News

20242023202220212020

Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness Team Heads to Orlando for National Federation of Families' Annual Conference

Monday, December 9, 2024

The Healthy and Equitable Futures program- a partnership between our Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness team, the National Parent Leadership Institute, and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation- presented at the National Federation of Families' Annual Conference in Orlando.

Presenters:

• Aparajita Kuriyan, UR Medicine Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness, Co-PI Healthy and Equitable Futures
• Toyin Anderson, National Parent Leader Institute, Parent Leader
• Carolyn Lee-Davis, The National Parent Leadership Institute, Director of Operations
• Maurice Haskins, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Program Officer
• Linda Alpert-Gillis, UR Medicine, Director, Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Outpatient Services and the Laboratory of Innovation in Child Mental Health Care Delivery
• Kenya Malcolm, UR Medicine, Director of IEC Initiatives, Psychiatry
• Shunthenia Hill, UR Medicine, Clinical Coordinator, Coordinator of Racial Justice Initiatives, Licensed Mental Health Therapist
• Jerard Johnson, UR Medicine, Senior Psychiatric Case Manager
• Sonia D’Silva, UR Medicine, Parent Leader
• Jason McDonald, UR Medicine, Parent Leader
• Julia Gonzalez, UR Medicine, Parent Leader

In their session, "Opening Doors to Community Voice: Collaboration With Parent Leaders," attendees learned how the University of Rochester Medical Center, in partnership with the National Parent Leadership Institute via our Healthy & Equitable Futures work, integrates parent voices in services to support leadership skills and drive positive change. Attendees also learned how inviting parent participation across multiple levels of services can significantly benefit children, caregivers, and systems change and work toward Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion goals.

Congratulations to Dr. Ann Cornell on Her Expanded Leadership Role

Friday, December 6, 2024

Please join us in congratulating Ann Cornell, PsyD, on her expanded clinical leadership role as Senior Director of URMFG Services at Sully’s Trail.

Dr. Cornell, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, has been a valued leader in the Behavioral Health Partners (BHP) program since 2017. Under her direction, BHP has flourished as a cornerstone of our behavioral health services. In 2019, Dr. Cornell further demonstrated her dedication and expertise by taking on the additional role of Director of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

In her new role, Dr. Cornell will continue to oversee BHP and EAP while expanding her leadership to include senior-level support for the University Mental Health Program (UMHP). She will also serve as a mentor to the UMHP Director, Daria Alongi, PsyD, further strengthening our commitment to integrated and comprehensive mental health care under URMFG services.

Kayla Hunt, PsyD Named Chief of Informatics for Psychiatry

Friday, December 6, 2024

We are pleased to announce that Kayla Hunt, Psy.D, has been appointed as the Chief of Informatics for Psychiatry. In this role, Dr. Hunt will work with teams throughout the department to optimize our use of the eRecord and explore new technological opportunities for our department. 

Additionally, Dr. Hunt, along with Kirk Harris, MD, will continue to serve as Associate Directors of Informatics within the URMC enterprise for the Psychiatry Service Line. Their responsibilities include attending enterprise-wide meetings about improvements and changes related to the eRecord and disseminating that information back to the department, along with working on projects that impact multiple departments within URMC. Furthermore, Dr. Harris will continue to be the informatics point person for questions and projects that specifically pertain to Psychiatry’s inpatient units and CPEP.

To support these initiatives, Dr. Hunt has built a team of ambulatory clinicians, known as Psych eRecord Champions to help achieve these goals and ensure effective communication about eRecord changes within the department.

The current team members are:  Pam Geil, LCSW-R (Strong Ties), Janine Coppini, LMHC/CASAC (Strong Recovery), Mac Kelly, PhD (BHP/CCW), Rachel Jones, LMSW (Strong Minds), Grace Yezierski, LMSW (Strong Minds), Alex Brumfield, LMFT (HFM/CCW) and Jillian Burgess, LMHC (PBHW).

Good Night Lights to Return on Dec. 11 and Dec. 18

Thursday, December 5, 2024

The Rochester Police Department's "Good Night Lights" initiative, now in its seventh year, will return in December. Due to ongoing construction projects at URMC on both Crittenden and Elmwood, Good Night Lights will be held this year for two nights.

We are thankful to the Rochester Police Department Community Engagement Team for organizing this event and teaming up with our Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation and Logistics to make it happen.

