Katherine (Kait) Hirchak, PhD, MHPA, an assistant professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Department of Community and Behavioral Health and member of the PRISM Collaborative, has been honored with the Pacesetter Award as part of this year’s WSU Research Excellence Awards.
The Pacesetter Award recognizes a promising junior faculty member who has made significant contributions to their field or community through leading research, publications, scholarship, or creative activity.
“Dr. Hirchak’s dedication to community-driven, culturally grounded research, her impressive scholarly output, and her profound impact on the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities exemplifies the spirit of the Pacesetter Award,” wrote nominator Naomi Chaytor, PhD, ABPP, Community and Behavioral Health chair.
Dr. Hirchak is a recognized leader in National Institutes of Health-funded initiatives to advance Tribal research, including the Native Center for Alcohol Research and Education and the Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW). These programs include more than 100 faculty and 20 Tribal communities, demonstrating her commitment to collaborative, impactful research.
Her expertise centers on developing culturally adapted contingency management interventions for AI/AN communities. Working closely with Tribal partners, Dr. Hirchak played a pivotal role in establishing these interventions as effective treatments for alcohol and drug use disorders.
Following the success of these studies, she swiftly translated findings into a comprehensive training and technical support model, now adopted by AI/AN communities nationwide. Her work has directly benefited more than 20 Tribes and Native-serving organizations.
“I am honored to receive this award. I extend my gratitude to the selection committee, my nominators, and the community partners with whom I have had the privilege of collaborating,” Dr. Hirchak said. “My passion for research stems from a belief in being a good relative, sharing the knowledge and support that was given to me. The exceptional mentorship I have received at WSU, combined with meaningful community partnerships, has been instrumental in shaping this work. I am also grateful to be in a department, and at a university, that values community-engaged research. I hope to continue uplifting community-engaged research that maximizes community benefit.”
Dr. Hirchak has consistently secured NIH funding since 2016, including a research supplement, T32 postdoctoral fellowship, K01 award, and major independent grants as principal investigator, totaling over $19 million. She has published 40 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals such as JAMA Psychiatry and Addiction.
On a national level, Dr. Hirchak influences federal policy as a member of the expert panel creating the contingency management manual and serves as a key resource for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also contributes to UpToDate.com and is an author of the forthcoming book Clinicians Guide to Contingency Management.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hirchak on her contributions to addiction medicine and dedication to community-engaged research that has made a difference for AI/AN communities across the country.