Geriatric Psychiatry and Memory Care Supports Alzheimer's Association
In October, our Geriatric Psychiatry and Memory Care Division participated in the Alzheimer's Association of Rochester, NY's Walk to End Alzheimer's. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of all those involved, the team helped raise 241% of their fundraising goal for the Alzheimer's Association in their research and support of those living with Alzheimer's Disease. If you would like to donate to the Alzheimer's Association on behalf of our Geriatric Psychiatry Division and Memory Care team, you can still do so here.

Patrick Seche Named Chief Administrative Officer

We're excited to name Patrick Seche, MS, CASAC, as the new chief administrative officer (CAO) for our Department of Psychiatry. As CAO, he will be overseeing all clinical services operations in our department. He will be taking over for Carole Farley-Toombs, RN, who, after over 40 years at UR Medicine, will be retiring. READ MORE>>>

Susan McDaniel, Michael Privitera Honored by Rochester Academy of Medicine

We are excited to share that our very own Susan McDaniel, PhD and Michael Privitera, MS, MD were among the 12 individuals from the University of Rochester recently honored by the Rochester Academy of Medicine. Dr. McDaniel was awarded the Dr. Madeline H. Schmitt, PhD, RN, FAAN Award for Interprofessional Education, which recognizes a professional who has broken barriers in health care and health care education. Dr. Michael Privitera, alongside Kate MacNamee, MS of Ximedica, was awarded the Robert L. Berg, M.D. Community Health/Health Care Crisis Award for their work in addressing local and national healthcare challenges. READ MORE>>>

American Rock Salt Donates over $50,000 to Youth Mental Health

We would like to extend a big thank you to American Rock Salt of Mt. Morris for a recent donation from their annual American Rock Salt Golf Tournament to our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry division! Their gift will help support young people in our region so that they may reach their full potential through mental wellness and healthy development. Thank you again!

Annual Golisano Children's Hospital Gala Supports Youth Mental Health

We are excited to share that this year's Golisano Children's Hospital Denim and Diamonds Gala in October raised over $2.6 Million to support youth in our community. A portion of the proceeds from the gala will go directly to improving access to pediatric mental health services. 

Anthony Pisani Receives BMA Medical Book Award
Suicide Prevention: Stahl's Handbooks, a publication by Anthony Pisani, PhD alongside Christine Yu Moutier, MD of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Stephen Stahl, MD, PhD of the Neuroscience Education Institute, was recently awarded the British Medical Association's Medical Book Awards. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to medical literature. Suicide Prevention: Stahl's Handbooks provides quick tips for suicide screening, risk assessment, interventions, and follow-up communication to mental health and primary care professionals to ensure comprehensive and patient-oriented care. READ MORE>>>

Navigating Child Abuse Prevention Resources and Interventions

Catherine Cerulli, JD, PhD, Director of our Laboratory of Interpersonal Violence and Victimization, joined Melissa Merrick, PhD of Prevent Child Abuse America and Nancy Weaver, PhD, MPH of Saint Louis University on resources that are available to improve the lives of people who have experienced child abuse and neglect. READ MORE>>>

MIPS Division Holds Inaugural Retreat

Our new Medicine in Psychiatry division held their inaugural retreat at Sibley Square learning about Rochester's history, community resources and brainstorming about ways to better serve patients and families in our community.

Cathy Peters Named Global Academy Scholar of the United Nations
Cathy Peters, NP, MS, nurse practitioner in the Department of Psychiatry, was chosen as a Global Academy Scholar to study the policies of the United Nations related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Her professional organization, Sigma Theta Tau, is designated as a non-government with delegate status at the UN.

Psychiatry in the News

4 Ways to Boost Your Immune System During Cold and Flu Season
Kathi Heffner, PhD spoke with New York Times on how quality sleep can impact your immune system, especially during cold and flu season. READ MORE>>>

What Your Retina Says About Your Physical, Cardiovascular, Mental, and Neurological Health
Eye health has the potential to be an important tool to help diagnose various health conditions. Steve Silverstein, PhD talked with Everyday Health on the connection between the brain, the eye, and health, and the newest research on how doctors may soon be using retina health to monitor diseases. READ MORE>>>

“My Work is Done. Why Wait?” Lessons Learned from Older Adults Who Died by Suicide
A new editorial by Yeates Conwell, MD discusses the challenges of learning about the motivations of those who die by suicide in later life and how different approaches can help researchers understand these drivers and search for effective interventions. READ MORE>>>

Addressing Stress and Burnout: Faculty and Trainees Connect With Creativity
 A new article by Grace Ro, MD, Tomotaro Monte, DO, and Mark Nickels, MD in Psychiatric News discusses using music and creativity (such as our Creatively Connecting Spring Showcase from this past May) to address stress and burnout in faculty and trainees. READ MORE>>>

Mark Your Calendars

Neilly Author Series Highlights Biopsychosocial Model

We are honored to share that the University of Rochester River Campus Library’s 2022-2023 Neilly Author Series will be dedicated to our Department of Psychiatry in celebration of our 75th Anniversary. The books highlighted in this year’s presentation support key concepts in the Biopsychosocial Approach, developed by Drs. George Engel and John Romano. READ MORE>>>

The next Neilly Author Series Presentation on November 17th will feature Erin Gruwell, author of The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World around Them which inspired the 2007 film Freedom Writers. The Department of Psychiatry will host a meet and greet with the author from 4:30-5:30 pm. Click here to register for the meet-and-greet. 

