Rudy Moos, Ph.D., VA HSR&D Research Career Scientist with the Center for Healthcare Evaluation in Palo Alto, CA, and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, has received the VA Under Secretary for Health's Exemplary Service Award. The award was presented to Dr. Moos for his outstanding scientific contribution to the psychology of addiction, substance abuse and treatment aimed at improving the health and well-being of Veterans.
During his more than 45-year career, Dr. Moos has made significant contributions to the improvement of healthcare for Veterans and the nation. Dr. Moos' work focuses on Veterans affected by psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse. He has contributed to an understanding of the patient and treatment factors that predict the outcomes of mental healthcare, and has developed methods to assess the quality of patient care. Dr. Moos also has developed methods to identify psychosocial risk factors associated with the onset, progression, and remission of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.
Dr. Moos is recognized both nationally and internationally as an expert in health services research. In 1999, he was the first recipient of VA's Under Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health Services Research, an award honoring the highest level of achievement in health services research. Dr. Moos has also been the recipient of many other significant honors for his research, including one of the first MERIT Awards given by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and the American Psychological Association's 2009 Distinguished Scientific Contribution, Division on Addictions award, which recognizes distinguished contributions to the advancement of public interest in the addictions field. In his role as mentor, he has influenced a generation of researchers, and his extensive body of scholarly work was cited by his peers more than 2000 times in one 10-year span.
Dr. Moos continues to make contributions to the field of health services research with his active participation in ongoing studies that examine health issues related to alcohol abuse and mental health issues (such as the effectiveness of screening and treatment for PTSD in Veterans with substance use disorders), as well as pain, depression, and alcohol use in later life.