This year, first responders will park their emergency vehicles on Crittenden–between East and Castleman–to say “goodnight” to families staying in the Golisano Children’s Hospital tower, and the vehicles heading westbound afterward on Crittenden toward Kendrick Road will keep their lights on (no sirens or horns) to support pediatric patients staying in the Behavioral Health building.

The officers will line up in their respective locations at 6:10 p.m., and will flash their lights to children watching from the windows of the Golisano Children’s Hospital locations at 6:30 p.m. They will leave each area at 6:45 p.m.

Both lanes of Crittenden—directly next to the Medical Center—will be shut down between 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. for these events. Traffic and URMC shuttles will be rerouted during this time.

Representing URMC Psychiatry Nationally and Internationally

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Several of our staff and faculty members recently presented at national and international conferences.

William Watson, PhD recently presented a panel discussion on using Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTD) with youth at the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy's 2024 International Conference. Dr. Watson also was a Process Group Leader at The Institute of Psychodynamic Coaching's Three-Day Intensive Weekend with Russian professionals as well as a presenter for the institute's Training Program in Group Psychology and Leadership.

Wilfred Pigeon, PhD presented "At the Interface of Sleep Research & Suicide Prevention" for the Veteran's Affairs Diversity in Suicide Prevention Research Fellowship. In addition, Dr. Pigeon also presented "Development of a Brief CBT for Insomnia Treatment and its Effects on Sleep, Mood and Suicidal Thoughts" at the University of Pittsburgh's Multidisciplinary Sleep and Circadian Conference Grand Rounds Series. 

Lastly, the UR Supporting Our Students team traveled to Orlando to present at the Advances in School Mental Health conference. Allison Stiles, PhD, Melissa Heatly, PhD, LJ Shipley, MD, and Jeff Kaczarowski, MD presented "Enhancing Access and Connection to Healthcare for EACH Youth: An Exemplar for Addressing Behavioral Health Inequities via Systems Integration, Capacity-Building, & Telehealth Initiatives in Schools" while Brianna Daniels, LMHC, Linda Alpert-Gillis, PhD joined Drs. Stiles and Heatly to present a symposium, "UR-Supporting Our Students: Building an Expanded School Mental Health Model."

Can Gratitude Benefit Your Health?

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

How giving thanks, keeping a gratitude journal, and being mindful can impact health and well-being

"Gratitude is the practice of focusing our attention on positive outcomes in our life and the source of those positive outcomes," said Autumn Gallegos, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychiatry Wellness Officer at URMC.

Read full article: Can Gratitude Benefit Your Health?

Researchers Uncover Possible New Biomarker for Psychosis Diagnosis

Monday, November 25, 2024

“Establishing such biomarkers could provide a key step in changing how we care for, treat, and offer interventions to people with psychosis,” said Brian Keane, PhD, assistant professor of Psychiatry, Center for Visual Science, and Neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Keane recently co-authored an article in Molecular Psychiatry that identifies how MRI scans could reveal brain differences in people with psychosis. “Aside from potentially predicting future psychosis onset, biomarkers could also help stratify patients into clinically meaningful subgroups and suggest new options for treatment or intervention.”

Read full article: Researchers Uncover Possible New Biomarker for Psychosis Diagnosis

Supporting Caregivers: Remember to Care for Yourself, Too

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Explore support groups, stress management strategies, and tips to help caregivers avoid burnout

Megan Ayles, LMSW, a senior social worker with UR Medicine’s Memory Care program, offers some helpful tips for caregivers who might be feeling overwhelmed: 

• Find support groups near you
• Know the symptoms of caregiver stress
• Beat caregiver burnout with strong boundaries
• Take a break
• Accept changes as they come

Read full article: Supporting Caregivers: Remember to Care for Yourself, Too

Janine M. Rowe Promoted to Clinical Director of Westfall Associates and EAP Services

Friday, November 15, 2024

We are excited to announce the promotion of Janine M. Rowe, MSEd., LMHC, CASAC, CEAP, SAP, CCC, NCC, to the role of Clinical Director of Westfall Associates and Employee Assistance Services in the Division of Collaborative Care and Wellness.

