Lifetime Contributions in Psychiatry at APA, With Steven Moffic, MD

Steven Moffic, MD, member of the editorial board of Psychiatric Times, reflected on 2 awards he received at the APA annual meeting, the evolution of the biopsychosocial model, and the pressing ethical and societal challenges facing psychiatry.^1,2

Moffic described receiving the Oskar Pfister Award—established in honor of a minister who collaborated with and challenged Freud—for his contributions to psychiatry, religion, and spirituality, including editing a series of books on Islamophobia, antisemitism, Christianity, eastern traditions, and spirituality. He also received the Senior Psychiatrist Berson Award, given for sustained professional contributions in later career.

Moffic argued that the social dimension of the biopsychosocial model has been chronically underfunded and underemphasized relative to biological and psychological components, noting that "you get paid for doing psychopharmacology, you get paid for doing psychotherapy, but you don't for social stuff," despite the fact that the patient-clinician relationship is itself fundamentally a social act. He proposed expanding the model to incorporate technology, ecology, and moral dimensions—which he framed as particularly urgent given the epidemic of burnout and moral injury affecting psychiatrists navigating systemic compromise in daily practice.

Moffic closed by identifying freedom of mind as psychiatry's ultimate clinical and societal contribution: "when we're successful in working with patients, it frees up their freedom of mind so that they can think more helpfully about what to do in their life."

Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specializes in the social, cultural, ethical, spiritual, and religious aspects of psychiatry, and since 2012 is in retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer and speaker, he has done a weekdays column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He has been an advocate and activist for mental health issues related to climate instability, physical burnout, and xenophobia, among other social justice causes, serving on many related local and national community and professional Boards. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.

References

1. Oskar Pfister award. American Psychiatric Association. Accessed May 27, 2026. https://www.psychiatry.org/membership/awards-leadership-opportunities/awards/oskar-pfister-award

2. Berson senior psychiatrist award. American Psychiatric Association. Accessed May 27, 2026. https://www.psychiatry.org/membership/awards-leadership-opportunities/awards/berson-senior-psychiatrist-award