The Department of Psychiatry has received a generous gift from alumnus John T. Hopkin BS’65 MD’68 to fund the department’s first endowed chair. The John Taggart Hopkin, M.D. Presidential Endowed Chair in Psychiatry will fund research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. “I hope it will lead to a better understanding of autism. It’s my hope that some real progress can be made in the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder,” says Dr. Hopkin.
Dr. William McMahon, chair of the U’s Department of Psychiatry, is elated about this historic moment for the department.
“The gift of a presidential endowed chair for autism will bestow far-reaching benefits on our research program.” -Dr. William McMahon
John T. Hopkin, M.D.
“John’s generosity will enhance our commitment to better understand and treat individuals with autism spectrum disorders.” Dr. Hopkin believes that to be successful in medicine or anything else in life, you have to “do what you love—being committed to a cause that is larger than you.” That lifelong philosophy, put into practice, will leave a lasting impact on the field of psychiatry.
Dr. Hopkin’s career began when he took a summer job at the Wyoming State Mental Hospital while in medical school at the U. His assignment was to review and update patient records, many of which did not have clear diagnoses. “I became fascinated with the problem of diagnosis in psychiatry and once I made the commitment, I took it up with a vengeance,” he says.
After completing his residency, Dr. Hopkin spent most of his career in California teaching, designing clinical programs, and holding several chief psychiatric positions. As a junior faculty member at the University of California, Davis, he was inpatient chief and chief of emergency psychiatry service. When UC Davis contracted to deliver all the public mental health services in Sacramento County, Dr. Hopkin became the director of the Division of Mental Health Services.
Later, at San Francisco General Hospital, Dr. Hopkin’s focus shifted to the development of a treatment program for those suffering from AIDS and those who were at risk of contracting the disease. “The AIDS patient issues were very special, not only their personal terror, but the political and social issues were huge,” he says. Hopkin later became director of clinical services at the University of San Francisco’s Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. It was a difficult time because of the changes in both the practice of psychiatry and the delivery of healthcare in general—the economics of the whole thing became an issue and managed care was introduced.
Fifteen years ago, Dr. Hopkin moved back to Utah to return to what was most important to him—working with people in the community and finding new ways to treat them. “This led to a very interesting experience at Valley Mental Health that I truly treasure: the development of a clinic and a culturally appropriate treatment model for refugees.” The program recruited trusted members from refugee communities to work in the clinic. These individuals helped to establish a level of trust among the refugee population, which was necessary for them to feel comfortable coming to the clinic for treatment. The successful program is still in use today, providing important
services for local refugee families.
Currently retired, Dr. Hopkin enjoys spending time on his rural Utah ranch, but that has not stopped him from helping those with limited or no access to mental health care. He continues to consult with family practitioners who work hard to deliver the best patient care possible, often with limited capabilities in psychiatric diagnosis and therapy. Of particular interest are adults whose issues have never been diagnosed or treated. Many of these individuals are on the autism spectrum. “I only see families; I don’t see individual patients because with this type of thing everyone needs to be on the same page,” he says. “It’s fundamentally rewarding.” No matter where his work has taken him, Dr. Hopkin has been compelled to solve medical mysteries and find answers for patients.
