ORLANDO — The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) honored the recipients of its 2024 Awards on Saturday, July 27. The IOCDF Awards recognize exceptional individuals and professionals for their dedicated efforts in advancing awareness, advocacy, and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders.
The awards were presented at IOCDF’s 29th Annual OCD Conference—a unique gathering that brings together individuals with OCD, their families, supporters, treatment providers, and researchers for a weekend of programming, support groups, learning, and celebrations. OCD affects up to 280 million people worldwide, including 80 million kids.
“Our 2024 winners have dedicated countless personal and professional hours to help advance knowledge and raise awareness about OCD, and each have bravely shared their OCD stories with the world,” said Rebecca Deusser, executive director of the IOCDF. “We are humbled by their courage, and grateful for their unwavering commitment to bring hope and healing for anyone affected by OCD and related disorders.”
The 2024 IOCDF Award honorees are:
- Michael Jenike, MD, posthumously (Patricia Perkins Service Award): The Patricia Perkins Service Award honors any member of the OCD and related disorders community who has stood out as a long-time and active contributor to the IOCDF. The 2024 honoree is Michael Jenike, MD, a pioneer in the field of OCD and related disorders who passed away in late 2023. Jenike served as chair of the IOCDF Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for nearly three decades, overseeing its growth to over 50 members, and served as a member of IOCDF’s Board of Directors for a number of years.
- Alec Pollard, PhD (Outstanding Career Achievement Award): The Outstanding Career Achievement Award highlights the significant and notable contributions of a professional in the field of OCD and related disorders. The 2024 honoree is Alec Pollard, PhD. Pollard is the founding director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and professor emeritus of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University.
- Catherine Benfield (Hero Award): The Hero Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in their efforts to advocate and raise awareness of OCD and related disorders. The 2024 honoree is Catherine Benfield, an internationally recognized OCD advocate and founder of TamingOlivia.com, a space where people with OCD can focus on recovery through kindness, self-compassion, and creativity. Catherine is also an executive producer of Waving, a multi-award-winning film about OCD starring Ralph Ineson, and a board member of OCD Action, the UK’s largest OCD charity.
- Noemi Tsai (Youth Hero Award): The Youth Hero Award, presented by UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie, recognizes youth who go above and beyond in their efforts to advocate and raise awareness of OCD and related disorders. The 2024 honoree is Noemi Tsai, a rising high school senior in Dallas, Texas. Tsai works to raise awareness of OCD through her Girl Scout Gold Award, sharing her recovery journey and advocating for others to gain access to treatment. Tsai has participated in One Million Steps for OCD Walks in three cities, served as co-chair of the 2023 Dallas One Million Steps for OCD Walk, and presented at the IOCDF’s 2024 Online OCD Camp.
- Scheana Shay (Illumination Award): The Illumination Award honors media personalities in TV, film, radio, internet, broadcast, or print journalism who have represented OCD and/or related disorders in a respectful, accurate, and appropriate way, and/or who have challenged stereotypes and helped to fight stigma around mental health issues. The 2024 honoree is Scheana Shay, a reality TV star known for her role on Bravo TV’s Emmy Award-nominated series Vanderpump Rules. She welcomed her rainbow baby Summer Moon with partner Brock Davies in April 2021, and is passionate about raising awareness about issues related to fertility and motherhood. Shay developed postpartum OCD following her daughter’s birth. She spoke openly about her experiences seeking therapy and medication in the most recent season of Vanderpump Rules. Shay continues to use her platform to help mothers get the treatment and resources they need.
About the International OCD Foundation:
The International OCD Foundation is the largest 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving a broad community of individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, their family members and loved ones, and mental health professionals and researchers around the world. What started as a small group seeking mutual support in 1986 has grown into an international organization with Affiliates in 31 states in the US, in addition to global partnerships with other OCD organizations and mental health non-profits around the world. Learn more: iocdf.org
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