Live From Pittsburgh: Journalist to Receive Award

“Journalist, Distinguished Scientists and Advocacy Group Receive Top Honors at International Conference on Bipolar Disorder,” reads the heading on the press release.

“At the Seventh International Conference on Bipolar Disorder being held this week in Pittsburgh, three distinguished individuals and one advocacy group will be honored for their contributions to bipolar disorder research, education and service,” the release goes on to say.

Now some background:

“The Mogens Schou Awards were named in recognition and appreciation of Mogens Schou MD, Dr Med Sci … whose groundbreaking research 50 years ago proved lithium’s significant mood stabilizing effects for the treatment of bipolar disorders.

Now the set-up sentence:

“’This year’s Mogens Schou Awards continues the strong tradition of honoring those heroes who are making major advances that bring hope to those suffering with bipolar disorder,’ said David J Kupfer MD, the Thoms P Detre Professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.”

Here it is, the punch line:

“John McManamy LLB (Hons) will receive the Mogens Schou Award for Public Service.”

Also receiving a Mogens Schou Award will be renowned researchers Francesc Colom PsyD, PhD and Eduard Vieta MD, PhD, both of the University of Barcelona (for research), and Adriano Camargo on behalf of the Brazilian Association for Affective Disorders (for education and advocacy).

Past recipients have included the late Mogens Schou and Kay Jamison.

Today was the first day of the conference. Attendees received notice in their conference info materials. The congratulations started that morning.

It is past 11 in the evening. Tomorrow is my big day. At an evening function, I will share the spotlight with three outstanding individuals before a group of people who have dedicated their lives to improving mine.

It has been a very gratifying day. More tomorrow …