Mental Health America of Greater Houston Honors Dr. Shah with Ima Hogg Award
Mental Health America of Greater Houston Honors Dr. Shah with Ima Hogg Award
HOUSTON (April 26, 2022)- Mental Health America of Greater Houston held its annual Treasures of Texas luncheon on April 12, 2022, to honor the Chief of Psychiatry for Ben Taub Hospital/Harris Health System, Dr. Asim A. Shah. Dr. Shah was honored with the prestigious Ima Hogg Award, the highest honor that MHA of Greater Houston can bestow on an individual or organization who has championed the mental health cause and provided leadership that affected change. Dr. Shah’s life-long goal has been to help people with mental illness – not only to decrease the stigma around the word “mental” in mental health but also to provide access to care for those who are uninsured and need services.
The energy in the room was palpable as co-chairs Mel Taylor and Nasruddin Rupani spoke of the trauma and mental health issues associated with the pandemic, substance use, racism, and war atrocities. The event was emceed by Justin Stapleton from KPRC2 and included a panel of speakers, Sean Fitzpatrick of Jung Center Houston and Kathryn Lott of Southern Smoke. There were many special guests who attended to show their support for the mental wellness of Southeast Texas and to honor Dr. Shah. In attendance were, Congressman Al Green, representatives from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Representative Jacey Jetton, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mayor Joe Zimmerman, Yasar Bashir, Eric Fagan, Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Abrar Hashmi, Nashaud Kermally, Brian Middleton, Fmr. Commissioner Richard Morrison.
“The return of our annual event honoring the champions of mental health was for many a cathartic event, bringing together providers and advocates sharing stories of courage and touting a message of self-preservation to meet the growing demand for service,” said CEO, Renae Vania Tomczak. “We resolve to continue the work of promoting an understanding of trauma-informed care to encourage a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing.”
Mental Health America of Greater Houston is a leading mental health education and advocacy organization. MHA of Greater Houston is the area’s longest-serving mental health education and advocacy organization focused on shaping the mental health of the Greater Houston community.
About Dr. Asim A. Shah
Dr. Asim A. Shah holds the Barbara & Corbin J. Robertson Jr. Chair in Psychiatry and is Executive Vice-Chair and Professor of Psychiatry, Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and Chief of Psychiatry for Ben Taub Hospital/Harris Health System. He also is Chief, Division of Community Psychiatry & Director of Mood Disorder Research Program at Ben Taub Hospital.
About Mental Health America of Greater Houston
Mental Health America of Greater Houston, established in 1954 by philanthropist Ima Hogg, is truly the hub of mental health resources for the Greater Houston area and the longest-serving mental health education and advocacy organization in the area focused on shaping the mental health of people and communities in the areas of children and education, integrated health care, veterans, and community education. For more information, please visit us at www.mhahouston.org.
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