Janine joined the division of Collaborative Care & Wellness in 2021 as the EAP Services Manager for the UR Medicine Employee Assistance Program, where she has led initiatives in individual and group interventions to reduce work-related trauma sequelae, provided interdisciplinary supervision, and overseen clinical services. Janine is currently pursuing a doctorate in Counselor Education at the Warner School at the University of Rochester. She holds licensure as a mental health counselor in New York and numerous other credentials, including Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, Substance Abuse Professional, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, Certified Career Counselor, and Nationally Certified Counselor.

Before joining our EAP team, Janine served as a Senior Chemical Dependency Counselor at Strong Recovery and prior to that, as Assistant Director of Disability Career Services at Rochester Institute of Technology. Among her many achievements, Janine received the New York State Career Development Association Early Career Professional Award in 2014 and the RIT Presidential Award for Excellence in 2018. 

Please join us in congratulating Janine on this well-deserved promotion and in supporting her as she transitions into this expanded leadership role.

2nd Annual Psychiatry Holiday Food Drive

Friday, November 8, 2024

Our second annual Department of Psychiatry Holiday Food Drive begins November 25th! All donations will directly help patients in our Strong Ties, Strong Minds, Strong Recovery, and those discharged from our inpatient programs. Drop off non-perishables until December 9th at the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (1-9017), the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Educator Office (1-9022), inpatient units, and several clinics!

View a list of example food items that will be accepted 

Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy Virtual Open House

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Considering a career helping individuals and families struggling with relationship conflict, parenting, or mental health challenges? Our Institute for the Family will be holding several virtual open houses for those interested in pursuing a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Learn more about the MS MFT Virtual Open Houses

Sally Rousseau Named New Director of Strong Minds

Friday, November 1, 2024

Sally Rousseau, LCSW, LMFT will be rejoining the Department of Psychiatry as the new Director of Strong Minds, which includes our General Ambulatory clinic, the Deaf Wellness Center, the Gender Patient Support: Health and Wellness program, and the Adult Ambulatory Access programs.

Sally is rejoining the Department of Psychiatry as she spent a good portion of her 36-year career with joint appointments in Family Medicine and Psychiatry.  For the past 6½ years, Sally has been the Director of Social Work for Highland Hospital overseeing a team that covers 261 acute care beds.  She brings an incredible array of experiences in healthcare and specifically behavioral health to this role, including but not limited to direct clinical, grant and research coordination and management, clinical and administrative supervision, management and director of large clinical programs and/or groups.  Most of her experiences have been within the URMC system and Family Medicine.  Among her experiences outside of the system, Sally was the director of Rochester Regional Health’s Evelyn Brandon Community Mental Health which is a large multi-program site similar to Strong Minds.  

Sally obtained her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo.  She then completed her master’s in social work at Syracuse University.  In addition to being dually licensed in social work and marriage & family therapy, Sally has certification/extensive training in process improvement supervision methods as well evidence-based practices.  She has co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles, numerous presentations at health system rounds and seminars, and taught courses at St. John Fisher University, the Nazareth/Brockport Collaborative MSW Program and the University of Rochester. Please join us in welcoming Sally Rousseau back to the Department of Psychiatry and to this critical role for our adult ambulatory services.

Julie Achtyl Named Psych Therapist Chief

Thursday, October 31, 2024

​We are pround to announce Julie V. Achtyl, MS, LMHC, CASAC-M, NCC, ACS as the Psych Therapist Chief.  This new position in the department will serve as the discipline chief for Psychiatry’s licensed/credentialed therapists (LMHC, LMFT, LCAT, CASAC) as well as related non-licensed clinical and clinical support roles.  This position will provide overarching discipline leadership, support, and oversight for psych licensed therapists. The role will be a liaison between the therapist disciplines and the department’s senior leadership with close collaboration with psychiatry education.  The Therapists Chief will collaborate with Clinical Program Directors and Division chiefs to support and educate regarding licensure regulations, scope of practice and supervision best practices for Mental Health Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Creative Arts Therapists, Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors, junior therapists in all those disciplines working on licensure/credentials, as well as related clinical support positions.  In this role, Julie will be a part of the Chief Administrative Officer’s office and work in partnership with Psychiatry’s Social Work Discipline Chief and in close collaboration with the Associate Chair of Education.

