I am pleased to announce that one of our two Grand Marshals for the 2014 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk in Boston is Dr. Michael Jenike.
I have known Mike since 2001 when I began working as a staff psychologist at McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute (OCDI). In fact, Mike is the co-founder of the OCDI and has been the medical director since it opened in 1997 as the first residential treatment program in the United States for individuals with OCD.
While I’ve only known Mike personally since 2001, I’d known of Dr. Michael Jenike for many years before then: Mike is a pioneer in the field of OCD, and his name is synonymous with the very best in care for people living with OCD and related disorders. I have seen this first hand. He also has a pretty impressive resume! In addition to being the Medical Director of the OCDI, he is a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Founder of the OCD Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Chair of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the IOCDF. He has published extensively and has lectured on OCD all over the world.
Mike is an extremely generous and compassionate professional. There are countless times I have watched him go above and beyond on behalf of those struggling intensely with this disorder. But this is also true of him personally. I’ve also watched him play basketball (not a pretty site) with patients at the OCDI, witnessed his notable (notorious?) sense of humor, and his no holds bar attitude toward life. And, while rarely discussed, I know that he is also decorated Vietnam War Veteran.
Mike’s commitment and leadership in the OCD community is unparalleled. In fact, he was one of the reasons that I decided to move to the Foundation where I could help more people in the OCD community than I was able to as an individual therapist. For years I have watched the impact Mike was making for all of those affected by OCD. His example is an inspiration to me, and many others at the IOCDF.
And so, I am proud to honor Dr. Mike Jenike as the Grand Marshal at the 1 Million Steps 4 OCD Walk for his longstanding commitment to the OCD community. If you are in the Boston Area on Saturday, June 7th, please come and join Mike, me, and the many other New England walkers who will gather at Jamaica Pond in Boston to walk for OCD awareness. To learn more, go to: www.iocdf.org/walkBOSTON.
And for those of you on the West Coast, be sure to join our Northern California walkers on Saturday, May 10th at Southside Park in downtown Sacramento. To learn more, visit: www.iocdf.org/walkNORCAL.
And please remember that if you can’t take part in the Boston or Sacramento walks, you can always join the walk virtually, in your own community by signing up here and pledging to walk for OCD anytime between now and June 7th. This can be something you do on your own, such as your daily morning walk or run, or you can gather a team of friends and family to walk with you at a local park on a specific day. If you sign up by May 10, 2014, you will receive this year’s commemorative walk T-shirt in time to wear it as you walk. To learn more, go to: www.iocdf.org/virtualwalk.
Will you join Dr. Mike Jenike and the rest of the OCD community in taking 1 Million Steps 4 OCD?
[…] The IOCDF has selected Cameron to be a Grand Marshal because of his courage in facing his fears and for setting an example at such a young age for how anyone can get involved in the Walk and support the IOCDF and raise awareness. Cameron’s mom Jiliane wanted to provide you with an update on his progress and let you know just how excited he is to be our 2014 Walk Grand Marshal, alongside co-Grand Marshal Dr. Michael Jenike. […]