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May 2024 APA Reception

We were excited to welcome back alumni from our Psychiatry Residency Program in May for a reception at the American Psychiatric Association's annual conference. We also presented John Jack McIntyre, MD, '67 with this year's Department of Psychiatry Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of his years of work in the mental health field. Thank you to all those who attended! READ MORE>>>


Advanced Certificate in Addictions Counseling Program Celebrates Graduating Class

Advanced Certificate in Addictions Counseling Group

In May, we celebrated the graduation of our Advanced Certificate in Addictions Counseling Program's inaugural class! Congratulations to our graduates, Abigal Myslivecek, Katie Blakley, Jackie O’Connor, and Charles Brown!


Interested in joining the next Advanced Certificate in Addictions Counseling Program cohort and getting all the requirements needed to become a CASAC-Trainee in two semesters? The deadline to apply is 6/15! READ MORE>>>


Representing UR Medicine Mental Health and Wellness at the Stroll for Strong Kids

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Golisano Children's Hospital's Stroll for Strong Kids or contributed to our Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness's fundraising efforts! Together, we raised $2,333.70 to support mental health services for youth in our community. This was the 10th anniversary of having our Behavioral Health Activities Station at the event. Thanks to the creativity of staff, faculty, and parent volunteers, we had wonderful activities related to this year’s theme of Pirates and Mermaids - including Treasure Box Coping Kits and Under the Sea Sensory Bottles. READ MORE>>>

Firearm Injury Prevention Group at Stroll for Strong Kids

Our Firearm Injury Prevention Program (FIPP) also joined the Stroll in support of preventing firearm injury and safe firearm storage.


Firearm Injury Prevention Program Informational Sessions

FIPPS

Want to learn more about FIPP? They will be hosting several informational tabling events throughout June in honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Month. We invite healthcare providers to visit the team to learn about the resources and training our program can provide around firearm injury prevention. Visit the University of Rochester events calendar for more details on each event.

Anton Porsteinsson, MD Joins Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium


Anton Porsteinsson, MD has recently been named a Steering Committee Site Principal Investigator on the Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium (ACTC) Executive Committee. In this role, Dr. Porsteinsson will provide advice, support, and guidance to the ACTC's mission of optimizing, centralizing, and sharing resources and expertise to expand studies for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia therapies.

Anton Pjetur Porsteinsson, M.D.

Kaleigh Sullivan Receives 2024 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Kaleigh Sullivan, MS, RN, Child and Adolescent Inpatient psychiatry nurse, was recently named the recipient of the UR School of Nursing's 2024 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award recognizes her genuine care for students and "guide on the side" approach to teaching psychiatric and mental health nursing courses for bachelor's students.

Michelle Russo Joins Psychiatry Education Team


We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Michelle Russo to Psychiatry and our Education team as our new Administrator for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Undergraduate Medical Education. In this role, she will support and oversee the coordination of our GME/LCME programs. READ MORE>>>

Michelle Russo headshot

Psychiatry Residents Recognized by AAGP and APA


Sungsu Lee, MD, PhD, current PGY-3 resident in our Psychiatry Residency Program, was recently named an American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) Scholar. The program provides a comprehensive platform and mentorship for those interested in pursuing a Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship.


Demetra Mensah-Bonsu, MD, current PGY-2 resident, has also been selected for the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship program. This program provides training for psychiatrists to more effectively treat and serve people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 

Sungsu Lee Headshot
Demetra Mensah-Bonsu headshot

Nurses Week Highlight: Jay Hill

Jay Hill Video Thumbnail

The School of Nursing highlighted Jay Hill, MS, Assistant Nurse Manager in Ambulatory Psychiatry, as part of Nurses Week earlier in May. Thank you for all the work you do in supporting those seeking mental health care, Jay!


