It is essential that we not allow ourselves... to surrender the opportunity and privilege to teach students and residents.
Dr. Riba was born in New York, received her M.D. (1985) from the University of Connecticut, interned at the Hartford Hospital (1985–86), and took residency at the University of Connecticut Medical School (1986–89). She remained there as an assistant professor and associate director of the residency program (1989–93). She moved to the University of Michigan (1993) and joined the faculty as a clinical professor and associate chair for medical and psychiatric services. She became a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1991 and in psychosomatic medicine in 2005.
Dr. Riba has given many named lectures and received honors and awards, including the Braceland Award (Connecticut Psychiatric Society, 1988); the Nancy Roeske Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education (1993 & 2003); the Distinguished Service Award, American Association of Directors of Psychiatry Residency Training (AADPRT) (2000); and the Distinguished Life Fellow, Association for Academic Psychiatry (2006).
Dr. Riba has served in scholarly activities, including on editorial boards (Psychiatric Services) and on the Board of Directors of American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. and the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education. She has been a frequent journal reviewer, including in psychology, oncology, psychosomatic medicine, cancer investigation, and various psychiatric journals. She has received grant and contract support from a number of sources, including the American Psychosomatic Society and the Michigan Clinical Research Collaboratory.
Dr. Riba has been an active committee member of the World Psychiatric Association, representing the American Psychiatric Association (2005), the International Psychoncology Society (2005–06), the American College of Psychiatrists (1995–2005), the Federation of State Medical Boards, and the National Board of Medical Examiners (1998–99). She has served as President of the Association for Academic Psychiatry (2000–2001) and AADPRT (1999–2000).
Dr. Riba served as a trustee (1996–99), secretary (1999–2001), vice president (2001-03) of the American Psychiatric Association, and president (2004–05).