The APPA has four awards named for individuals who have made important contributions to the science of psychopathology. They are the Eli Robins and Samuel Guze Award, Hamilton Award, Joseph Zubin Award, and the Paul Hoch Award.

Robins/Guze Award

The Robins/Guze Award is presented in honor of two psychiatrists Eli Robins (1921-1994) and Samuel B. Guze (1923-2000). These pioneers questioned every fundamental premise in clinical psychopathology and undertook studies and approaches that have changed the field of psychiatry forever. Their contributions included advancing a biological and medical view of mental illness, developing standard diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, and (as successive Heads of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine), mentoring numerous investigators in the field. In memory of these significant contributions to the field of psychopathology, the Robins/Guze Award will be given to an early career investigator who has been conducting research, but has not yet been a Principal Investigator on a R01 grant or equivalent and has not yet reached the level of Associate Professor. The Robins/Guze Awardee will be automatically nominated as a member to the APPA and the first year's membership dues will be waived. See complete list of winners below. The deadline to submit nominations for the Robins-Guze award was Monday, November 20, 2023, to the APPA Secretary, Dr. William Stone ([email protected]). Nominations for this award should come from the candidate's mentor and include a CV of the nominee and a brief letter supporting the appropriateness of the candidate for this award.

Hamilton Award

This award, given to the APPA President each year, is named for Samuel W. Hamilton who was the APPA President in 1938. He was born in 1878, was a Vermont native, received a B.S. at the University of Vermont and an M.D. from Columbia University. He began his career at Bloomingdale Asylum, now the Westchester Division of New York Hospital. He was most noted for his work in mental hospital administration and was a forceful advocate for improving the care of the mentally ill. He was highly regarded by colleagues and the Hamilton Award was established shortly after his death in 1951 to honor his “long and effective leadership” in the field of psychopathology. See complete list of winners below.

Hoch Award

The Paul Hoch award is given to a distinguished and currently active investigator who has produced significant, generative research in the area being highlighted at the meeting. The award is accompanied by the Hoch Award Address. The recipient may or may not be a member of the APPA. See complete list of winners below.

Zubin Award

For decades Joseph Zubin played an essential role in the intellectual health of the APPA. He pioneered the concept of an annual meeting around a theme, with subsequent publication of the meeting content as a book, many of which he edited. Dr. Zubin attended the annual meeting faithfully every year. In his later years, he invariably sat in the front row and would ask at least one penetrating and highly relevant question after nearly every talk. He had great intellectual curiosity and in his courtly way, he challenged speakers and attendees to think without ever causing a feeling of defensiveness.

The Joseph Zubin award is given to an individual who has played a fundamental role in psychopathology research, generally in a field related to the meeting topic. It honors a person who has contributed to our knowledge base and has stimulated others. The recipient need not necessarily be an active investigator but rather an elder statesman whose contributions are worthy of recognition. See complete list of winners below.

Additionally, we offer meritorious Scholarship awards for each annual conference to help defray the costs of registration and travel. Details about these and links to apply will be sent via email to members, conference registrants and abstract submitters, and will appear here. We particularly encourage members of underrepresented minority groups to apply for these.

Previous Award Winners*