Opportunities Abound for Residents to Participate in Annual Meeting

Aloha: Hello and goodbye!

"Aloha" was a term we all heard a lot at the recent APA annual meeting in Honolulu. I was taught that it means both hello and goodbye. So "hello" to all of you who couldn't make it, and "goodbye" to all of the great meeting memories—at least until next year!

At this year's annual meeting, it was clear that many members-in-training and other psychiatry residents took advantage of numerous educational and social activities that meeting organizers planned for them. Some of the highlights included the first annual Resident Poster Competition and workshops offered exclusively to residents and early career psychiatrists. For those of you who could not join us, I will recap some of the highlights of the meeting.

On Saturday, the annual meeting's opening day, the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Institute was held and offered IMG trainees an opportunity to develop leadership skills and share ideas. At noon on the same day, local residents from the University of Hawaii psychiatry residency program gave visitors an insiders' view of local hot spots and happenings at the "How to Survive the Annual Meeting" orientation session.

Sunday began with a breakfast session titled "How to Navigate the APA," and distinguished guests included then APA President-elect John Oldham, M.D., and past Assembly Speaker Gary Weinstein, M.D. The Chief Residents' Leadership Conference was also held on Sunday, and incoming chief residents from across the country gathered to learn how to be more effective leaders. Mindfulness, conflict resolution, and effective communication were featured topics.

"Meet the Experts: Sunny Side Up Breakfast" was an exciting way to start Monday. Experts from all subspecialties in psychiatry generously volunteered to talk with residents and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) over breakfast.

On Tuesday, Nada Stotland, M.D., a past APA president, joined residents and ECPs for the workshop "How to Submit and Present a Workshop." Young psychiatrists were encouraged to develop and present workshops for next year's meeting in Philadelphia and become involved in the annual meeting. Later in the day, three teams of residents battled for bragging rights during the annual MindGames competition—a "Jeopardy"-like event testing residents' knowledge of a wide range of psychiatry-related topics.

Additionally, workshops were held each day designed for (and often led by) residents. Topics included ABPN board review preparation, development of DSM5, cultural-diversity issues, HIV psychiatry, global mental health, psychotherapy issues, and patient suicide.

The editorial staff of the Residents' Journal also held their annual workshop and planning session to encourage trainees to contribute to the American Journal of Psychiatry.

In addition to offering sessions on the latest scientific and clinical information, the annual meeting allowed residents to learn more about how APA functions and the many things it does for psychiatrists and for the patients we treat.

So what do you do if you are reading this and regretting not making it to Hawaii for the meeting? Start planning for next year! The 2012 APA meeting will be held in Philadelphia May 5 to 9. Each year, the Scientific Program Committee includes a Resident Track consisting of scientific sessions specially designed for members-in-training. If you have chiefly aspirations, talk to your program director about the opportunity to attend the Chief Residents Leadership Conference. Are you active in research? Consider submitting a poster presentation. Have you always wanted to participate in a workshop? Find a mentor in your area and submit a workshop proposal. (The deadline for workshop proposals is September 12.)

If professional travel is not possible within your resident budget, consider applying for an APA or affiliated organization travel award. Available awards are updated frequently on the APA Web site at <www.psych.org/MainMenu/EducationCareerDevelopment/ResidentsMembersinTraining/AwardsandFellowships.aspx>. Applications and additional information can be found under the heading "Education and Career Development" in the "Resident" link. Some training programs or APA district branches may also help with travel costs for residents involved with poster or workshop presentations. It never hurts to ask!

I would like to send a special thank you to all of the residents who made the annual meeting a success—especially the hospitable local trainees. It is such a joy to be part of an organization that truly values its young members. I hope to see all of you in Philadelphia next May!