidal behavior. She has published extensively on this groundbreaking program."
"What makes Dr. Kaslow stand out are not just these formal service and leadership contributions, but her willingness to step up to the plate and go far above and beyond the call of duty to create new programs and initiatives that fulfill critical needs within the Emory or broader community. This year her service contributions reached a new level of impact and innovation. As we experienced unprecedented stress and strain associated with the impacts of COVID-19, colleagues from multiple SOM departments reached out to Dr. Kaslow and requested that she assist in providing care for our caregivers. In response to these requests and her early recognition of the emotional toll of the pandemic on healthcare workers, Dr. Kaslow assembled a group of volunteers who formed Caring Communities, an interprofessional team of mental health professionals. Under her inclusive, collaborative and transformational leadership, this team rapidly and effectively mobilized to provide healthcare worker communities across the SOM and Emory-affiliated hospitals with round-the-clock and often on-site support, guidance, and compassion. Caring Communities provides support groups, debriefings, tip-sheets, wellness activities, and education for healthcare professionals locally, regionally, nationally, and globally."
"In response to recent events that highlighted racial injustice and inequities in our community and our country, Dr. Kaslow again assembled and trained a community of volunteers from across the SOM who respond to requests from colleagues for guidance and anti-racism dialogues. Under her leadership, this team has sponsored thoughtful and productive Town Hall meetings and other conversations that have afforded people the opportunity to connect and develop anti-racism action steps and action agendas. Without a doubt, these remarkable and responsive efforts will advance Emory SOM’s efforts to foster healing and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in response to racism."
"Respected and recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for her personal qualities as well as her professional expertise, she has been instrumental in making Emory a better place for the past thirty years in palpable ways. Committed to improving the lives of underserved populations who have few champions to fight for them, she is the rare person who goes out of her way to do whatever is needed to help. Her leadership during COVID-19 and the racism crisis is inspirational. Her efforts reflect her core values that diverse voices should be heard, that everyone (from trainees to senior leaders) can contribute in valuable ways, and that we do our best when we work together as a team and as a community."
