Matthew D. Erlich, MD

Matthew Erlich, M.D. is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Medical Director of State Operated Services at New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS OMH) where he oversees clinical, administrative, and quality at New York State’s Adult, Civil Psychiatric Centers with a focus upon recovery-oriented practices for persons with serious mental illness (SMI), improved access to care, and enhanced best practices across NYS OMH’s hospitals. His research interests primarily focus upon quality improvement projects and implementation science, including efforts to reduce antipsychotic polypharmacy, improve clozapine utilization, enhance suicide prevention & postvention, enhancing Cognitive Remediation & Cognitive Health for individuals with SMI, among others.

Dr. Erlich received his medical, psychiatry, and public psychiatry training at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute. He completed the Public Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University / New York State Psychiatric Institute with a focus upon the research and study of behavioral managed care organizations and NYS Medicaid Redesign during his residency. He continues to teach and research behavioral health service delivery systems in New York State and nationally. He has received numerous awards for his teaching and clinical-research work. Dr. Erlich is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, past member of the APA's Council on Advocacy and Government Relations; a member of the American Association of Community Psychiatrists where he was a New York City Executive Committee President; and a Member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (Psychopathology Group) and their Publications Board. Dr. Erlich was an OMH Policy Scholar (2010-2012) for his research and co-creation of a clinical decision tool to reduce antipsychotic polypharmacy, and he also won an NIMH Outstanding Research Award in Psychiatry in 2011 for this work. In addition to academic writing, Dr. Erlich has written numerous articles for the popular press and websites, such as the Huffington Post and TheAtlantic.com.