Andrew Francis

Andrew Francis is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Penn State College of Medicine, where he serves as Director of Neuromodulation Services and Associate Program Director for Psychiatry Residency. His work focuses on catatonia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, with significant contributions to clinical diagnostics and psychiatric education.

• Education: PhD in Psychology (SUNY Stony Brook), MD (University of Buffalo), Postdoctoral Fellow (Cornell Medical School), Psychiatry Residency (Johns Hopkins Hospital)

Research Interests: Dr. Francis is a leading authority on catatonia, co-developing the Bush-Francis Catatonia Scale (1996). His work spans ECT optimization, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and the intersection of catatonia with melancholic depression. He also emphasizes medical education, particularly in neuromodulation therapies for psychiatry residents.

Recent Trends: His 2024–2025 publications highlight advancements in ECT protocols, catatonia subtyping, and resident education frameworks. Key subfields include pharmacological interventions, motor disorder analysis, and clinical neuroscience applications.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Career Citation Milestone Award - D (500) Club (2021)
  • Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023)

Collaborations: Regularly works with researchers like Christopher Mormando, Youssef Mahgoub, and Anand Pathare on case series and reviews. Grants include NIH/NIMH funding for neurochemistry studies (1994–1995).

Labs: Affiliated with the Penn State Neuroscience Institute and the Division of Neuromodulation.