Chief of Psychiatry, Maurizio Fava, MD, Discusses U.S. News & World Report ranking Mass General #1 for Psychiatry in 2024-25
In This Article
- The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry has been recognized for its exceptional commitment to advancing mental healthcare. Mass General was ranked #1 Psychiatry in the nation for Psychiatry in 2024-25 by U.S. News and World Report
- The Department leverages cutting-edge research and innovative treatments to provide the best care for patients with psychiatric disorders
- Digital tools and precision psychiatry are among the promising advancements to improve patient outcomes and accessibility to mental health treatments
Massachusetts General Hospital has been ranked #1 in the nation for Psychiatry in 2024-25 by U.S. News & World Report. Mass General is also recognized as a top hospital on the 2024-25 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, with 13 specialties ranked overall.
Subscribe to the latest updates from Psychiatry Advances in Motion
The annual U.S. News specialty rankings help connect patients to the right hospital to ensure the best medical care. Mass General's Department of Psychiatry is consistently recognized each year for its unparalleled dedication to advancing mental health care. The department's #1 ranking in psychiatry speaks to the groundbreaking advancements in psychiatric treatment and the profound impact of their research to provide the best patient care.
In this Q&A, Maurizio Fava, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, discusses the achievement of being recognized for their unparalleled dedication to advancing mental healthcare.
Q: Can you reflect on Mass General ranking #1 in Psychiatry?
Dr. Fava: This is a tremendous honor for the Department of Psychiatry, as it reflects how we are viewed by our peers and colleagues in the field. Their recognition shows that our Department is viewed as the best when it comes to the mental healthcare of a family member. This recognition is very meaningful to all of us at Mass General and, in particular, to all our clinical staff, who are incredibly devoted to the care of our patients.
Q: What makes the Department of Psychiatry stand out in treating patients?
Dr. Fava: I think the most unique aspect of our Department is our ability to leverage research to improve patient care. Our 68 adult and pediatric clinical and research programs, specialized in the care and research of patients suffering from many different psychiatric disorders, can bring highly innovative approaches to the bedside. As a result, our patients can access cutting-edge treatments such as the use of glutamatergic drugs for autism spectrum disorder and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression. We are able to achieve these goals through the unwavering support of Mass General, which has always invested in supporting our growth, including the recent, exciting expansion of our ketamine clinic.
Q: What advancements in psychiatric treatment do you find most promising in the near future?
Dr. Fava: At a time when access to mental health treatments is so challenging, digital approaches to care represent a highly scalable intervention that may effectively address the problem. Our Center for Digital Mental Health, directed by Sabine Wilhelm, PhD, is at the forefront of delivering new digital tools for the treatment of psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety. In addition, the current limitations of the standard trial-and-error approach in clinical practice highlight the importance of matching the right patient with the right treatment. Our Center for Precision Psychiatry, directed by Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD, is leading the way in developing electronic health record algorithms to guide treatment decisions in practice, which could markedly improve our patients' outcomes. The use of devices for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, from depression to neurodegenerative disorders, is also really exciting. Our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Clinical Service, directed by Joan Camprodon, MD, PhD, is advancing both the research and the clinical care in this critical area. Finally, our Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, led by Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD, is addressing the need to provide behavioral support for patients with neurological conditions in highly innovative ways.
Q: How does research within the department advance patient care?
Dr. Fava: Our research leaders are also clinicians; therefore, their natural focus is to ensure that their innovations benefit the care of their patients. They get inspired and motivated by the challenges they face in their clinical practice to solve these clinical problems and improve the care of their patients. We at Mass General refer to that as "research-infused care." A clear example of this is our Center for Women's Mental Health, directed by Lee Cohen, MD, which provides guidance on how to best care for women at critical times such as pregnancy and postpartum to the millions of visitors of their website. When I see patients in my practice at Mass General, I always ask myself, how can I translate the advances in psychiatric research into a concrete benefit for my patient?
Q: Can you discuss initiatives that have successfully improved mental healthcare at Mass General?
Dr. Fava: Jeffery Huffman, MD, our associate chief for Clinical Services and world-renowned expert in collaborative care, and his terrific team of experts have clearly had a very positive impact on the psychiatric treatment of primary care patients. The team fosters a close collaboration between primary care providers and our specialists. Our strong emphasis on quality of care, with efforts led by Janet Wozniak, MD, our associate chief for Quality and Safety, has provided clear guidance on how we should aspire to deliver care. Similarly, our efforts to improve care in the community, under the leadership of Alex Keuroghlian, MD, MPH, associate chief for Public and Community Psychiatry, have benefitted many patients in our communities.
Explore research in the Department of Psychiatry
Learn more about the Ketamine Clinic for Depression