Peter Salovey President | Yale University
Peter Salovey President | Yale University
John Pachankis has been appointed as the David R. Kessler, M.D. ’55 Professor of Public Health at Yale University. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind mental health disparities related to sexual orientation and assessing the effectiveness of LGBTQ-affirmative mental health interventions.
Pachankis is a faculty member at the Yale School of Public Health and holds secondary appointments in Yale's Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry. He also leads Yale’s LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative, which aims to enhance the mental health of LGBTQ communities globally.
The professorship was established to advance teaching and research aimed at improving LGBTQ mental health. Pachankis's work involves identifying factors contributing to mental health issues in LGBTQ individuals and using these insights for treatment development. His lab applies various methods, including epidemiological studies and clinical trials, to find targeted solutions for improving mental health outcomes in these populations.
His developed treatments have been implemented across community settings in the United States, showing effectiveness in reducing common co-occurring mental health risks like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders through multiple randomized controlled trials.
Pachankis has authored over 200 scientific papers on LGBTQ mental health and stigma and co-edited a handbook published by Oxford University Press on evidence-based practices with sexual and gender minorities. His research has influenced policy discussions and gained international media attention. He has received several accolades, such as a Fulbright Fellowship to Sweden in 2022-23 and a Distinguished Book Award from the American Psychological Association in 2019. The Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative recently received the 2024 Emery Award from the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
Pachankis earned his master's degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, after completing his bachelor's degree in psychology at Loyola University in New Orleans.
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