$1 million philanthropic gift establishes treatment-resistant depression program at IU Health

Chen family gift and IU Health investment aim to expand access to advanced care for treatment-resistant depression

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University Health today announced a $1 million philanthropic commitment from Allison and Stan Chen to support the creation of a specialized clinical program for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), the first of its kind in the country.

The announcement follows the June 10 dedication ceremony recognizing both the program and the Chen family’s extraordinary generosity. Matched dollar-for-dollar by IU Health, the investment doubles the total impact to $2 million.

“I am so grateful for the way IU Health has prioritized both the research and clinical practice of mental health care,” said Allison Chen. “It has made advancements in treatment-resistant depression possible here in Indiana, and that’s enabled our family to invest in a passion.

“This cause is deeply meaningful to me because of personal challenges with depression, the struggles family and friends have experienced with mental health concerns, as well as my training and work as a mental health counselor. I know firsthand that effective interventions are life changing.”

Structured through the Chen Treatment-Resistant Depression Fund at the IU Health Foundation, this philanthropic investment is designed to drive immediate impact while supporting long-term program growth and innovation. The gift advances the development of a coordinated, multidisciplinary clinical program focused on meeting the needs of patients facing complex or persistent depression.

“This extraordinary generosity reflects a shared commitment to bringing hope and healing to patients and families facing one of the most challenging forms of depression,” said Crystal Miller, president of IU Health Foundation. “Together, we are expanding what’s possible in mental health care, delivering new pathways to treatment for those in need.”

Meeting a critical need for specialized mental health care

Treatment-resistant depression affects individuals who do not respond to standard therapies and often require highly specialized, multidisciplinary care. Many patients experience delays in accessing effective treatment or must navigate fragmented care across multiple providers.

The IU Health Treatment-Resistant Depression Program intends to address this gap through a comprehensive outpatient model that integrates psychiatry, psychology and care coordination. The program offers coordinated evaluation, diagnosis and personalized treatment planning for individuals with complex or persistent depression.

Patients will have access to advanced, evidence-based therapies including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and clinical trials exploring innovative approaches such as Deep Brain Stimulation.

“This program represents a new standard for how we care for individuals living with complex depression,” said Dennis Murphy, president and CEO of IU Health. “With this advanced, evidence-based approach in one coordinated setting, we aim to improve access to specialized care. This approach allows us to deliver more personalized care, help patients regain function and improve their overall quality of life.”

Coordinated, patient-centered model of care

Designed as a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic, and informed by best practices developed in collaboration with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the IU Health Treatment-Resistant Depression program offers:

• Comprehensive psychiatric and psychological evaluation
• Diagnostic clarification with individualized treatment recommendations
• Measurement-based care and ongoing symptom tracking
• Ongoing follow-up care and care coordination
• Family, school or vocational collaboration when clinically appropriate

By bringing together multiple specialties in one coordinated setting, the program improves diagnostic accuracy, reduces time to effective treatment and enhances continuity of care for patients with complex needs.

While specialized programs for treatment-resistant depression exist across the country, this model is distinctive in its design. It represents the first program in the nation to translate national best practices, developed in partnership with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, into a fully coordinated outpatient program.

“The Meadows Institute is honored to partner with IU Health to bring to life a first-of-its-kind clinical program for children, adolescents and adults with treatment-resistant depression,” said Roshni Koli, chief medical officer at the Meadows Institute. “This model was designed to close a critical gap in care, and IU Health is the ideal partner to implement it for young people and families who have struggled for far too long to find effective treatment.”