Outstanding Service Award
The CSH Section Outstanding Service Award is presented to two psychologists annually who have made a significant impact in a community or state hospital setting. One awardee each year is a graduate student or early career psychologist. Outstanding service must be demonstrated in a community or state hospital and can be in any of the following areas:
We are particularly interested in the nomination of individuals who have made a significant impact in a community and state hospital setting, such as through the development and implementation of novel programs, contributing to culture change through training of staff, research that benefits patients and/or staff in meaningful ways, and exemplary service to underserved populations.
Awardees will receive a certificate and $500. Awardees will also be featured in the Division 18 newsletter and on our section’s website.
Candidates may be self-nominated or nominated by another professional or student.
The candidate’s outstanding service must have been/must be demonstrated in a community or state hospital setting.
If you are nominating someone else, please submit the following materials no later than June 1, 2025 to the CSH Section Chair at csh@publicservicepsych.org:
If you are self-nominating, please submit the following materials no later than June 1, 2025 to the CSH Section Chair at csh@publicservicepsych.org:
2025
Laura Grossi, Ph.D., ABSMIP
Laura Grossi has shown exceptional abilities in clinical work, assessment, research, program development, and training & supervision. Her work with underserved communities has stood out for her thoroughness and passion and she exemplifies the dedication to serving persons with serious mental illness in state hospitals. Notably, Dr. Grossi published research and presented on how CBTp and DBT can be better integrated into competency restoration and in forensic treatment more broadly. She has edited a handbook on utilizing clinical interventions into competency restoration in inpatient, community, and jail settings and authored chapters on CBTp and Cognitive Remediation. The book is scheduled to be published through the Oxford University Press in late 2025. Dr. Grossi is currently the Psychology Practicum Training Director and a Forensic Evaluator at the Eastern State Hospital in Virginia.
Sarah Robertson, Psy.D.
Sarah Robertson, PsyD currently works as a Clinical Psychologist at the Oregon State Hospital (OSH) where she inspires many with her leadership skills and commitment to client-centered care. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychosocial rehabilitation at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale School of Medicine and is Chair of the Predoctoral Internship Program at OSH. Her colleague wrote, “I have been consistently impressed by Dr. Robertson’s passion for working with individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) who are involved in the criminal justice system. She is a truly outstanding clinician, advocate, trainer, supervisor, and leader (both in the hospital and in APA Division 18 at the national level) and exemplifies what it means to be a psychologist in public service by improving the lives of people with SMI and training others to do so, as well.” Dr. Robertson was the past chair of the Division 18 Community and State Hospitals Section and she continues to use her skills in leadership to support the section.
2024
Brittany Penson, Ph.D.
Brittany Penson has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment as an early career psychologist at Georgia Regional Hospital Atlanta (GRHA), where she is an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Penson has played a pivotal role in integrating diversity and individual differences into hospital practices and intern training, and was noted to be a fierce advocate for her patients’ individual needs.
Talee Vang, Psy.D.
Talee Vang leads the Hennepin Healthcare’s Healthy Equity Program and is the Co-Chair of Minnesota’s Culturally Informed and Culturally Responsive Mental Health Task Force. Her extensive accomplishments include designing a multiyear educational framework to address crucial issues like anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ care, and socioeconomic disparities. Her programs are described as “catalysts for systemic change, fostering a healthcare environment that prioritizes safety, quality, and equity, integral to overall operational improvement.”
