Stephan Heckers

Dr. Stephan Heckers is a Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Director of the Vanderbilt Early Psychosis Program. He holds an MD from the University of Cologne School of Medicine (Germany) and completed psychiatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital. His career includes leadership roles such as Director of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program at McLean Hospital (2003–2005) and Chair of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt since 2006.

Research focuses on the neural mechanisms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, integrating neuroimaging with cellular/molecular studies. He serves on editorial boards for JAMA Psychiatry, Schizophrenia Bulletin, and Schizophrenia Research, and is a member of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation’s Scientific Council.

Key clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment of psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder). Awards include the Dr. Paul Janssen Schizophrenia Research Award and A.E. Bennett Award.