Igor Elman named professor and chair of psychiatry at the Boonshoft School of Medicine

Igor Elman has been appointed professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, effective Aug. 1

Igor Elman, M.D., has been appointed professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, effective Aug. 1. He replaces former chair Jerald Kay, M.D., who retired after 24 years of service.

Elman comes to Wright State from Harvard Medical School (HMS), where he served as associate professor of psychiatry. Elman previously served as medical director for HMS-affiliated Community Mental Health Center and at the Providence VA Medical Center Substance Abuse Treatment Program in Providence, R.I. He has expertise in treating chemical and behavioral addictions, psychosis and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as psychiatric comorbidities with pain or obesity.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Elman to the Boonshoft School of Medicine,” said Margaret Dunn, M.D., dean of the Boonshoft School of Medicine. “His extensive expertise in addictions research and treating posttraumatic stress disorder will be invaluable as we assist the state of Ohio in understanding the statewide opioid abuse epidemic and continue to work with our partners at the VA Medical Center.”

Elman earned his M.D. at Faculty of Medical Sciences Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y. He also completed fellowships in psychiatric research at the National Institute of Mental Health and addiction psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, HMS.

He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry with a subspecialty certification in addiction psychiatry. His research interests are focused on the role of reward and stress systems in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. He is a recipient of the National Institute on Drug Abuse K23 and R01 Awards, along with the VA Merit Review Award. Elman serves as editor-in-chief for the Journal of Psychology Research and Behavioral Management.