A new research award designed to recognize psychiatrists and other medical professionals for basic research has been established by the Psychiatric Foundation of North Carolina (PFNC). The V. Sagar Sethi, MD, Mental Health Research Award was created with an endowment from Dr. Sethi, a practicing psychiatrist from Charlotte and a long-time member of the North Carolina and American Psychiatric Associations. The award will be presented to a psychiatrist or other professional doing research in the United States.

The inaugural winner of the 2012 Sethi Award will be announced in early 2012 by a selection committee that includes leadership from the Departments of Psychiatry at North Carolina’s four medical schools. The award includes a significant financial prize and travel support to present a lecture at the 2012 Annual Meeting and Scientific Session of the North Carolina Psychiatric Society.

In addition to a medical degree, Dr. Sethi has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has been in private practice in Charlotte since 1991 and has published a book, Solving Psychiatric Puzzles (2004), and more than 80 scientific papers.