The 59th Institute on Psychiatric Services will be held October 11 to 14 in
New Orleans on the theme "Recovery: Patients, Families,
Communities." It goes without saying that New Orleans is a most
appropriate venue to consider issues related to recovery. Although that
community has made great strides toward regaining its past ambiance and
vitality, much work remains to be done, and much assistance will continue to
be needed. The symbolic import of this great city to the work of psychiatry
will not be lost on participants during this institute.
One way that attendees can become involved in the content of the conference
is through participation in the discussion group format. This format is
perhaps self-explanatory, but a brief description may be helpful to those who
have not previously participated in it. Each 90-minute discussion group
focuses on a topic that is particularly timely or relevant to the provision of
psychiatric care. A discussion leader with expertise in the topic provides
brief background information and introduces questions or issues that might be
considered in the discussion. The remainder of the session is unprogrammed,
giving all participants an opportunity to enter the ensuing discourse.
This year's institute offers 17 discussion groups scattered throughout the
four days of the meeting. Several of the groups are related to professional
development and how psychiatrists can expand their influence. APA President
Carolyn Robinowitz, M.D., will lead a discussion on "Advocacy: Who,
What, Where, When, Why, and How?" APA President-elect Nada Stotland,
M.D., will cover the topic "You Can Make the Media Work for You"
in her group. APA Secretary-Treasurer Donna Norris, M.D., will facilitate a
group discussion on "The Quest for Personal and Professional
Balance."
A number of discussion groups on clinically oriented topics will be offered
as well. "Rational Polypharmacy With Children and Adolescents: Is it
Possible?" is one such offering and will be facilitated by Steve Jewel,
M.D. David Mee-Lee, M.D., will lead a group discussion on "What They
Didn't Teach You About Addiction Patients and How to Engage Them in
Treatment." William McFarlane, M.D.'s topic is "Biosocial
Treatment of Schizophrenia: Barriers and Promise." "Engaging
Environments: Moving From Coercion Using Trauma Informed Care" will be
led by Margaret Bennington-Davis, M.D.
Another common topic in discussion groups is social issues and the
profession's relationship to them. Ken Thompson, M.D., will lead a discussion
on working with special populations that are often underserved. Curtis Adams,
M.D., will be leading a group with the intriguing title "Why Won't Bill
Cosby Be Quiet? Class, Culture, and the Airing of Dirty Laundry." Other
discussion groups include "Psychiatric Services in Post-Katrina New
Orleans," led by Daniel Winstead, M.D.; "Doing Outreach: Art or
Science?," led by Anthony Ng, M.D.; and "Is the Recovery Movement
a True Human Rights Transformation?," led by Joel Feiner, M.D.
Finally, there will be a couple of sessions with special relevance to
psychiatry residency training. Carol Bernstein, M.D., will lead a group on"
Preparing for Residency," and Michael Garrett, M.D., will lead
two related sessions: "For Educators: Experiential Exercises to Teach
the Phenomenology of Psychoses" and "Experiential Exercises
Linking Psychoses and Ordinary Mind."
All in all, the institute will clearly provide an impressive array of
discussion topics to which participants can bring their own expertise and
share their experiences. ▪