Julie brings 18 years of combined clinical and clinical leadership experience in the department to this pivotal role.  Her current role in our Addiction Psychiatry Division includes oversight of the Adolescent/Young Adult clinic, the Adult CD clinic and CCBHC Outreach services as well as the Discipline Chief CASACs She also has oversight of counselor education and training programs and in 2022, she started a new CASAC Certificate Program in partnership with the Warner School for masters prepared clinicians.  Julie completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York College at Brockport in Psychology and Health Science with a concentration in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling. Then she completed her graduate studies at the Warner School of Education mental health counseling.  Julie is currently a PhD student in Counseling and Counselor Education at the Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development.  For a number of years, she was on the Faculty at Brockport as an Adjunct Professor in the Health Science Department, and she is a Clinical Supervision Foundations II Certified Trainer.

Pie Sale Fundraiser for Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

The holiday season is quickly approaching, so what better way to celebrate than by filling your bellies and your loved ones with pie?

Now through October 24th, you can order locally-made pies from Special Touch Bakery, proceeds benefiting our Adult Inpatient Psychiatry Services.

Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Ranked Top 50 in US News & World Report

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

​UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospital's Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness is among the nation’s best by the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital rankings in Children's & Adolescent Behavioral Health Hospitals

The Division of Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness at UR Medicine is the largest provider of ambulatory children’s mental health services, the region’s only Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient unit, and the only adolescent partial hospital in Western New York. The division’s ambulatory services include two large clinic sites and satellites in pediatric primary care and pediatric specialty offices and public schools throughout the region. The division recently launched the Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center, the only service of this type in Upstate New York.

​

The division consists of 50 faculty members and over 120 staff clinicians, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychologists, licensed mental health therapists, family and marriage therapists, licensed clinical social workers, creative arts therapists, and case managers. Research and education are also critical missions for the division, with multiple ongoing studies examining suicide risk and prevention, as well as training programs in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychology.

“I am honored and humbled to lead this team of clinicians and academics who are so committed to improving the lives of children and families in our region. Recognition in our ranking by US News and World Report provides welcomed and needed attention to the outstanding work they do." - Michael Scharf, MD, psychiatrist-in-chief at GCH.

Read full article: Golisano Children’s Hospital Ranked in Three Specialties by U.S. News & World Report

Ben Lee Named Visiting Professor at University of Florida

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

​

We're excited to share that our chair, Hochang Ben Lee, MD, has been named a visiting professor at the University of Florida's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Funded by Florida's Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital Bill, this visiting professorship will support Florida's efforts to develop programs that increase the behavioral health workforce in the state of Florida as well as improve access to psychiatric care for its citizens. 

Dr. Lee will be providing valuable mentorship to junior faculty while informing the development and expansion of Consultation-Liasion Psychiatry clinical programs at the University of Florida, including: 

 - Providing valuable mentorship to junior faculty in the UF Division of C-L Psychiatry.

 - Strategizing with key stakeholders within the UF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences on initiatives to expand psychiatric service provision in cost-effective ways.

 - Fostering collaboration between the UF Division of C-L Psychiatry and the UF Organ Transplant and Oncology Divisions on clinical and research programs.

Blue Elevator Renovations

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Beginning 9/30, we will begin an upgrade of the Blue Elevators in the Mental Health and Wellness wing. This project will take approximately six months. During this project, please expect delays in response times from the elevator. For people needing access between the basement to the first floor of Psychiatry, please be aware of the elevator in the 8100 hallway.During this project, please expect delays in response times from the elevator. For people needing access between the basement to the first floor of Psychiatry, please be aware of the elevator in the 8100 hallway.

William (Bill) Brien Named Assistant Director of Business Administration in Addictions & Geriatric Divisions

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

On October 1st, William (Bill) Brien will start in the role of Assistant Director of Business Administration in our Divisions of Addictions Psychiatry and Geriatric Mental Health and Memory Care. This position will support the fiscal management and administrative operations of both Divisions, including the following: 

 - The Addiction Psychiatry Division’s academic and clinical components which include all the Strong Recovery clinics (Opioid Treatment Program, Substance Use in Primary Care, Adult Chemical Dependency, and Adolescent/Young Adult)  

- The Geriatrics Mental Health and Memory Care Division’s academic and clinical components which include Older Adults, Memory Care, Alzheimer and Dementia Care, Capacity Clinic, and Telepsych Program

