Deborah Deas, MD, MPH, the vice chancellor for health sciences and the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the UC Riverside School of Medicine received a holiday surprise when she learned she had been elected as a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

According to the APA website, the distinguished fellowship is the highest membership honor the APA bestows upon members and is awarded "to outstanding psychiatrists who have made significant contributions to the psychiatric profession in at least five of the following areas: administration, teaching, scientific and scholarly publications, volunteering in mental health and medical activities of social significance, community involvement, as well as for clinical excellence."

"You join an elite group of psychiatrists with this honorary distinction who continue to make significant contributions to the field of psychiatry," said CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA in an email announcing the award.

"I am both humbled and honored to receive this recognition," Deas said. "I am grateful to my mentors throughout my career as well as my colleagues from the APA who have been so supportive throughout my career and I accept this recognition with gratitude, fully aware of the collective effort of many that has shaped my journey in psychiatry."

Deas will be formally recognized at the Convocation of Distinguished Fellows on Monday, May 6, 2024 during the annual APA meeting in New York.