The following was prepared by Dr. John H. Krystal, psychiatry department chair, and Dr. Marina Picciotto, deputy chair for basic research in psychiatry, upon the passing of Herbert Allison, Jr.
We are saddened to report the passing of Herbert Allison, Jr., a friend of the Yale School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Child Study Center.
Allison is an alumnus of Yale College. He served as chief operating officer and president of Merrill Lynch; chairman, president and CEO of TIAA-CREF; and CEO of Fannie Mae. In 2009, he was named to lead the U.S. Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
Last year, Allison's family foundation made a $3 million gift to Yale School of Medicine to create the Psychiatry Research Scholars Program. The Program funds three early career Fellows who are conducting innovative research into the underlying biology and treatment of anxiety disorders.
In addition to his generous support of fundamental research into childhood anxiety disorders, Allison was influential in decreasing the stigma of these disorders by discussing his own struggles with debilitating anxiety attacks as a young man. His example shows that anxiety disorders can be overcome with treatment, and that they do not have to be a barrier to a successful and happy life.