The Albert J. Stunkard Professorship of Psychiatry
Established in 2007 by the generous gifts of Albert J. Stunkard, MD, his colleagues, and patients, the Professorship commemorates his multi-faceted achievements as a researcher, physician, and leader in the Department of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr. Stunkard (1922–2014) joined the Department in 1957. His research program was among the first to demonstrate that genetics plays a significant role in obesity and that dieting usually fails. By studying and advocating behavior therapy and medical treatments, he opened new, kinder, and more successful paths for controlling body weight for many people.
Dr. Stunkard chaired the Department from 1962 to 1973 and was the inaugural holder of the Kenneth E. Appel Professorship of Psychiatry. As Chair, he built the Department into one of the best in the nation. He returned to the faculty in 1977 and continued his research until he was 90.
Dr. Stunkard’s many awards included membership in the National Academy of Medicine, the Distinguished Service Award from the American Psychiatric Association, and the Sarnat International Prize from the Academy of Medicine.
Current Chairholder
Matthew R. Hayes, PhD
Matthew R. Hayes, PhD is the Albert J. Stunkard Associate Professor in Psychiatry, Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Neuroscience and Director of the Molecular and Neural Basis of Psychiatric Disease Section in the Department of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
As an educator, Dr. Hayes holds a secondary appointment in the School of Nursing where he teaches core courses for the Nutrition Major at Penn. Dr. Hayes earned his Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University and conducted his postdoctoral fellowship in psychology and neuroscience at The University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Harvey Grill.
Dr. Hayes is considered a leading expert on the neuroendocrine systems that regulate energy balance. In particular, the Hayes laboratory focusses their research efforts extensively on understanding the neural, behavioral, cellular, molecular, and physiological mechanisms by which hormones, such as GLP-1, amylin, GIP, PYY, and leptin regulate food intake and body weight through action in the caudal brainstem and mesolimbic reward system. These basic science research efforts are conducted with the intention that they will translate into improved pharmacological / behavioral treatments for obesity, diabetes, and co-morbid diseases. Dr. Hayes has been PI / MPI on multiple NIDDK R01 awards, as well as Investigator Initiated Sponsored Proposals from pharmaceutical partners. These and other awards have supported his research into neuroendocrine controls of energy balance and obesity, with a track record of ~125 publications in this area.
He has and continues to provide service as program chair and as an executive board member and scientific advisor for multiple international scientific societies, industry partners, and non-profit organizations dedicated towards neuroscience, nutrition, diabetes and obesity research / clinical care. Dr. Hayes also continues to provide service to the NIH. He is currently serving as a member on the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms, and Sleep Study Section (BNRS) Study Section, and has served as an ad hoc member on numerous other study sections that review NIH research proposals.
Previous Holder
- Thomas A. Wadden, PhD 2007 - 2021