On September 22, 2011, Sheri Keitz, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, informed Giampaolo Perna of his appointment as "Voluntary Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences' Leonard Miller School of Medicine University of Miami (USA). The rolehas been recently confirmed until February 2025.

The position of Voluntary Professor is the highest rank of university teaching recognized by the University of Miami. The Voluntary diction refers to a location that does not imply full-time activities in the university, so it is good to clarify that Giampaolo Perna will continue to conduct its scientific activity in Italy.

This appointment stems from the University of Miami evaluation of clinical excellence, scientific and educational activities carried out by Giampaolo Perna in the last 15 years.