URMC Psychiatry Research and Work Highlighted at Conferences

As we enter the month of June, we would like to share a few of the accomplishments of our faculty, trainees, and staff in this past month! READ MORE>>>


Strong Recovery, Creative Wellness Opportunities Hold Art Show

Arts Workshops at Strong Recovery

Strong Recovery and the Bridge Art Gallery, in partnership with the Mental Health Association Creative Wellness Opportunities, recently wrapped up their art workshop series with a show featuring work created by patients and staff. Thank you to all those that helped make this program a success including the Center for Community Health and Prevention and the University of Rochester Clinical & Translational Science Institute for their support. Art pieces will soon be installed at the Strong Recovery site!


SafeSide Framework for Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities

The UR Medicine Recovery Center for Excellence will partner with Safeside Prevention to hold "SafeSide Framework for Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities." This is a half-day workshop on systematic frameworks for suicide prevention that can be applied in rural communities, with a special focus on youth, substance use, and Indigenous or Tribal communities. READ MORE>>>


3rd Annual Creatively Connecting Summer Showcase

The 3rd Annual Creatively Connecting Summer Showcase will take place on June 26th at 12:15 PM! Tune into Youtube as we highlight the musical talents of our faculty, staff, and trainees! Stay tuned to our Facebook, Twitter, and Residency Instagram for more information coming the week of 6/24!

Psychiatry in the News

New Program Will Promote Firearm Safety as a Public Health Issue

We are excited to partner with the Departments of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery on the Firearm Injury Prevention Program (FIPP), a new initiative to connect healthcare providers, community agencies, and residents across Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region to find effective ways to prevent suicides, injuries, and deaths related to firearms. READ MORE>>>


How a New Pediatric Urgent Care is Expected to Address the Mental Health Needs of Local Youth

Connections with Evan Dawson with Drs. Micheal Scharf and Linda Alpert-Gillis, McKenzie Smallcomb, LMHC, clinical coordinator, and Rev. Kelly Spahr

Beginning this summer, our Brighter Days Pediatric Urgent Care will provide a new resource for families of youth in crisis. Micheal Scharf, MD, Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD, and McKenzie Smallcomb, LMHC joined Rev. Kelly Spahr, mental health advocate, on WXXI's Connections with Evan Dawson to discuss the new center and how it will help meet the mental health needs of young people in our community. READ MORE>>>


6 Ways Volunteering Boosts Your Brain

Researchers are finding that volunteering can not only do good for those you're helping but also for your own health. Yeates Conwell, MD spoke with BrainHQ on the physical, emotional, and mental perks of community service, especially among older adults. READ MORE>>>


How Childhood Trauma May Impact Adults

Childhood trauma can often lead to physical and mental struggles later in life.

Thomas O'Connor, PhD, Director of our Wynne Center for Family Research, and Kristen Holderle, PhD, Clinic Director of the HEAL Collaborative, spoke with UR Medicine on how trauma affects the brain and body, how PTSD and trauma are related, and suggestions for healing. READ MORE>>>

DICE Corner

Celebrating Pride 365

URMC Pride

While June marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month nationwide, it is important to know that Pride is 365. We are facing a time when violence and legislation are increasingly targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, and, as a result, transgender and gender-diverse youth across the country have less access to life-saving health care. In times like these, it is critical that we reiterate and strengthen our support of the LGBTQ+ members of our community- including, but not limited to, our patients, staff, faculty, trainees, and students.


DICE Summer Series Registration Opens 6/19

Registration for our 2024 Summer Brown Bag Series opens on the 19th! This is a great opportunity to learn about critical topics through a diverse lens, in a safe space.CEU and CME credits will be available. This series also fulfills one of the Department of Psychiatry's annually required DICE activities. Stay tuned for an email about registering or visit our website for more info.

Bridge Art Gallery Holds Reception for Growth in Tough Times


On May 29th, our Bridge Art Gallery held a reception for their latest exhibition, Growth in Tough Times. We welcomed artists, community members, and employees to our halls to view the show. Thank you to all who attended!


If you missed the reception, we invite you to stop by the first floor of our Strong Hospital location or check out the artwork on the gallery website!

Best in show: Eyes Up: Frances by Lydia Boddie-Rice

May 2024 Publications


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