Virginia Ungar’s Work Wins The Sigourney Award - 2023
Dr. Virginia Ungar’s leading-edge work in “the feminine,” and in child, adolescent, and adult analysis, coupled with her leadership achievements in transforming current and future psychoanalytic training have significantly impacted the future of psychoanalysis.
Dr. Virginia Ungar Receives The Sigourney Award-2023 For Work Establishing New Psychoanalytic Training Models Incorporating Child and Adolescent Analysis
Seattle, WA — Nov. 2, 2023 – The Sigourney Award is bestowed annually as an independent prize recognizing outstanding work that advances psychoanalytic thought worldwide. An esteemed panel of anonymous judges evaluated applications from across the globe and today, Robin A. Deutsch, PhD and Analyst Co-Trustee of The Sigourney Award Trust, announces work by Virginia Ungar, MD, Buenos Aires, Argentina, has earned The Sigourney Award-2023 and the international recognition and substantial cash prize that complements the honor.
“Dr. Ungar’s work established new approaches that eased clinical training in child and adolescent psychoanalysis with lasting significance for future psychoanalysts, while her leadership in creating a psychoanalytic communication network to reach those most in need meets Mary Sigourney’s vision for the continued growth and positive impact psychoanalytic thought and principles can offer humanity,” says Deutsch.
Dr. Ungar’s leading-edge work in “the feminine,” and in child, adolescent, and adult analysis, coupled with her leadership achievements in transforming current and future psychoanalytic training have significantly impacted the future of psychoanalysis. Her psychoanalytic approach established a radical new model of incorporating child and adolescent psychoanalytic training as part of an analysts' clinical curriculum. The additional training has contributed to primary prevention in childhood. Ungar has also carved out a contemporary interdisciplinary approach to “the feminine,” not limited to a female body but found in women, men, children, adults, and works of art. Her work unites gender theories born in anthropology and sociology and provides cultural context for where psychoanalytic processes take place. Ungar’s professional path led to her becoming the first woman president of the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA).
To broaden psychoanalysis’ scope and fully develop its potential around the world, in 2018 Ungar crafted the program IPA in the Community. Partnering with psychoanalytic societies, international organizations, and humanitarian groups, the program supported broad demand and participation in the community. The initiative increased the visibility of psychoanalysis and engaged young professionals by working directly with teachers, professors, lawyers, social workers, doctors, and nurses to connect to the most vulnerable populations around the globe (women, children, migrants and refugees). Within these programs, Ungar emphasized how beyond the traditional practice of psychoanalysis, healthcare and other professional disciplines can leverage psychoanalytic principles to impact the challenges communities face.
To reach a wide audience IPA in the Community shared information through new media such as webinars, online resources, blogs, and a series of podcasts organized by Dr. Harvey Schwartz, counting 137 episodes and over 10,000 listens a month. Faced with the unprecedented challenges posed by a global pandemic, Ungar’s work helped hold the psychoanalytic and mental health communities together through online activities, including the acceptance of remote training during that period. Ultimately the achievements of impactful work done by analysts around the world within IPA in the Community was recognized through awards for over 20 projects.
Currently on the faculty at The University Institute of Mental Health of the Buenos Aires Psychoanalytic Association, Argentina, Ungar published chapters of books that showcase her method of conceiving new ideas for clinical practice of psychoanalysis, therapy for children and adolescents, women and the feminine and the need for psychoanalysts to evolve by applying lessons learned from other disciplines.
“I feel honored to earn The Sigourney Award because I believe it’s the most important prize in psychoanalysis. In an unquiet world as the one we live in, the presence of psychoanalysis in the community is necessary. This brings about a process of mutual enrichment which is crucial for the growth and expansion of psychoanalysis,” says Ungar.
Ungar’s award-winning work is added to a long list of innovative contributions advancing psychoanalytic thought that, since 1990, have been honored with The Sigourney Award. This year, she shares this honor with Vittorio Lingiardi, MD (Rome, Italy); Rosine Perelberg, PhD (London, England); and Daniel Pick, PhD (London, England), whose work also met the demanding Award criteria.
