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There was a strong showing of support January 30 by Yale Department of Psychiatry faculty and residents at a rally held at Yale to protect access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. The rally was in front of Sterling Hall of Medicine and along Cedar Street, and was organized by students of the Yale Healthcare Coalition. Read more 

Gene variants may help personalize treatment for opioid addiction

Yale researchers have discovered a gene variant that may assist in personalizing treatment of opioid addiction, enabling doctors to more quickly identify patients who must receive higher doses of methadone. The paper was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. The senior author was Joel Gelernter, MD, left, Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics and of Neuroscience. Andrew H. Smith, right, a student in the Yale MD/PhD program, was the lead author. Read more 

Brain circuits may reveal which young people are likely to commit suicide

A Yale study of adolescents and young adults at high risk of taking their own lives -- those suffering from bipolar disorder -- implicates specific differences in the brains of those who attempt suicide and those who do not. The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The senior author was Hilary Blumberg, MD, John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Professor in Psychiatry, Radiology, and Biomedical Engineering and in the Yale Child Study Center. Read more  

Zika uses axons to spread havoc in central nervous system

The Zika virus wreaks havoc in the central nervous system well after the initial stages of pregnancy and can use long axon projections of neurons to spread, according to a Yale study published in the Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers, including lead author Anthony van den Pol, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery and of Psychiatry, tracked infections in the brains of newborn mice, the equivalent developmentally to a second trimester fetus in human pregnancy. Read more 

Yale study: 1 in 4 teen e-cigarette users have tried 'dripping'

Yale researchers found in a study that one in four high schoolers who use electronic cigarettes are inhaling vapors produced by dripping e-liquids directly onto heating coils, instead of inhaling from the e-cigarette mouthpiece, possibly increasing exposure to toxins and nicotine. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. The first author was Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, who said "dripping" is gaining in popularity among youth, who report a more pleasurable taste and stronger throat hit. Read more 

Kirwin to receive AAGP Educator of the Year Award

Paul Kirwin, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, has been chosen to receive the 2017 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) Educator of the Year Award. The award recognizes extraordinary efforts, innovations, and accomplishments that have a direct impact on the quality of geriatric psychiatry education. Kirwin directs the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program at Yale, and has actively mentored geriatric psychiatry trainees during his career. The award will be presented to him in March. Read more 

Yale's Behavioral Medicine Internship Placement Program given national award by SBM

The Yale School of Medicine Behavioral Medicine Internship Placement Program has been chosen to receive the Society of Behavioral Medicine's (SBM) Excellence in Behavioral Medicine Training Program Award. Yale's Behavioral Medicine placement exists within the Psychological Medicine service of Yale New Haven Hospital. It was developed by Dwain Fehon, PsyD, Chief Psychologist, Psychiatric Services, at the hospital. Fehon has been the program's director and primary advisor to psychology fellows. Read more 

Jordan awarded grant to fund Black church pilot project

Ayana Jordan, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, has been chosen to receive a grant from the Learning for Early Careers in Addiction & Diversity (LEAD) Program to fund her pilot project, "The Role of the Black Church in Improving Access to Care for Blacks with Substance Use Disorders." Jordan will conduct a needs assessment among Black community stakeholders, clergy in Black churches, and Black Americans with substance use disorders to understand attitudes and barriers to accessing treatment. Read more 

Wasser receives Best Resident/Fellow Paper Award from AAPA

An article by Tobias Wasser, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Director of the Yale Public Psychiatry Fellowship, was chosen by the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators to receive the organization's Best Resident/Fellow Paper Award. The paper, "Gaining Administrative Experience During Residency -- Identifying and Exploring Opportunities," was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Administration and Management and written when Wasser was a public psychiatry fellow at Yale. Read more 

Robinson co-authors paper on caring for eating disorder patients

Erica Robinson, MD, a first-year resident in the Yale Department of Psychiatry, was the co-author of a paper that reviewed criteria to diagnose and treat eating disorder patients. The paper, "Caring for Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa in the Primary Care Setting," was published in the January issue of Family Doctor, the journal of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. The paper reviewed criteria used to diagnose eating disorders and discussed possible medical complications. Read more 

Cyrus attends Harvard Macy Institute program for future clinician-educators

Psychiatry Chief Resident Kali Cyrus, MD, joined post-graduate trainees from throughout the country at a three-day program for future clinician-educators put on by the Harvard Macy Institute in Boston. The course was held in December, and it focused on instructional methods and developing scholarship in medical education. Participants presented medical education projects that could benefit their training program; Cyrus created a diversity curriculum for third- and fourth-year psychiatry residents that was critiqued by fellow attendees. Read more 

Psychiatric Hospital to launch Intensive Outpatient Program for depression

Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital is scheduled in February to launch a Mood Disorders Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for patients with depression who have not responded to previous treatment. The program will last six weeks, and will enhance services now provided at the Adult Intensive Outpatient Program in New Haven. Katherine Klingensmith, MD, who graduated in June from the Yale Department of Psychiatry Residency Program, provides medical oversight in the new IOP. Read more 

