The Todd Ouida Annual Lecture in Childhood Anxiety and Depression honors the memory of Todd Ouida by promoting and supporting outstanding young researchers.

Despite experiencing severe anxiety throughout his early childhood, Todd overcame the disorder and went on to have a rich high school experience, later earning a degree in psychology from U-M. He had just launched into the beginning of a promising career when he lost his life in the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks at the age of 25. The lecture is traditionally held in the fall at the Rachel Upjohn Building and features a prominent speaker with expertise in anxiety or depression among youth.

Todd’s parents, Herb and Andrea Ouida, also established the Todd Ouida Clinical Scholar Awards, which are designed to further the work of outstanding young researchers working in childhood anxiety and depression.

2022

Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D.  Parent-Based Treatment for Child Anxiety and OCD
Yale University

2021

Emily Bilek, Ph.D.  Improving Psychotherapy for Anxious Youth 
University of Michigan


Ewa Czyz, Ph.D.  Harnessing Technology to Assess and Intervene with Adolescents at Elevated Suicide Risk 
University of Michigan


Jacek Debiec, M.D., Ph.D.  Electroconvulsive Shocks and Aversive Memory Networks
University of Michigan


Maria Muzik, M.D., M.S. Technological Solutions to Detect and Treat Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Prenatal Care 
University of Michigan

2020

Jean A. Frazier, M.D. Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Preterm-Born Children and Adolescents
University of Massachusetts

2019

Joan Luby, M.D. Early Childhood Depression: Parent-Child Psychotherapy Targeting Emotion Development
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

2018

Research presentations by Ouida Scholar Award winners

2017

Cheryl King, Ph.D. A Broad Perspective on Youth Suicide Prevention: What Can We Do?
University of Michigan

2016

Jim Hudziak, M.D. Why Child Psychiatry Should Be the Centerpiece of Health Care Reform: The Science Behind the Argument
University of Vermont

2015

Eric Storch, Ph.D. D-Cycloserine Augmentation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
University of South Florida

2014

Melissa DelBello, M.D. Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents
University of Cincinnati

2013

Jay N. Giedd, M.D. The Teen Brain: Insights from Neuroimaging
National Institute of Mental Health

2012

Mary A. Fristad, Ph.D., ABPP Nonpharmacologic Adjunctive Interventions for Childhood Mood Disorders
Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and The Ohio State University

2011

David Brent, M.D. Assistance for Treatment Resistance in Adolescent Depression: Lessons from the TORDIA study
University of Pittsburgh

2010

Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D., ABPP Adolescents, Anxiety, and Development: Treatment During the Stage of Storm and Stress
Columbia University

2009

Joan Asarnow, Ph.D. Pediatric Depression: Strategies for Improving
University of California, Los Angeles

2008

John Piacentini, M.D. Multimodal Treatment of Childhood Anxiety Disorders
University of California, Los Angeles

2007

John T. Walkup, M.D. Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children: Update on the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study (CAMS)
Johns Hopkins University

2006

Presentations by Todd Ouida Clinical Scholar Award winners

2005

Daniel Pine, M.D. Developmental Perspectives on Anxiety: An Update from NIMH
National Institute on Mental Health

2004

John March, M.D., M.P.H. The Treatments of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS): Stage 1 Outcomes
Duke University

2003

Karen D. Wagner, M.D. Major Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: The Need to Detect and Treat Early
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

2022

Jane Harness, D.O.  
Development and Preliminary Testing of a "Papageno" Story Interview Intervention

2021

Adam Horwitz, Ph.D.
Low Burden Adaptive Mobile Interventions for Mood and Suicide Risk

2020

Megan M. Julian, Ph.D. 
Building a New Research Network for Academic Programs and Clinics in the Field of Early Childhood Mental Health: Collecting Research Data Utilizing the DC:0-5 Diagnostic Framework

2019

Julie E. Premo, Ph.D. 
Self-regulation as a Target of Intervention in Parents of Anxious Children

2018

Ewa Czyz, Ph.D.
Identifying Early Predictors of Suicide Risk-related Outcomes in Adolescents

2017

Emily Bilek, Ph.D.
Piloting a “Self-distancing” Augmentation to Exposure Therapy with Clinically Anxious Youth

2016

Wael Shamseddeen, M.D., M.P.H
Electroconvulsive Therapy for Adolescents with Resistant Depression

2015

Jacek Debiec, M.D., Ph.D.
Attenuating Depressive Ruminations in Patients Receiving ECT through Pre-treatment Recall of Depressive Thoughts

2014

Elizabeth Koschmann, Ph.D.
Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-based Practices for the School-based Support of Students with Depression and Anxiety

2013

Ellen Barrett-Becker, Ph.D.
Evaluating Effective Outreach and Support for Military Families with Young Children Following Deployment

2012

Erika Bocknek, Ph.D.
Building Effective Outreach and Support for Military Families with Young Children Following Deployment

2011

Polly Gipson, Ph.D.
Pilot Feasibility Study of Community-based Preventive Interventions for Ethnic Minority and Low-income Adolescents at Risk for Suicide

2010

James Swain, M.D., Ph.D.
Brain Imaging Studies of the Biological Basis of Families’ Vulnerabilities to Mental Health Problems at Different Developmental Stages

2009

Kate Rosenblum, Ph.D.
The New Beginnings Project: Improving Outcomes for Infants and Children in Foster Care

2008

Julie Kaplow, Ph.D.
Children’s Psychological and Physiological Functioning Following the Loss of a Parent

2007

Cindy Ewell Foster, Ph.D.
Community-based Depression Awareness and Suicide Prevention Interventions for Vulnerable Youth

2006

Rich Dopp, M.D.
Levels of Physical Activity in Youth with Depressive Disorders

2005

Maria Muzik, M.D.
Circle of Security for High-risk Security

2004

Michelle Kees, Ph.D.
The Impact of Maternal Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on Children and Parenting

2003

Kate Fitzgerald, M.D.
Children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

About Todd

As a child growing up in River Edge, New Jersey, Todd suffered from a panic disorder so severe that he had to leave school, ultimately missing three years while in intensive therapy. He returned to school in the seventh grade and grew into a popular, generous teen who eventually took the bold step of coming to the University of Michigan to earn a degree in psychology.

Todd Ouida's premature death at 25 in the World Trade Center in the fall of 2001 was, for his parents, a tragic end to a life that had included considerable hard-won triumph.

For Todd's parents, Herb and Andrea Ouida, the route toward accepting their son's death has been to honor Todd's memory by helping other children suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. Their Todd Ouida Children's Foundation, which raises money to support psychological services for families in need in the New York-New Jersey area, now supports dozens of organizations and has already distributed several hundred thousand dollars in gifts.