Dr. Rodolfo Moguillansky Wins The Sigourney Award 2019
Dr. Rodolfo Moguillansky’s work has played a pivotal role in developing and expanding psychoanalysis in Argentina and throughout Latin America. While serving as rector of the Instituto Universitario De Salud Mental de APdeBA (IUSAM), Dr. Moguillansky helped lead efforts to attain full academic accreditation for the university’s psychoanalytic training program. Built on the International Psychoanalytic Association’s tripartite training model, the University’s fully accredited program has helped solidify psychoanalysis’ position as a legitimize area of study in Latin America and has attracted students from across South America.
Dr. Moguillansky joins esteemed winners from Germany, Norway, and the United States to earn the distinguished, independent prize for advancing psychanalysis and psychoanalytic thought.
Seattle, WA — July 9, 2020 – The Sigourney Trust has presented its highly prestigious, independent Sigourney Award 2019 to Dr. Rodolfo Moguillansky for his pivotal role in developing and expanding psychoanalysis in Argentina, and helping solidify psychoanalysis as an area of study in Latin America.
While serving as rector of the Instituto Universitario De Salud Mental de APdeBA (IUSAM) in Buenos Aires, Dr. Moguillansky helped lead efforts to attain full academic accreditation for the university’s psychoanalytic training program. Built on the International Psychoanalytic Association’s tripartite training model, the University’s fully accredited program has helped solidify psychoanalysis’ position as a legitimate area of study in Latin America and has attracted students from across South America.
IUSAM is the only accredited university-based program in the world that combines clinical supervision, academic coursework, and personal analysis. IUSAM offers a postgraduate Specialization in Psychoanalysis and other psychoanalytically oriented postgraduate degrees in the mental health field. In addition, IUSAM offers an Outreach Department with several community action programs and a Research Department. Dr. Moguillansky, a full professor for the Specialization in Psychoanalysis and a master's degree program in Family and Couples at IUSAM, has also taught across Latin America and Europe. Published in four languages, Dr. Moguillansky has written four books and co-authored seven, fourteen chapters for books by other authors and more than forty articles on various subjects, including narcissism, perversion, the theory of thinking, ethical problems in psychoanalysis, and the theory and practice of family therapy.
“Dr. Moguillansky’s recognition with The Sigourney Award 2019 is well-deserved,” says Dr. William A. Myerson, PhD, MBA, co-trustee of The Sigourney Trust. “His efforts to expand acceptance of the practice, and successes in gaining accreditation for psychoanalytic study in Latin America greatly complements our founder, Mary Sigourney’s, purposeful intentions to reward individuals’ best work around the world,” he adds.
According to Dr. Myerson, by adding to the legitimacy of psychoanalysis, Dr. Moguillansky’s work has had an important role in facilitating its growth worldwide, but especially within Latin America.
Dr. Moguillansky joins three additional recipients in the international psychoanalytic community to earn the notable, independent award and substantial cash prize. The Sigourney Award rewards those whose work within the past 10 years proves to be insightful or ground-breaking, advancing the understanding or evolution of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic thought while advancing the public good.
This year’s winners join a long list of the world’s top talent who, since 1990, have been honored with The Sigourney Award. The Sigourney Award 2019 was also presented to a not-for-profit charitable organization based in Germany, Partners in Confronting Collective Atrocities (PCCA), as well as Siri Gullestad, PhD, of Norway, and Dr. Henri Parens from the United States.
“Today, psychoanalysis embraces a range of philosophies, modern clinical theories, social advocacy, culture, art, and research. The Sigourney Trust honors the expansion and connection of psychoanalysis to many fields of study and experience through the independent Sigourney Award,” said Dr. Myerson.
Applications for The Sigourney Award 2020 are being accepted through Sept. 15, 2020. Visit www.sigourneyaward.org for information and find The Sigourney Award on social platforms including Facebook and LinkedIn @SigourneyAward.
About The Sigourney Award
Established by Mary Sigourney in 1989, The Sigourney Award offers independent, international recognition and a substantial cash prize for outstanding work that advances psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic thought. Ms. Sigourney was a psychotherapist, publisher, and community activist who had a passionate interest in psychoanalysis and understood its ability to benefit and extend human conversation across various disciplines. To date, 129 Award Recipients from 21 countries represent her global vision. The Sigourney Award recipients’ ground-breaking work has significantly contributed to human affairs on topics ranging from neuroscience to feminism.