New York State Community Conversations on Opioid Use Disorder
In November, the UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence will be holding interactive conversations on opioid use disorder (OUD) throughout New York State. These community conversations will discuss stigma in our communities, how we support people with OUD and their families, and how we work together in our communities to reduce stigma. READ MORE>>>

Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy Virtual Open House
Join our Institute for the Family's Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy Virtual Open House on November 18th or December 9th to learn whether a career in counseling/ family therapy might be right for you! Our Master's program offers a unique opportunity to learn in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment to prepare graduates for working with individuals, couples, and families. READ MORE>>>

Zoey's Lovely Heart Club Holding Annual Tree Farm Fundraiser
If you are looking for a way to give back while doing your holiday shopping this season, check out Zoey's Lovely Heart Club 7th Annual Tree Farm Fundraiser on December 3rd and 4th! Started by our very own Megan Lytle-Flint, PhD and her husband Patrick, this fundraiser helps support Golisano Children's Hospital and families in the NICU. Stay tuned to the Zoey's Lovely Heart Club Facebook page for more information soon! 

Join Us for Mind, Body, and World Reception

Pictured Above: Cobbs Hill Daylilies by Sally Steinwachs

Please join us on December 14th from 4:30 PM to 6 PM for an IN-PERSON reception for our Bridge Art Gallery's latest exhibition, Mind, Body, and World. This exhibition features artists from across the world and their portrayals of the experience of health and illness as the interaction of biological, psychological, and social influences. This event is free and open to the public, but please register here. 

October Psychiatry Publications 

• Joy Choi, MD, Mark Oldham, MD, Patrick Walsh, PhD, MPH, and Hochang Ben Lee, MD published a case review alongside colleagues from the Departments of Medicine and Surgery examining the effect of LVAD implantation on cognition in patients with heart failure.

• An evaluation by Judy Thompson, PhD and Megan Serody of educational and employment services for young people with psychiatric conditions to determine was chosen as an Editor's Choice paper in Psychiatric Services. This publication analyzed the extent to which these services were adapted for young people, and education and employment outcomes.
• A new paper by Catherine Cerulli, JD, PhD, and Diane Morse, MD with colleagues from the University of Buffalo looks at the experiences of women in opioid courts with the medical, legal, and social service sectors and how to close the gap on early intervention.
• Cathy Peters, NP, MS, Gregory Sherman, MD, and Tara Augenstein, PhD published a review alongside colleagues in the Department of Pharmacy on the experience of providing pharmacy services to a psychiatric inpatient unit at an off-site location during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned along the way.
• Those with serious mental illness have greater trauma exposure and are at increased risk for PTSD. However, PTSD is rarely documented in their clinical records. Steve Silverstein, PhD was a coauthor on an investigation on the predictors of PTSD documentation.

• Yeates Conwell, MD, and Thomas Caprio, MD coauthored a review out of the University of Rochester School of Nursing examining how age-friendly deprescribing trials are.

• Paul Geha, MD was a coauthor on an MRI study identifying central amygdala and trigeminal motor nucleus connectivity in humans.

• Peer involvement in mental health treatment is new to many countries developing outpatient programs. Eric Caine, MD was a coauthor on a paper evaluating the effectiveness of such a program for those with severe mental illness in China.

• Thomas Caprio, MD, MPH, MS was a coauthor on a study testing the effectiveness of a Care Transitions Intervention on decreasing ED and outpatient clinic revisits among older adults who live alone after an emergency room visit.

• Thomas O'Connor, PhD was a coauthor on a paper examining the relationship between gestational diabetes mellitus, prenatal depression, and risk for postpartum depression.

Upcoming Events

• Nov. 17: Neilly Author Series Meet and Greet with Erin Gruwel
• Nov. 17: Neilly Author Series Presentation- Erin Gruwell
• Nov. 18: Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy Virtual Open House
• Nov. 18: 11th Annual Bernard Guyer Lecture - Firearm Violence: Where We Stand, What We Can Do
• Nov. 25: Office of Health Equity Research Art Contest Deadline
• Dec. 3-4: Zoey's Tree Farm Fundraiser 
• Dec. 9: Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy Virtual Open House
• Dec. 14: Bridge Art Gallery Mind, Body, and World Reception