Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., became chancellor for health sciences at the West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center on November 1 after serving for seven years as dean of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.

A geriatric psychiatrist by training, Colenda is a member of the Liaison Committee for Medical Education, National Board of Medical Examiners, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also serves on the Psychological Health External Advisory Subcommittee for the Defense Health Board at the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Administrative Board of the Council of Deans for the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Colenda was selected as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C., in 2005. He is a recipient of APA's Jack Weinberg Award in Geriatric Psychiatry and a Special Commendation from APA's Council of Aging.