The University of Kansas School of Medicine appointed Frederick Nucifora Jr., D.O., Ph.D., as the new chair for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, effective Sept. 1. 

Nucifora earned his master’s degree in health sciences and doctorate in cellular and molecular medicine from Johns Hopkins before completing his medical degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He returned to Johns Hopkins to complete psychiatry residency and fellowship training before joining the faculty in 2008. During his tenure, he served as founding director of the adult schizophrenia clinic since; founding director of the clozapine clinic; and co-director of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Precision Medicine Center of Excellence for Schizoaffective Disorder. 

Nucifora is nationally recognized for his expertise in schizophrenia, treatment-resistant illness and the biological mechanisms underlying severe mental illness. His research integrates clinical care, precision medicine and molecular neuroscience to better understand biological differences among patients with schizophrenia, including factors that may influence the effectiveness of treatment and mechanisms related to abnormal protein accumulation in the brain. 

“I am incredibly excited to join the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at KU,” Nucifora said. “The department has tremendous strengths in clinical care, education and research, and I am looking forward to working with our faculty, staff, trainees and partners across KU to build on that foundation. My goal is to help create an environment where clinical excellence, research and education reinforce one another while continuing to expand the impact we have on the patients, families and communities we serve.”  

Nucifora succeeds William Gabrielli, M.D., Ph.D., who led the department for 30 years and is one of the longest-serving department chairs in KU School of Medicine history. Dr. Gabrielli remains a member of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences faculty and his impact will continue to be felt by faculty, staff, trainees and the broader community.