VA HSR&D researcher Mark S. Bauer, M.D., Associate Director at the VA HSR&D Center for Organization, Leadership, and Management Research has received the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy's (ABCT) 2013 award for Distinguished Friend to Behavior Therapy.
Dr. Bauer received the award based on his clear commitment to promoting the mission of cognitive and behavioral work through his roles as an internationally recognized researcher, educator, clinician, and administrator. His work has been influential in ensuring that behaviorally-based psychosocial interventions are incorporated into national mental health provision frameworks, particularly for the seriously mentally ill. Among these contributions is his development of the Life Goals Program, an illness management skills program that utilizes behavioral and cognitive techniques and is fully integrated with medical care management for individuals with serious mental illnesses.
In addition to his VA HSR&D research, Dr. Bauer is also an attending physician at the VA Boston Healthcare System, and a professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. In 2011, Dr. Bauer was the recipient of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance's Klerman Senior Investigator Award.
The ABCT's Distinguished Friend Award is given to individuals who are true promoters and champions of cognitive and behavioral therapy. Recent recipients include VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.