June 2026

Mark Matta, MD, DFAPA

PaPS President

Graduation ceremonies are called commencement because the event marks the beginning of a new chapter rather than just the end of an academic journey.


As I begin, I start to think…


When I think about the future of psychiatry in Pennsylvania, I don’t begin by thinking about regulations, committees, or legislation. I think about patients.


I think about the patient who waits months for an appointment. The family struggling to navigate a fragmented system. The psychiatrist who entered this profession to heal and connect with people but finds more and more time consumed by paperwork, administrative hurdles, and barriers that seem disconnected from patient care.


The reality is that we do not suffer from a shortage of ideas in psychiatry. We suffer from a shortage of systems that allow good ideas to flourish.

Hope Selarnick, MD, DLFAPA

Editor's Note:

June is a month of commencements as our new President, Dr. Mark Matta, highlights in his inaugural presidential message. RFMs graduate; a new flock begins. As Dr. Matta’s own term commences, we can look forward to his initiatives for ‘26-‘27. Our Keystone Psychiatric Forum is one such initiative; registration now open!! Finally, please enjoy our selection of photos from APAAM 2026, and individual Chapter events!

Mark Matta, DO, DFAPA

President

Indranil Chakrabarti, MD, DFAPA 

President Elect

Christine Marchionni, MD, DFAPA

Treasurer

Howard Levin, MD, DFAPA
Secretary

Aileen Oandasan, MD, FAPA

Vice President

Kavita Fischer, MD, DFAPA

Immediate Past President

2026-2027 District Executive Council members with their abbreviated bios are listed here.

Indranil Chakrabarti, MD, DFAPA

The PaPS Education Committee has continued to build on its mission of supporting the high-quality psychiatric education needs of members across the Commonwealth. Over the past year, the committee has focused on developing timely, clinically relevant, and accessible educational programming that reflects the evolving needs of psychiatrists and the communities we serve.

Kenneth Certa, MD, DLFAPA

The government relations committee is addressing several issues of concern to PaPS members and citizens of the commonwealth. 


June is budget season, and we follow the debate on programs and funding as best we can (much is taking place behind closed doors). In particular, efforts to bring in new revenue by expanding gambling regulation and taxation to "skill games" run the risk of worsening the epidemic of problem gambling. We have been active with the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine working to educate the legislature about the public health consequences of the current gaming explosion and look to Harrisburg and Washington for responsible practices. Too many of our citizens are being bankrupted by gambling addiction, leading to loss of self respect, shame, depression, and suicidality. 

PaPS Statewide Events

July 1, 2026 - PaPS Monthly Webinar
Medical Aid in Dying: 2026 Update
Facilitated by: Robin Plumer, DO

Mark Your Calendars and Join Your Colleagues 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).

Early Bird Registration Now Open! Click here to register.

To Learn More About Kalahari, Click the link above or scan the QR Code.

Medical Student & Resident-Fellow KPF Poster Competition Abstract Registration Form.

PaPS Chapter Events

Pittsburgh Chapter

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

Save the Date!

Indranil Chakrabarti, MD, DFAPA

Click below to view member photos from APA

Daniel Neff, MD

On Quality Care

The modern medical landscape is saturated with calls to deliver quality care. Many of these initiatives are driven not only by the business side of medicine, but by the growing influence of non-physician stakeholders. There is no question that quality is central to our work. We should measure and assess it vigorously to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. Administrators understandably gravitate toward tangible metrics—readmission rates, symptom-scale reductions, timely completion of treatment plans. Yet our identity and training as physicians require us to view quality through another, arguably more important, lens.

Luke Piper, MD, FAPA

I appreciate the opportunity to feature the PaPS Central Chapter and to offer my insights as a 9-year member of the Central Chapter (dating back to my early days as a resident), as well as my experience serving as President for the Chapter over much of the last year.

Central Chapter Poster Competition Winners

1st Place Winners Judah Womack (left) and Josh Salas (right)

Judah Womack is currently a 4th year medical student at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He plans to apply to otolaryngology for residency and has specific interests in rhinology and facial plastics. He is originally from Hagerstown, Maryland and loves to exercise, cook, and hike.

