MAY 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Joanne E. Dunne, CAE Hopefully you are enjoying the merry month of May! It is Mental Health Month and it reminds us of the critical mental health needs of so many people and the important and valuable work those in the psychiatric profession perform. Many of you have been or still are in San Francisco for the APA Assembly and the Annual Meeting. I hope those of you attending have been able to attend sessions being presented by fellow WPS members. This week on May 22 nd , WPS welcomes our new WPS leadership team led by Philip Candilis, 2019-2020 President. Please be sure to visit the website to see updates on the 2019-2020 Board and Committees in the coming weeks. Note that Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 27 th . The WPS office will be closed early on Friday, May 24 th at 1:00 pm and will be closed on May 27 th as well. Wishing everyone a super month! WPS ANNOUNCEMENTS REQUEST FROM APA - Antipsychotic supply interruptions (Invega Sustenna samples, haloperidol and fluphenazine oral) A severe shortage of haloperidol and fluphenazine (oral formulations) is occurring for an outpatient facility in Charleston, SC. APA is trying to ascertain if this is a widespread shortage, or something local or regional. This shortage is also affecting the cost-sharing to the patient. The shortage is reported to resolve somewhere between May and July, although those dates are not considered reliable. A number of generic manufacturers are discontinuing their products entirely, which could be compounding this shortage. Please let us know if you are experiencing such shortages by sending an email to [email protected] . Area 3 RFM Merit Awards Congratulations to our talented WPS RFMs who were selected for the 2019 Area 3 RFM Merit Awards including John Chaves, Corina Freitas, and Kyle Gray who were recognized by the Area 3 Council last Saturday at the APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Each of the Area 3 award recipients received a monetary award and were treated to a celebratory dinner. OTHER NEWS Researchers at Bowling Green University, the University of Massachusetts, Baylor University, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences are seeking psychiatrists for a research project (an online survey and computer task) they are conducting to obtain expert opinions on training for people working in mental healthcare professions. Your expert input is needed to help determine the very best new approaches to training psychiatrists in specific aspects of patient diversity. People who take the 25-minute survey are entered into a drawing to receive an iPAD (1 in 300 chance). Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IONS_MentalHealthCareCompetenciesSurvey Please feel free to contact Erica Niebauer at [email protected] regarding any questions about the project, and thank you for your time and dedication. APA NEWS What's New at the APA APA, as part of the Partnership to Amend 42 CFR Part 2, applauded identical bipartisan bills introduced in April in the House and Senate. The House version is the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, introduced by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Markwayne Mullin (R- OK), and the Senate version is the Protecting Jessica Grubb's Legacy Act, introduced by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The bills are aimed at reforming privacy laws to combat the opioid epidemic. You can read more about the 42 CFR Part 2 bills in Congress here . APA released a statement expressing concern over the Department of Defense's decision to implement a ban on transgender military personnel. According to the ban, current military personnel who identify as transgender will be required to follow the standards of their biological sex or face removal from service. The APA has urged that this ban be discontinued immediately in favor of policies that are informed by medical evidence. You can read more about APA's opposition to the transgender military ban here . Mark Your Calendar APA Annual Meeting (May 18 - 22) Mental Health Month (May) National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (May) Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month (May) Children's Mental Health Awareness Week (1st Week in May) National Women's Health Week (May 12 - 18) National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week (May 12 - 18) May Course of the Month - Identifying and Engaging Youth with Early Psychosis Utilizing Internet and Social Media Platforms Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is a team-based, multi-element treatment for first episode psychosis (FEP) that integrates medical, psychosocial, and rehabilitative interventions in a recovery-oriented, collaborative approach to care. This course presents cutting-edge research that informs broader adoption of CSC in U.S. settings, including strategies to proactively encourage early help seeking among FEP patients via online and social media-based resources. Presented by Michael L. Birnbaum, M.D., The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Click here to access the Course of the Month and sign up for updates about this free member benefit . Promoting Mental Health in Appalachia APA's Division of Diversity and Health Equity has produced a series of resources focused on addressing disparities in mental health care among Appalachian people. Appalachian people experience disproportionately adverse living conditions when compared to the rest of the nation. Appalachian counties are also over-represented in the nation's worst quintile for four of the five measures of social determinants of health. DDHE's Mental Health Facts for Appalachian People provides a snapshot of the current state of mental health in the region, while APA's video guide to treating Appalachian patients provides helpful best practices for providing high-quality care to members of this unique cultural subset. Central Appalachia and the Opioid Epidemic is an on-demand CME learning activity designed to formulate a more culturally appropriate approach to the treatment of opioid use disorders in the region. In This Issue... 1. Message from the Executive Director 2. WPS Announcements 3. Membership 4. Other News 5. APA News 6. Workshops & Events 7. Classifieds Calendar of Events Member Center WPS Leadership WPS Committees WPS Staff SPONSORED CONTENT For Every Referral, PRMS Donates $25 to Mental Health Refer a psychiatrist or behavioral healthcare group practice to PRMS and we will make a $25 donation to the mental health organization of your choice, including WPS, regardless of whether a policy is purchased! MEMBERSHIP We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new and transferred WPS members: Danhya Anouti, M.D. - Washington, DC SPONSORED CONTENT Ketamine Therapeutics for the treatment of Mood Disorders Mind Peace Clinics is a Boutique Physician Owned Clinic that specializes in Ketamine Infusion Therapy and Esketamine (Spravato) Nasal Spray for patients with difficult to treat mood disorders, including Treatment Resistant Depression, PTSD, Anxiety and OCD. We offer the highest quality service in a discrete location in Reston. WORKSHOPS & EVENTS Stay informed about all upcoming events on the Calendar of Events page. Note that you MUST be logged in as a member to see the full list. Friday, July 19, 2019 - Mark your calendar for a special ECP program: Branding, Social Media and Marketing. This program will be open to all WPS members, but is specifically targeted for ECPs. Watch for more details. Save the Date for 2019 WPS Fall Symposium WPS Fall Symposium & Annual Meeting - September 14, 2019 SPONSORED CONTENT Sunovion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the innovative application of science and medicine to help people with serious medical conditions. With patients at the center of everything it does, Sunovion has an unwavering commitment to support people with psychiatric, neurological and respiratory conditions. Visit us at www.sunovion.com . CLASSIFIEDS Do you have office space available for rent or are you recruiting for a qualified psychiatrist to join your team? Reach your market by placing a classified ad with WPS here . OFFICE SPACE Bethesda Attractive 600 square foot office in central Bethesda for rent. Ideal for psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Includes utilities, parking, 2 bathrooms and a waiting room. Please contact Michael Knable Phone: (240) 439-4900 Email: [email protected] 1030 15th Street, NW, Suite 233B | Washington, DC 20005 | Phone: (202) 449-8538 | Fax: (202) 449-9680 | www.dcpsych.org