Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Audrey Tyrka ’88

Audrey Tyrka, MD PhD, graduated summa cum laude from Purchase College in 1988 with a degree in Psychology. During her time at Purchase, Audrey also explored the visual arts through studio classes, supporting a lifelong interest in creative practice.

She went on to earn her MD and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. Following her residency training at Brown University, Dr. Tyrka joined the faculty in 2003.

Over the past two decades, she has held various clinical, research, and leadership roles, and in 2024 was named the Mary E. Zucker Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Internationally known for her groundbreaking work on the biological impact of childhood adversity and trauma, Dr. Tyrka is the founding Co-Director of the Miriam Hospital COBRE Center on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience.

She also serves in local and national roles to advance equitable policies and inclusive communities in science and healthcare.

Alongside her professional career, Audrey has maintained an active art studio since 2014. As a painter and photographer, she contributes the proceeds from her work to Sojourner House, a Rhode Island-based agency providing advocacy and services for victims of sexual and domestic violence.