APA is changing direction. While last year's annual meeting was held in the
south—Atlanta—this year's meeting takes a leap north to Toronto,
Ontario. But other than location, APA members can expect the annual meeting to
deliver the same high-quality scientific sessions and numerous opportunities
to tour city sites and interact with many of psychiatry's leading experts on
clinical and professional issues.
Toronto, the capital of Ontario and Canada's most important urban center,
is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is the hub of the nation's
commercial, financial, industrial, and—probably most important to APA
members during their visit—cultural life: it is home to numerous
museums, historic sites, and performing and visual arts centers.
The theme of this year's meeting, selected by APA President Steven
Sharfstein, M.D., is "From Science to Public Policy: Advocacy for
Patients and the Profession." As those of you who attended the 2005
annual meeting know, Dr. Sharfstein called on all APA members to become
involved in advocacy work, whether on the local, state, or national level. All
the scientific knowledge that psychiatry has gained in the last 20 years means
little if Americans do not have access to high-quality mental health care. A
number of sessions at this year's meeting will expound on this important
point.
Other sessions, selected by the APA Scientific Program Committee with the
support of the annual meetings staff, will offer the latest information on
research advances in psychiatry and their clinical applications.
Here are some of the meeting highlights planned to date. Updated
information about the meeting and extensive information on Toronto attractions
will appear in the February 17 issue of Psychiatric News.
Remember, the above list represents just some of the highlights planned to
date. You'll be glad that you already reserved your room
(
see box below) and
registered for the meeting when you receive the
Psychiatric News
annual meeting issue. ▪