The Washington Psychiatric Society (WPS) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) would like to honor the life and outstanding work of Wayne S. Fenton, M.D, who died on September 3, 2006. We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic death of this pioneer in the psychiatric community.
Dr. Fenton was the Director of the Division of Adult Translational Research and Associate Director for Clinical Affairs at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Much of his work in research revolved around the development of new diagnostic instruments and interventions for severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. As NIMH's liaison to the APA and World Psychiatric Association, Dr. Fenton helped shape the research agenda for the forthcoming DSM-V diagnostic manual, the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States and published by the APA.
In addition to the research he conducted, Dr. Fenton also maintained a clinical practice working with patients. Throughout his career, he was known in the psychiatric and patient communities as being a compassionate physician and an ardent advocate for those suffering with mental illnesses.
Dr. Fenton's death comes as a shock to the psychiatric community, but his body of work and dedication should serve as a reminder that mental illnesses are real diseases that require medical care. The WPS and APA offer deepest condolences to Dr. Fenton's family, friends, colleagues and patients.
More information about the life and work of Dr. Fenton can be found at NIMH's Web site at - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/fenton.cfm. For more information about mental illnesses, please visit www.healthyminds.org.
