To address the professional development needs of early career psychiatrists (ECPs) and psychiatry residents, APA has planned a number of helpful sessions for this year’s annual meeting, which is being held May 17 to 22 in San Francisco. Here are just a few:
• “Career Development and Risk Management”: Malpractice suits pose a significant problem for psychiatrists; 8 percent of psychiatrists are sued each year. This session will discuss sources of malpractice lawsuits, malpractice risks inherent in a variety of practice areas, and how to take measures to minimize professional liability.
• “Women’s Leadership 101”: Despite the fact that women currently comprise 42 percent of medical school graduates, women physicians continue to be underrepresented in positions of authority and leadership and continue to earn less than their male counterparts. In this workshop, Caroline Fisher, M.D., Jodi Star, M.D., Leslie Gise, M.D., Donna Norris, M.D., and Marcia Goin, M.D., give their perspective on ways to overcome the unique challenges that women face in their quest for access to positions of leadership.
• “Unwritten Rules for Success as a Community Psychiatrist”: Negotiating a job in a publicly funded clinic or finding a role in a community-based treatment setting can be daunting. Psychiatrists may be offered jobs with a narrow scope of duties, often limited to diagnosis and medication management. Stephen Goldfinger, M.D., Charles Huffine, M.D., Stuart Anfang, M.D., and Kenneth Thompson, M.D., who have found fulfilling careers in community practice, will share their principles and methods for forging a successful community practice.
• “Making the Media Work for You”: Led by Nada Stotland, M.D., the goal of this interactive workshop is to alleviate the stress of television interviews by teaching basic media skills. According to Stotland, “This workshop will teach you how to conduct a successful interview, from handling stress to positioning in front of a camera or interviewer. We will work, hands-on, with different case scenarios: that is, an open-ended dissertation with a ‘fan’ versus a two-minute ‘headline’ interview. You will come away with the skills you need to teach the public about psychiatry; to show them what accessible, honest, caring and knowledgeable professionals we are; and how to have a good time doing it.”
Other professional development sessions include the following:
• “Practical Tips on How to Be a Successful Author”; Robert E. Hales, M.D., chair
• “How to Use Your Palm OS PDA in Psychiatric Practice”; John Luo, M.D., chair (CME course)
• “Essential Skills 101: Writing Manuscripts for Publication”; Laura Roberts, M.D., chair
• “Psychiatric Treatment and Professional Growth: What About Us?”; Leah Dickstein, M.D., and Michael Myers, M.D., co-chairs
• “Risk Management Issues in Psychiatric Practice”; Alan Levenson, M.D., chair
More information is available by visiting APA’s Web site at www.psych.org/sched_events/ann_mtg_03/index.cfm and clicking on “Scientific Sessions Search” or by calling contacting Nancy Delanoche at [email protected]. ▪