Bill’s experience includes years of management including serving in senior leadership roles at several human services and healthcare organizations. During this time, he has enjoyed “working with good people who do meaningful things that positively impact others.” Most recently, he was at the Children's Institute as the Director of Finance and Administration. His prior work included implementing strategies and projects with medical practices to support their transformation toward patient-centered care models. This work included mentoring and coaching practice leaders and staff; team building; selecting and implementing quality initiatives and developing the capacity to use data to drive improvement. Earlier in his career, he worked in behavioral health at Rochester Regional Health and served as an Executive Director of two non-profit organizations.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from William Penn College and master’s degree from the State University of New York College at Brockport. Bill also studied health policy at D’Youville College and has received training in Organizational Leadership and Lean Six Sigma. Bill enjoys basketball, golf, and riding his bike along the Auburn Trail. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Tina, their two daughters and six grandchildren.

We are very excited to have him as part of the Adult Ambulatory Services Administrative team!  

New Psychiatry Division Emphasizes Addiction Research, Education

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

The Department of Psychiatry is tackling the dramatic rise in mental health and substance use disorders with the creation of an academic Division of Addiction Psychiatry to expand care and bolster research and education.

UR Medicine’s nationally recognized Recovery Center of Excellence is housed within this new division and leading the way by implementing hot-off-the-press addiction prevention strategies while partnering with rural communities across the country to increase support and prevent opioid overdoses, said Division Chief Caroline Easton, PhD 

Blending cognitive behavioral therapies with cutting-edge digital tools will fortify our programs for patients, scientists, and learners as we collaborate with the NIH and FDA in developing more evidence-based digital tools to promote access to care for clients with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

“Using the biopsychosocial model, we’re strengthening our holistic care for clients with substance use and other addiction disorders by offering wrap-around services with translational research components,” Easton said. She joined the faculty earlier this year and also serves as the department’s director of digital therapeutics. (Learn more about Easton here.)

“Establishing a division dedicated to addiction psychiatry builds upon our legacy of leadership in psychiatric medicine and care,” said Hochang B. Lee, MD, chair and the John Romano Professor of Psychiatry. “The innovations in care, research and education continue our legacy of supporting tomorrow’s leaders in the field.”

​

​​​ The department, which recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary, leads one of Monroe County’s two opioid treatment programs, has the region's only ACGME-accredited addiction psychiatry fellowship and, with the Warner School, developed an advanced certificate program in substance use disorder counseling. And, working with the regional psychology consortium, the division trains five psychology interns at clinical sites.

“We’ll be able to attract top talent because we have a unique and sophisticated system to support their career advancement,” Mathis said.

University Honors Two Teams, One Individual from Medical Center with Meliora Awards

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The University of Rochester recently honored the 2024 recipients of the President’s Staff Awards at a reception at Helen Wood Hall on June 27. The annual President’s Staff Awards—the Meliora Award, Witmer Award for Distinguished Service, Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award, and the Staff Community Service Award—recognize employees whose innovative leadership, dedication, and sustained contributions have had a positive impact on the University of Rochester and the community. A new digital display on the River Campus and at the Medical Center will also recognize the winners.

Read More: University Honors Two Teams, One Individual from Medical Center with Meliora Awards

Hispanic American Champions Changing the Landscape of Health Equity

Friday, September 13, 2024

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15, highlighting the vast contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of our country. Telva Olivares, MD was among the  Hispanic American champions highlighted by the Center for Community Health & Prevention for making a positive difference in community-identified priority health issues and inequities impacting the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. These changemakers are just a handful of Hispanic American leaders moving the needle across our institution. 

Read More: Hispanic American Champions Changing the Landscape of Health Equity

How To Deal with Political Stress

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

UR Newsroom: Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide Anthony R. Pisani, PhD, offers tips on managing stress during election seasons.

Read More: How To Deal with Political Stress

Caroline Easton: Integrating AI and compassion in addiction therapy

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Family values lead to technological innovation for a Rochester professor transforming addiction psychiatry.

A professor of psychiatry and the academic division chief of addiction psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, she’s merging cognitive behavioral therapy with cutting-edge digital tools to provide holistic care for those battling substance abuse. Her desire to give back, combined with the limitless potential of AI, is already making an impact, with a long runway of promise ahead.