D'Souza speaks about effects of marijuana at community forum

A community forum in Guilford in January on the potential legalization of marijuana in Connecticut featured a presentation by Deepak Cyril D'Souza, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, who spoke about research that has shown marijuana may have negative effects on adolescents. D'Souza explained that studies show that not only does marijuana affect memory, cognition, and decision-making, but long-term recreational use at a young age can lead to a moderate reduction in IQ. Read more 

Social media campaign helping MindMap reach new patients

MindMap, the campaign to promote early detection and treatment of schizophrenia, paranoia, hallucinations, and other types of psychosis, is using a broad social media push to reach patients. MindMap was launched two years ago by the Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) clinic at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. It is directed by Vinod Srihari, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of STEP. MindMap serves patients in 10 communities in Greater New Haven. Read more  

In Memoriam

Howard Blue, MD

Howard Blue, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Deputy Director of Mental Health and Counseling at Yale Health, passed away suddenly on February 13. Blue trained in psychiatry at Yale and completed his fellowship at Yale Health. He joined its faculty in 1988. He was well known for his work in the field of racial and ethnic identity, and taught trainees and clinical colleagues about the impact of culture in mental health. He was a widely respected expert in the field of mental health in student populations. Read more 

Alumni Spotlight

Addressing discrimination and bias in medical education: A conversation with Roberto Montenegro, MD, PhD

Roberto Montenegro, MD, PhD, who graduated in June from the Yale Department of Psychiatry Residency Program, spoke in an interview with The Asco Post about how microaggressions affect medical trainees. Montenegro is now a fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seattle Children's Hospital at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He wrote about personal experiences with microaggression in an essay published last year in JAMA entitled, "A Piece of my Mind: My Name is Not 'Interpreter.'" Read more 

Alumni, please submit your news and updates to psychiatry@yale.edu

Neuroscience 2017: Paths to Recovery

Annual department neuroscience symposium to be held April 22

Neuroscience 2017: Paths to Recovery will be held April 22 at Harkness Auditorium in the Sterling Hall of Medicine. This year's recipient of the Research Advocacy Award will be Katharine "Kitty" Dukakis, former First Lady of Massachusetts and wife of 1988 U.S. presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. Yale faculty will speak about neurostimulation treatments, new medication for mood symptoms, managing mood and cravings, and new insights into delusions and hallucinations. The conference is free and open to the public. Register here 

Announcement

Department to host inaugural RebPsych Conference on April 21

The Yale Department of Psychiatry will host the inaugural RebPsych Conference at Yale on April 21, 2017, at Linsly-Chittenden Hall, 63 High St., New Haven. The conference, "Rebellious Psychiatry: Where Mental Health Meets Social Justice," is free and open to the public. It will bring together community activists, consumers, mental health professionals, and trainees to explore the intersection of mental health and social justice. Read more 

Special Events

Ivezaj to present at National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

Valentina Ivezaj, PhD, Associate Research Scientist with the Yale Department of Psychiatry, will present "Substance Misuse and Loss-of-Control Eating Following Weight Loss Surgery" on March 2 during The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse monthly Speaker Series. Ivezaj works at the Program for Obesity, Weight, and Eating Research (POWER) at Yale. She plays a central role in several longitudinal studies of bariatric patients. Read more 

Staff Corner

Deborah Stanley-McAulay, Chief Diversity Officer at Yale, presented the program "Mutual Respect in the Workplace" to approximately 25 Yale Department of Psychiatry staff members on February 13. The educational program was arranged by Brian Spector, Deputy Chair for Finance and Administration. Stanley-McAulay spoke about ways to maintain a healthy and productive work environment through positive interactions between employees.

Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Friday, February 17, 2016; 10:15-11:30 am

ADHD and Substance Use Disorders in Youth and Adults

Frances R. Levin, MD, Kennedy-Leavy Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Substance Abuse, Columbia University Medical Center

CMHC Auditorium, 34 Park St.

Details / Download to your calendar 

Friday, February 24, 2016; 10:15-11:30 am

Advances in Social and Emotional Learning, Practice, and Policy: Implications for the Well-Being and Mental Health of Children

Roger P. Weissberg, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Psychology and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago

CMHC Auditorium, 34 Park St.

Details / Download to your calendar 

Friday, March 3, 2017; 10:15-11:30 am

State of the Medical School

Robert J. Alpern, MD, Ensign Professor of Medicine and Dean, Yale School of Medicine

CMHC Auditorium, 34 Park St.

Details / Download to your calendar 

VA/Psychiatry Grand Rounds Shuttle

Door-to-door shuttle service is provided from the VA to Psychiatry Grand Rounds at CMHC. Take the Yale University Shuttle that leaves the VA beginning at 9:00 am and every 20 minutes thereafter. Tell the driver you are going to CMHC. The shuttle will leave CMHC at 11:45 am for a return to the VA. Riders should meet in front of CMHC.

CME Credits

CMEs are awarded to those who complete an evaluation sheet.

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