SOBP ANNUAL MEETING CANCELLATION STATEMENT

A MESSAGE FROM SOBP PRESIDENT

Dear Friends and Colleagues,   The SOBP Program Committee Chair, Council, and Staff have been looking forward to another wonderful SOBP Annual Meeting - celebrating our 75 th Anniversary in New York City; featuring your state-of-the-art science; and offering invaluable op portunities to congregate, network, and form new friendships and collaborations. Because SOBP is committed to ensuring your safety and the safety of your families and colleagues, we are sad to announce we must cancel the meeting for 2020.   In the coming weeks, you will receive further communications from us about the continuing aspects of the 2020 Annual Meeting.  On a personal note, I want to thank Judy Ford and the Program Committee for putting together a phenomenal slate of presentations, the SOBP Council for their leadership, and our staff for their extraordinary work throughout the year and during this difficult time. I also want to thank each of you for your patience and understanding as we work to serve you in the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.   Take care, stay well, and keep up the great science!   Karen Berman, MD President, Society of Biological Psychiatry

Statement on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In response to the rapidly changing circumstances associated with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the SOBP Executive Council, Council and 2020 Program Committee Chair have made the decision to cancel the 2020 SOBP Annual Meeting. In coming to this decision, SOBP leadership carefully weighed the risks to attendees and their families, colleagues, and patients. SOBP has concerns about the risk to healthcare systems given the medical profile of SOBP attendees and the consequences of potentially displacing healthcare workers during this critical time. Considering all the information available at the moment, SOBP leadership believes that cancelling the in-person conference is the responsible action to take. The health and safety of members, attendees, and the community is its top priority.   SOBP Annual Meeting attendees come from all over the world. Over the last two weeks, SOBP leadership learned that many institutions have placed both international and domestic travel bans on their employees for non-essential travel, inclusive of conferences.  Please know this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make for SOBP leadership. SOBP is a not-for-profit organization that depends heavily on its meetings to sustain its financial well-being. Cancelling the Annual Meeting has consequences not just for attendees and presenters but for the very existence of SOBP as a scientific society. Still, SOBP remains committed to its mission to advance the science and practice of biological psychiatry.

NEXT STEPS

The SOBP Executive Office is working closely with SOBP leadership to appropriately respond to questions regarding reimbursements and other administrative aspects that need to be considered. We recognize all the hard work that so many have put into preparing for the SOBP Annual Meeting. Please stay tuned for additional details. We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we work out the many details. SOBP Poster and Late-Breaking Abstracts Accepted posters will be published in an online publication by Elsevier. This publication will appear after the previously scheduled meeting. Poster Presenters will both be given the opportunity to upload e-posters which will be viewable online until the 2021 meeting in San Diego. Registration Reimbursement Conference funds can be donated to the Society to help offset meeting expenses, funds can be transferred to the 2021 SOBP Annual Meeting in San Diego, or refunded in full . A separate email will be sent to those that have registered with instructions on how to process your refund. This email will be sent early next week. Accepted Presentations at the 2020 Annual Meeting and 2020 Awardees Awardees and all presenters will receive separate communications from the Executive Office about their scheduled presentations and awards.

CANCELLING ROOMS AT THE HILTON NY MIDTOWN If you had a room reserved at the Hilton NY Midtown, the hotel will be cancelling all rooms in the block. We ask that you do not call the hotel for cancelling. The hotel will cancel all reservations and you will receive a cancellation confirmation and refund of your deposit in the next 14 days to the email you have on file with them. If you do not receive a cancellation email and/or refund after 14 days, please feel free to give them a call to ensure your room has been cancelled. The hotel appreciates your patience during this time. As you can imagine they have many cancellations to go through.

2021 Annual Meeting S tay tuned to future emails from the Executive Office regarding the 2021 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The Office will communicate updates when available.

‌ ‌