After a lengthy search throughout much of 2020, the Board of Directors of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hochang Benjamin (Ben) Lee, MD, FACLP, as Editor-in-Chief of the Academy's prestigious journal, Psychosomatics, from January 2021. Dr. Lee is assuming the role from Ted Stern, MD, FACLP, the journal's Editor-in-Chief since 2008 and who is retiring in December after 13 years in the role. Dr. Lee is well known in the Academy; he has been a member since 2006, has served on Academy committees and has presented many times at Academy annual meetings.
Dr. Lee is the John Romano Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Prior to his chairmanship at University of Rochester, he was the founding director and Chief of Yale's Psychological Medicine Section, at Yale New Haven Hospital's York Street and St. Raphael campuses. He also directed Yale's Psychological Medicine Research Center. Previously, he was Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Director of Research Development at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
Dr. Lee is board certified in psychiatry with sub-specialty certification in psychosomatic medicine. His primary clinical interest is in behavioral aspects of dementia care, especially among those with multiple medical comorbidities. Dr. Lee completed psychiatry residency and combined neuropsychiatry/psychiatric epidemiology fellowships at Johns Hopkins after earning his MD at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1997. He is currently North American Editor for the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. He will relinquish this position as he transitions to be the new Editor-in-Chief for Psychosomatics.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Lee said, "As the flagship journal of ACLP, I believe that Psychosomatics should be a leading international journal and an academic venue for exchanging and testing innovative ideas for the field of C-L psychiatry. Our journal should follow the vision of ACLP that promotes 'a global agenda of excellence in clinical care for patients with comorbid psychiatric and general medical conditions by actively influencing the direction and process of research and public policy and promoting interdisciplinary education.'
"I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and the opportunity to make new contributions to the Academy and to the future of C-L Psychiatry. I feel privileged to follow Ted Stern's long and successful tenure and look forward to building upon the strong foundation laid out by earlier chief editors, Wilfred Dorfman and Thomas Wise."
ACLP President Michael Sharpe, MA, MD, FACLP, said, "The appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief for our journal is great news for the Academy, and a notable success in what is turning out to be an extraordinary year for us all. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the task force led by Dr. Don Rosenstein that was charged with searching for and recommending a new editor, continued their work with great thoroughness. In the event, they had to select from many highly qualified applicants. Their search and selection processes are now complete and on August 6 the ACLP Board unanimously confirmed the appointment of Ben Lee. Ben will take over the reins of the journal from Dr. Ted Stern, our Editor-in-Chief for the last 13 years, in January 2021. I congratulate Ben on his appointment and thank Ted for his long and diligent stewardship of our journal. Our Academy is very fortunate to be served in this way by such great physicians and scholars."
