York University Professor Joel Katz, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair in Health Psychology, has earned a highly prestigious award that recognizes contributions to psychological science.
Katz, who leads the Human Pain Mechanisms Lab at York University, was named recipient of the Senior Investigator Award by the Health Psychology/Behavioral Medicine section of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).
The annual award alternates through junior career, mid-career and senior career recipients and recognizes exceptional researchers who have supported and contributed to health psychology and behavioural medicine in Canada. The senior investigator category considers nominees with 20 or more years since their highest academic degree.
“I’m delighted to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Senior Investigator Award and honoured to be joining the ranks alongside past award winners who have contributed to health psychology/behavioral medicine in Canada,” said Katz. “I joined the CPA Health Psychology Section when I was a graduate student at McGill University more than 30 years ago and have been a member ever since. So, it’s all the more meaningful to be recognized for my research contributions to health psychology so many years later.”
As the recipient, Katz will be invited to deliver a talk during the CPA Annual Conference which will take place virtually in May and June. Katz plans to speak about the prevention of chronic post-surgical pain and the Transitional Pain Service he and his colleagues established at the Toronto General Hospital.