February 2026

Kavita Fischer, MD, DFAPA

PaPS President

For those still deciding whether to renew their membership, I understand. We’re all balancing heavy clinical loads and increasingly complex systems. But the early weeks of 2026 have made one thing unmistakably clear: the environment around mental health care is shifting faster than ever. National enforcement actions have shaken communities, and SAMHSA’s sudden cancellation — and rapid reinstatement — of billions in behavioral-health grants showed just how vulnerable essential systems can be when decisions are made without clinical insight. Find out why PaPS membership is your most powerful tool for having a voice in shaping the future of psychiatry....

Hope Selarnick, MD, DLFAPA

• Newest Feature!! Addictions Corner- Dr. Daniel Neff
• Chapter Spotlight: Lehigh- Dr. Howard Levin and Resident Dr. Mosam Naik
• Members Corner Spotlights:
  Dr. Barbara A Schindler
  Medical Student Lily Charron
  Winter Photos- Drs. Albaugh, Marchionni, Selarnick & Tripp
  

And much more!!

And we can’t forget Dr. Schindler’s latest career milestone.

Kavita Fischer, MD, DFAPA

President

Mark Matta, DO, DFAPA

President Elect



Indranil Chakrabarti, MD, DFAPA 

Vice President

Aileen Oandasan, MD, FAPA

Treasurer

Christine Marchionni, MD, DFAPA

Secretary

Irakli Mania, MD, DFAPA

Immediate Past President

2025-2026 District Executive Council members with their abbreviated bios are listed here.



Click here for the full PaPS Council member listing.

PaPS Statewide Events

February 4, 2026
Educational Webinar Series: Integration of Motivational Interviewing & Mindfulness

October 9-11, 2026
Keystone Psychiatric Forum: 
Inspiring the Next Era of Psychiatry

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Pocono Manor, PA

Mark Your Calendars and Join Your Colleagues, Friends, & Peers at PaPS’ Statewide Conference

October 9-11, 2026 at Kalahari Resort & Conference Center.

Bring the Family and Enjoy All Kalahari has to offer.

Overnight accommodations include resort fees, and 4 passes to Kalahari’s Waterpark (a $200 value).

Registration Opens June 2026. To Learn More About Kalahari, Scan the QR Code

PaPS Chapter Events

Philadelphia Chapter

February 28, 2026
28th Annual Colloquium of Scholars

April 11, 2026
Psychosis Case Conference
New this year! Speaker and panelists
PCOP Rockland

Save the Date!

April 18, 2026
Women’s Brunch at The Inn at Swarthmore 

Save the Date!

Pittsburgh Chapter

November 10, 2026
Resident Research and Awards Night
Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square

Save the Date!

Kenneth Certa, MD, DLFAPA

From abrupt SAMHSA cuts to new rural health funding, AI regulation debates, and gambling-addiction policy—this month’s update highlights the key forces shaping mental health care in PA.

Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy, MD, DFAPA

“No psychiatrist should feel like they’re in a silo.” Dr. Dhanalakshmi Ramasamy shares how organized medicine built her network, strengthened her voice, and elevated patient care.

Barbara Schindler, MD, DLFAPA

Dr. Barbara Schindler’s unexpected path into addiction psychiatry reveals how one physician turned stigma, bias, and two major drug epidemics into opportunities for meaningful change. Click below for more on this must-read journey of impact and advocacy.

Lily Charron

A medical student’s journey from neuroscience labs to street medicine—discovering the heart of psychiatry and importance of self care along the way.

Thanks Drs. Albaugh, Marchionni, Selarnick & Tripp for sharing your snowy day photos with the membership! Click here to view.

Adam Tripp, MD, PhD, FAPA

Ever wonder what it’s really like to leave the Navy ship of institutional psychiatry and captain your own pirate vessel? Here’s the honest, humorous truth about private practice—freedom, chaos, and toilet paper included.

Howie Levin, MD, DFAPA

The Lehigh Valley is exploding with new psychiatric training programs, innovative services, and game-changing collaborations. Get a front-row seat to the region’s rapid rise as a mental health powerhouse in our latest chapter spotlight!

Mosam Naik, DO

Meet the resident who’s transforming what it means to be engaged in organized psychiatry. Mosam Naik, DO, is bringing fresh momentum, creativity, and community-building energy to PaPS—and her story will make you excited about the future of our field.

Industry-sponsored CME: valuable, biased, or both? See what your colleagues said.

Authors:
Mayenha Guerrier, MD (Post-doc research fellow)
Dereje Negatu, Ph.D (bio-statistician)
Kevin Holsey, MS- III (St. Luke’s- Temple)
Howard Levin, MD (St. Luke’s University Health Network)

Daniel Neff, MD, FAPA

Sobriety is a state—recovery is a lifestyle. Dr. Daniel Neff explores what many clinicians miss: the strengths, challenges, and cultural richness of patients living in long-term recovery. A powerful message for every psychiatrist.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Psychiatric Association acknowledges the mental health impact of public unrest on communities across the nation.


Exposure to violence and social upheaval, whether experienced directly or observed from a distance, can significantly affect mental health and well-being. These effects transcend political perspectives and touch individuals across all communities.

May 16-20, 2026

APA returns to San Francisco for the 2026 Annual Meeting for 4.5 days of in-person learning, networking, and profession-moving engagement.