This Year’s IPS Will ‘Reimagine’ Psychiatry

We are pleased to invite you to Chicago October 4 to 9 for IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference, whose theme this year is “Reimagining Psychiatry’s Impact on Health Equity.” Along with Ruth Shim, M.D., M.P.H., vice chair of the IPS Scientific Program Committee, we have worked to curate a lineup of engaging speakers to educate, equip, and empower you to act to advance diversity and equality in mental health. All sessions will be held at the Palmer House Hilton.

These are among the IPS highlights:

This conference is designed to lean into “wicked problems” that keep us from achieving mental health equity. At this year’s IPS, you’ll find sessions on resilience and burnout, best practices for caring for diverse patients, advocacy skills for psychiatrists, transgender mental health care, and much more. One of the outstanding features of this meeting is how accessible the presenters are and how inspiring it is to hear about the great work being done in communities by leaders who are also psychiatrists.

For decades IPS has been a “best-kept secret” for community psychiatrists who are committed to social justice and have been long-time attendees. This year we are opening the doors to welcome medical students and residents who may still be unsure of how they want to focus their professional identity. We also want to see private practice psychiatrists who mostly attend conferences for CME and MOC credits but have become more interested in addressing societal inequities. We welcome researchers, who are applying the best science to understand the systems and structures that perpetuate inequity. Invite your nonpsychiatrist colleagues, who are addressing mental health in the community and looking to join forces for change. These sessions will challenge your thinking and provide a new community of learning.

We have selected expert presenters to contribute to courses, lectures, symposia, workshops, forums, and poster sessions. There will also be events sponsored by the American Association of Community Psychiatrists. Among the exhibitors is our own APA Publishing where you can peruse its latest titles.

IPS is a great place to connect with colleagues as we learn together and foster conversations that will extend beyond the scientific sessions into the streets of Chicago. Of course, you should enjoy a Chicago-style pizza or hot dog, but you might also want to try a jibarito at Borinquen in Humboldt Park. Be sure to visit the second-tallest building in the United States, which for some of us will always be called the Sears Tower. Or you might just want to amuse yourself for hours at “The Bean.”

Whatever you choose to enjoy in your free time, we can assure you that the sessions will be something you’ll want to plan around. So get ready for all the IPS has to offer, and please join us in the Windy City to further the cause of mental health for all! ■

Register now before fees increase. The site also contains a “session search” feature where you can learn more about the many sessions on the schedule.