IU MEDICAL SCHOOL’S HULVERSHORN NAMED 2026 JIM IRSAY MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPION

INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and chair of psychiatry at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), has been named the 2026 Jim Irsay Mental Health Champion by Kicking The Stigma for her efforts to reduce stigma and bring Indiana high-quality, evidence-based and integrated mental healthcare that is affordable and accessible for all.

Kicking The Stigma is the Indianapolis Colts’ initiative to end the stigma surrounding mental health and support community organizations working in mental health. The Mental Health Champion award was created to honor late Colts owner Jim Irsay, who with his daughters, launched Kicking The Stigma in 2020. Since then, Kicking The Stigma has committed more than $33 million to expand treatment and research and raise awareness in Indiana and beyond.

“Leslie Hulvershorn has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children and families while expanding access to high-quality mental health care throughout Indiana,” said Kalen Jackson, Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer and President of the Colts Foundation. “Her work combines research, innovation and compassionate care, and the impact of her leadership can be felt in communities across our state. She is a tireless advocate for those facing mental health challenges, and she truly exemplifies what it means to be a mental health champion.”

Since 2022, Hulvershorn has led the Department of Psychiatry at IUSM and Indiana University Health, overseeing the clinical, educational and research activities of hundreds of faculty members, trainees and staff.

Along with her IUSM colleagues, she founded Indiana Behavioral Health Access Program for Youth and Adolescent Addiction Access, free statewide helplines that allow any Indiana healthcare provider to consult with psychiatrists on caring for youth with mental health and substance use disorders.

She currently serves on task forces of the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable and the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana and is a board member of Mental Health America of Indiana. She also is the medical director for the state’s Division of Mental Health & Addiction, a position she has held since 2015.

An IU trained doctor, Hulvershorn is also an active researcher and scholar. Over the past 15 years, her research has been funded by NIH, SAMHSA and HRSA, and she has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts. She continues to treat young patients, directly improving the lives and well-being of youth with mental health challenges.

Friends and fans can learn more or donate at KickingTheStigma.org.

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