Hispanic Patients, Culture in Focus Throughout Annual Meeting

APA's 2007 annual meeting is featuring a track of scientific sessions and events that, taken together, will focus on the needs and challenges of Hispanic patients and psychiatrists while also celebrating Hispanic culture. With its rich Spanish heritage, the host city of the annual meeting—San Diego—is a fitting backdrop for this special part of the program.

This article provides information on the events scheduled at press time. Information on additional events will be published in the program book and the Daily Bulletin, distributed on site during the annual meeting.

APA members are encouraged to come early to the meeting so they can participate in Hispanic Day. It will be held Saturday, May 19, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. The scientific portion of the day will consist of four symposia on the theme “Present and Future of Psychiatric Research in Hispanic Populations” presented, respectively, by the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry, APA's Committee of Hispanic Psychiatrists, the Latin American Psychiatric Association, and the Spanish Psychiatric Society.

The symposia will be followed by APA's Simon Bolivar Award Lecture, to be presented by Francisco Fernandez, M.D. He is the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the University of South Florida. Fernandez is a member and former chair of APA's Committee on AIDS and a member of the Psychiatric News Editorial Advisory Board.

The day will end with a dinner dance organized by the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry.

Registration for the scientific portion of Hispanic Day, which is free, begins at 8 a.m. Ticket information appears at the end of this article.

On Tuesday, May 22, at 5:30 p.m., the APA Committee of Hispanic Psychiatrists and the APA Caucus of Hispanic Psychiatrists will hold a forum on critical issues affecting Hispanic psychiatrists and patients, what APA is doing to address them, and opportunities for Hispanic psychiatrists to become more involved in APA. A celebratory reception and social will follow, featuring Mexican food and entertainment.

Both events will be held at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in Ballroom A, North Tower, Lobby Level. The forum is made possible by a grant from the American Psychiatric Foundation through the James H. Scully Jr. Education Fund.

Leading organizers of these events include APA President Pedro Ruiz; M.D., former APA President Rodrigo Muñoz, M.D.; Renato Alarçon, M.D., a member of APA's Scientific Program Committee and a former president of the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatrists; Andres Pumariega, M.D., chair of APA's Committee of Hispanic Psychiatrists; Manuel Trujillo, M.D., president of the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry; Cesar Mella, M.D., president of the Latin American Psychiatric Association; and Julio Vallejo, M.D., president of the Spanish Psychiatric Society.

Tickets to the Hispanic Day social event may be purchased by contacting Maria C. Sciancalepore, M.P.A., secretariat of the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry, by phone at (732) 235-5786 or e-mail at [email protected].▪