Joshua A. Salas, MS is currently a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. He plans to apply to PM&R for residency. He is originally from Wheaton, Illinois, and enjoys weightlifting and spending time with his two cats.

2nd place winner

Emmanuel Annor, MD, is currently a PGY-V resident physician training at Lehigh Valley Health Network/Jefferson’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program. He has been an active member of his program, taking on roles in school-based behavioral assessments, outpatient longitudinal care, academic writing, and resident/fellow mentorship.

He has also been an active Resident-Fellow Member (RFM) of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society (PaPS) and continues to be involved in advocacy, education, and trainee engagement initiatives.

In his time as an RFM, his creativity and drive have strengthened trainee involvement across the state by promoting networking events, enhancing visibility of trainee work, reimagining social media outreach, and supporting initiatives that reflect the evolving needs of residents and fellows.

3rd Place Winner

Myra Qureshi, MD, is a PGY-1 psychiatry resident at Penn State Health and a member of the Community Psychiatry Track. Her clinical and research interests include community psychiatry, sleep medicine, addiction psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Qureshi is an active member of PaPS, APA, and the AACP (American Association for Community Psychiatry). Beyond her academic and clinical work, she is involved in refugee resettlement efforts in Central Pennsylvania, reflecting her commitment to community-based care and underserved populations.

3rd Place Winner

Lily Charron is currently a fourth-year medical student at the Drexel University College of Medicine. She plans to apply to psychiatry for residency and has specific interests in consultation-liaison psychiatry, addiction medicine, and neuropsychiatry. She is originally from Lexington, MA.

Viewer's Choice

Edward (EJ) Hamad, MD is a

PGY-1 Resident at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He attended medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

On May 28, PaPS Lehigh Chapter had a great time celebrating the induction of the 2026-2027 officers and honoring the graduates from the class of 2026! The event was held at the Steel Club in Hellertown. A big thank you to our sponsor Johnson & Johnson for their valued support of this special occasion.

NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

JUNE 15 – 21, 2026

Click Here to view activities and learn more.

Hello,

We hope June is off to a nice start! It was great to see those who were able to make it and your members in San Francisco last month. We missed everyone who couldn’t join us and hope to see you soon.

Pictured (L-R) are: Charles David Cash, JD, PRMS Associate Director of Risk Management; Megan Jones, MBA, PRMS Director of Operations; Tonya Davies, CPCU, ARe, PRMS Chief Operating Officer; Courtney Brooke Smith, MBA, PRMS Director of Marketing; Moonlight; Christopher O’Gwen, FAIRCO President and Chief Executive Officer; Liesl Green, Assistant Marketing Manager; Justin Pope, JD, PRMS Associate Director of Risk Management; Rebecca Johnson, PRMS Assistant Marketing Manager; Terri Starkey, PRMS Underwriter; Julia Bajereanu, PRMS Senior Client and Partner Relations Manager; and Remy Palmer, RPLU, ARM-E, ARe, PRMS Associate Director of Underwriting.

Below and attached please find a few PRMS updates that may be of interest to you and your members, including our risk management resource with Top Ten Things About Record Requests and our latest blog articles written by resident members.




Refer a Colleague Double Donations this June

PRMS is proud to announce Refer a Colleague Double Donations month this June in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month to express our gratitude for providers in the mental health community and show our support for our clients. For every client referral received by PRMS between June 1 and 30, we will make a $100 donation – an increase of $50 from our usual amount – to the district branch or mental healthcare organization chosen by the referrer. Please visit PRMS.com/Refer to learn more about the program and start earning donations for your organization today.




PRMS Blog

Our most recent blog articles include reflections from resident members from the American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership (AAPAL), the American Association for Community Psychiatry (AACP), and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP). Read more at PRMS.com/blog.

Have a wonderful, healthy, and safe summer!

Sincerely,

Julia Bajereanu | Senior Client and Partner Relations Manager

Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS)

4300 Wilson Boulevard | Suite 700 | Arlington, VA 22203

Cell: (412) 660-2092

Toll Free: (800) 245-3333

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