Dr. Krystal Interview by Dr. Ford
In this special episode, host Dr. Judy Ford sits down with Dr. John Krystal to reflect on his monumental 40-year history with the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). Dr. Krystal, a pivotal figure in the field and former ACNP President, offers a fascinating look back at the College's evolution—from a small, intimate gathering of scientific heavyweights to the globally recognized, inclusive, and diverse organization it is today. Dr. Krystal shares personal anecdotes from his first meeting in 1986 as a young resident, the collegial atmosphere, and the excitement of a new generation of "renegade rogues" ready to transform brain science. The conversation then pivots to his groundbreaking work on ketamine, tracing the journey from the carbon dioxide anxiety model to the discovery of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in the late 1990s—a finding that reshaped depression treatment. Finally, they discuss the significance of his major ACNP accolades, including the Elkies Young Investigator Award and the Fish Lifetime Achievement Award, and the vital role the ACNP community played in nurturing his career and advancing the field of translational neuroscience.
