Nearly 500 community members came together for the Open Mind Gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel on March 22, 2017. The Friends of the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, together with the Board of Advisors of the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital (RNPH) at UCLA, hosted the event, which raised more than $700,000 to support mental-health research, education and clinical-care programs at UCLA.
UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block presented the Visionary Award to Dr. Kelsey C. Martin, dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Gerald S. Levey, M.D., Endowed Chair, for extraordinary leadership, research in neuroscience and work with the UCLA Depression Grand Challenge. Dr. Peter Whybrow, director of the Semel Institute and Judson Braun Chair in Biological Psychiatry, presented Julia Gouw, the former president and COO of East West Bank who established the Julia S. Gouw Chair in Mood Disorders (now named the Lori Altshuler Endowed Chair for Mood Disorders), with the Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic leadership, which she accepted in memory of Dr. Lori Altshuler. Mike Bayer, CEO of Cast Centers, a wellness treatment center, presented the Artistic Award of Courage to performer Demi Lovato in recognition of her mental-health advocacy.
Actress and RNPH board member Lisa Kudrow served as the evening's host, and recording star Chord Overstreet performed his latest singles. Also in attendance were Vicky Goodman, president and founder of the Friends of the Semel Institute, and Dr. Nancy Glaser, founding chair of the RNPH Board of Advisors. Friends Gather to Support Mental Health
For more information, contact Dorin Esfahani at: (310) 267-1838
