Renowned child psychologist, Dr. Joy Osofsky, retires after 38 years of service

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – After 38 years of dedicated service, Dr. Joy D. Osofsky a distinguished clinical and developmental psychologist, will be retiring from her role as the Paul J. Ramsay Endowed Chair in Psychiatry, Barbara Lemann Professor of Child Welfare and Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at LSU Health New Orleans. 

“The LSU Health community and the broader field of child psychology will undoubtedly feel the impact of Dr. Osofsky's retirement,” says LSU Health New Orleans Chancellor, Dr. Steve Nelson. “Her legacy of compassion, leadership and dedication to improving the lives of children will continue to inspire future generations.”  

Dr. Osofsky, a Syracuse University alumna with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, has had a prolific career marked by numerous accomplishments and contributions to the field. Throughout her tenure, she served as the Director of the Harris Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, leaving an indelible mark on the institution. 

Known for her expertise in childhood trauma, Dr. Osofsky authored or edited seven books on the subject and played pivotal roles in responding to disasters, including Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Her leadership in national and international organizations, such as ZERO to THREE and the World Association for Infant Mental Health, further solidified her reputation as a trailblazer in the field. 

Interim dean of the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Dr. Richard DiCarlo, expressed his gratitude stating, "LSU Health New Orleans has been very fortunate to have had Dr. Osofsky on our faculty for so many years. She is nationally and internationally renowned for her work on childhood trauma. She has made New Orleans a better place, and she has been an outstanding mentor to trainees and junior faculty. She leaves behind a strong legacy of outstanding scholarship, excellence as a teacher, and dedication to serving the community." 

Dr. Osofsky received accolades for her outstanding contributions, including the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence in trauma work from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in 2007, the Reginald Lourie Award for leadership in 2010, the Translational Research Award from the International Congress on Infant Studies in 2020 and the ZERO TO THREE Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. 

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About LSU Health New Orleans  
LSU Health New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's health sciences university leader, LSU Health New Orleans includes a School of Medicine with campuses in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. LSU Health New Orleans faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research, the LSU Health New Orleans research enterprise generates jobs and enormous annual economic impact. LSU Health New Orleans faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment or cure disease.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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