Jan Hutchinson, MD, MPH

Dr. Jan Hutchinson majored in sociology in college, attended the Medical School of Cincinnati, has an MPH from the University of Illinois, and is dual boarded in Pediatrics and Psychiatry.  During her final year of medical school, Dr. Hutchinson worked at the JFK Hospital in Monrovia Liberia.  In the early 1980s, Hutchinson joined the Rush University Medical School as adjunct faculty. Disinterested in private practice, she joined the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps before taking a leave of absence to work in a refugee camp outside of Bangkok, Thailand. When she returned to the United States, she completed a child and adolescent fellowship at the Institute for Juvenile Research (IJR) at the University of Illinois. At the same time, she served as a public health doctor at the American Medical Association (AMA) where she worked on issues of teen pregnancy and child abuse. When the HIV antibody was identified in 1982, she was concerned about the devastating effect of the disease on children and helped to organize the AMA's first major HIV conference in the mid-1980s.  Additionally, Dr. Hutchinson has spent time in Haiti ministering to those suffering after disasters. After Dr. Hutchinson completed her residency in adult psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati and at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. , she was selected as the medical director and administrator for Children's Mental Health Services in Washington D.C.'s Department of Mental Health. Hutchinson worked at Howard University where she was an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and the residency training director in psychiatry for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Board certified in pediatrics, adult and child psychiatry, Hutchinson has taught and written about child abuse, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, children’s impulsivity and aggression, incarcerated juveniles and mental illness, the use of antidepressants with children and youth suicide. In 2005, she received the American Psychiatric Association’s Irma Bland Excellence in Teaching Award. Hutchinson co-authored Losing Control: Loving a Black Child with Bipolar Disorder with Cassandra Joubert and Linda Thompson Adams in 2007. 

Elizabeth Morrison, MD

For nearly four decades, Dr. Morrison has been a steadfast pillar of psychiatric practice in our community. Since establishing her private practice in 1984 following honorable service as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she has provided comprehensive psychiatric care to countless patients. Her clinical expertise spans diagnostic evaluations, psychopharmacologic treatment, criminal forensic psychiatric evaluations, and various psychotherapeutic approaches for a wide range of psychiatric conditions.  Dr. Morrison's contributions extend far beyond her clinical practice. Her courageous advocacy work has been particularly notable in the area of medical aid in dying, where she has provided thoughtful, compassionate testimony distinguishing this practice from suicide. As she eloquently stated, "Medical aid in dying is different from suicide in that a terminal illness is going to imminently cause death. The individual's motivation to seek aid in dying is to reduce suffering in the context of that imminent death." Her clear articulation of these complex ethical distinctions demonstrates both her intellectual rigor, her courage, and her deep compassion.  Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Morrison has also made significant contributions to forensic psychiatry, providing expert evaluations, reports, and testimony since 1982. This work reflects her commitment to ensuring that psychiatric expertise informs our legal system in cases where mental health considerations are paramount.  As a past president of the Washington Psychiatric Society, Dr. Morrison has demonstrated exceptional leadership within our professional community. Her guidance has helped shape our organization's direction and reinforced our commitment to excellence in psychiatric care. Following her tenure as WPS President, Beth went on to very capably represent WPS in APA Assembly. During this time, she excelled at bidirectional reporting from WPS to the Area 3 Council and general Assembly and back to the WPS Board and membership.

Raymond F. Patterson MD

Dr. Raymond F. Patterson is a forensic psychiatry expert witness from District of Columbia. He earned his Bachelor's degree in 1973 at Northwestern University. Then he also completed his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977 at Howard University College of Medicine.
Currently, Dr. Raymond F. Patterson MD is an associate professor of psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine. He is also an associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Department of Psychiatry.  He is a forensic expert with about 40 years of experience combating the negative effects on individuals experiencing extended stays in prisons and forensic psychiatric facilities.  He worked with federal courts and the District of Columbia district court. He participated in civil, criminal, and family matters. In addition to his main employment, Patterson also was building a private practice of clinical adult psychiatry where he expanded his experience in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Extra work at a nearby community mental health center offered opportunities to do group and family therapy.  He gradually developed a connection to nearby law enforcement agencies such as the U. S. Secret Service, the U. S. Marshal Service, the District of Columbia Police, Baltimore City Police, and the U. S. Capitol Police. These agencies sought consultation about the interaction between psychiatric illness and violence and how to manage those individuals in need of urgent care. He employed his forensic skills in consultation to jails and prisons; secure forensic hospitals; state and federal courts where he served as a monitor for the court; the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act; and the local Protection and Advocacy agencies. The invitations augmented recognition of his national identity as an expert witness in cases related especially to the standard of care in different types of hospitals and institutions providing clinical care in a context of custody and rehabilitation.   

Erminia Scarcella, MD

Dr. Scarcella has a long history of service to WPS and to the diplomatic community in Washington. She has been a member of the WPS Board, the founder of the WPS Embassy Disaster Preparedness Program, and has been the designated psychiatrist for the Embassy of Italy since 2000. Dr. Scarcella served our country as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and is also a Knight of the Republic of Italy. She is a Jungian psychoanalyst and maintains a private practice in DC. In 2013 she coordinated a day long program for psychiatrists and the diplomatic community on Mass Disaster in Metropolitan Areas at the Embassy of Italy. She has maintained close contact with many of the medical attachés of several countries including Canada. In short, in her extensive outreach to the diplomatic community, Dr Scarcella has been a good ambassador for our profession.