2009 Annual Promising New
Investigator Award Winners

First and second-place winners have been chosen for the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service Annual Promising New Investigators Travel Scholarship Awards.

First place was awarded to Dr. Josephine Mokonogho, who authored, "Delirium associated with elevated free valproic acid levels."

Dr. Mokonogho graduated University of Ibadan located in Nigeria, and is currently a Psychiatry Resident at SUNY Downstate Medical Center located in Brooklyn, NY.
Dr. Mokonogho also is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Brooklyn Psychiatric Society, and has received many academic honors. 

Second place was awarded to Dr. Matthew Prowler, who authored, "Treatment of catatonia with methylphenidate in an elderly patient with depression."

Dr. Prowler graduated from Jefferson Medical College located in Philadelphia, PA, and is currently a General Psychiatry Resident at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Dr. Prowler has clinical research interest in examining efficacy of current treatment strategies for substance dependent adolescents and young adults.

The evaluation committee rated the manuscripts on originality, scholarship, scientific rigor, valid methodology, clinical significance, organization and presentation.  Many of the papers scored closely together and from the judges' comments, looked worthy of publication.

The winners traveled to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual meeting in San Francisco, CA in May to receive their awards.  While these doctors have plans for publishing their papers, NMSIS will forward some of the papers received to Current Psychiatry for consideration.