Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Department of Psychiatry Receives $10 Million to Launch the Dr. Herbert Pardes Scholars Initiative

The Essel Foundation, Inc. has made a transformational gift of $10 million to the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons to establish the Dr. Herbert Pardes Scholars Initiative—an ambitious new program designed to support the careers of outstanding junior faculty members as they develop into leaders in the field of psychiatry. This landmark initiative will advance academic excellence, help recruit, retain, and nurture the most talented, ambitious faculty, and support innovative research and teaching in mental health. It will also be a meaningful tribute to the legacy of Dr. Herbert Pardes and his lifelong contributions to mental health and academic medicine.

About the Program

The Dr. Herbert Pardes Scholars Initiative will provide flexible supplementary support for 25-30 exceptional Assistant Professors in the Department of Psychiatry. Scholars will receive critical resources that enable them to pursue bold lines of research, launch pilot studies, and develop the foundation for future federal funding and academic advancement.

The initiative will strengthen every dimension of faculty development, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, cultivating leadership in education and clinical care, and ensuring momentum in fields poised for scientific breakthrough.

Honoring a Visionary Leader

The initiative will not only support the work of pioneering physician-scientists in psychiatry but will also honor Dr. Herbert Pardes (1934-2024), a powerful advocate for mental health, whose legacy is woven into the fabric of Columbia. Dr. Pardes was a pre-eminent leader in neuroscience and behavioral health in contemporary America and was a visionary proponent of neuroscience. He was a catalyst for bringing the latest discoveries in neuroscience and psychiatry to the public to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families living with mental illness.

Dr. Pardes served as the director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from 1978-1984. After leaving NIMH, Dr. Pardes served in many crucial leadership roles at Columbia, as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry (concurrently serving as Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute) and as Vice President for Health Sciences at Columbia and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, before joining NewYork-Presbyterian as President and CEO.

His tenure at Columbia was marked by major changes in the education of physicians and the enhancement of clinical and basic science research. The Department of Psychiatry is honored to celebrate his legacy and his deep commitment to nurturing and supporting young scientists.

The Essel Foundation is the family foundation created by Steve and Connie Lieber, longstanding friends of Dr. Pardes and benefactors of Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry. As authorized by The Essel Foundation, the gift will fully support the Pardes Scholars Initiative for its first five years. The gift is accompanied by Columbia’s pledge to help raise $30 million over the next five years to permanently endow this program, ensuring sustained support for future faculty to launch their careers as independent academics.

Dr. Joshua Gordon, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, said, “As a junior investigator, I found the early years of my biomedical research career challenging—even with the support of a generous mentor and a K award.  Securing salary and support for research was difficult, a theme I have heard repeatedly from junior faculty and Department Chairs.

Dr. Gordon emphasized, “When I returned to Columbia, I set a goal to address this challenge for current and future generations. I also sought to honor Dr. Herbert Pardes, who—through his many leadership roles across VP&S, NYP, and NYSPI —championed the careers of many young faculty before his passing in 2024. I’m very excited about this new major initiative to support our early-career faculty.”