Read More: Caroline Easton: Integrating AI and compassion in addiction therapy

New Leadership in Adult Inpatient Services

Friday, September 6, 2024

Please join us in welcoming Kyle Rodenbach, MD to his new role as Medical Director of our Adult Inpatient Services.

Dr. Rodenbach attended medical school at the University of Rochester, graduating in 2016. He completed residency training at UPMC in Pittsburgh in 2020. Following graduation, he was an attending at the Univ of Wisconsin Madison on an inpatient psychiatric unit while also providing ECT and consult services, and teaching residents and students. Dr. Rodenbach joined our department last year where he became a valued member of the CPEP team as an attending working with high acuity patients. With his interest and experience in working with acutely and severely mentally ill patients as well as teaching, he transitioned in March of this year to the inpatient service as Associate Medical Director and teaching attending to the resident team. His passion, experience, and commitment to caring for those we serve and educating our residents make him an invaluable asset to our inpatient team and the Adult/Acute Psychiatry Division.

High Stakes, Higher Risks: Can Sports Betting Be Addictive?

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Dr. Myra Mathis, Clinical Chief of the Addiction Psychiatry Division and Medical Director of Strong Recovery, provides warning signs of gambling addiction and how to help yourself or others. 

Read More: High Stakes, Higher Risks: Can Sports Betting Be Addictive?

EAP Blog | Back to School: Preventing Bullying at School

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

School starts this month. Many parents worry about bullying in school. In the new EAP blog post, read steps that may help a child build confidence in speaking and develop resilience. 

Read More: EAP Blog | Back to School: Preventing Bullying at School

Two New Starts in Psychiatry

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

We are excited to announce two new additions to our department! 

Paula VanMinos, EdD has joined Psychiatry as the Assistant Director of Business Administration for Education and Faculty Affairs. In this new role, she will oversee all administrative operations and the teams supporting our education/training programs such as the Skills Lab and the Psych Tech Group. She will also have oversight of the Faculty Support Office operations and team. Paula joins us from Jordan Health, where she has been the Finance and Grant Administration Director since 2021.  She also has previous administrator experience working for UMRC at Highland Family Medicine and the Finance department. Paula obtained her Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester Warner School of Education in 2014. We are thrilled to now have Paula with her expertise in the role.  She will work directly with the department’s Associate Chair of Education, Tziporah Rosenberg and the Associate Chair of Faculty Affairs, Carol Podgorski.  Please join me in welcoming Paula back to URMC and to the Department of Psychiatry. 

Shaun Lewis is our new Sr. Customer Technology Specialist starting 9/1/24.  In this role he will oversee the Skills Lab and supervise the Psych Tech Group.  Shaun comes to us from URMC's Learning and Development department where he was the Sr. Analyst Programmer/Internet and Digital Technology Program Manager since 2022 and in other tech support roles since 2013. Shaun obtained his Bachelor of Art in Music Industry from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.  He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of audio/visual technology as well instructional design. Shaun will be a part of the Education arm of the department and will report directly to Paula. Please join me in welcoming him to the Department of Psychiatry. 

Managing Anxiety Going Back to School: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Students

Monday, September 2, 2024

A confident, collective effort can make the experience rewarding for everyone

It’s normal to be concerned about your child's anxiety about returning to the classroom. Melissa Heatly, PhD, at Golisano Children’s Hospital, provides ways to demonstrate your support and confidence to your children as they return.

Read More: Managing Anxiety Going Back to School: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Students

School Year Stress: Acing the Back-to-School Season

Friday, August 30, 2024

UR Medicine Newsroom: The beginning of the school year brings busy schedules, routine adjustments, and—for many—lots of stress. Being prepared, mindful, and having the necessary tools to organize your family routines can help reduce your stress and anxiety.

Read More: School Year Stress: Acing the Back-to-School Season

2024 URMFG Innovation Grantees: Creating Deaf Equity in Behavioral Health Assessment

Friday, August 30, 2024

​

The Deaf population reports higher rates of behavioral health problems including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Rochester, NY is home to one of the largest Deaf communities in the world but, even here, Deaf individuals still struggle for access to healthcare.

UR Medicine promotes biopsychosocial care via routine screenings outside of behavioral health clinics (e.g., primary care); however, these screenings are only available in written English and Spanish, excluding many Deaf patients given the community median reading level of 4th grade.

Deaf patients are less likely to receive routine screenings due to communication barriers, and the lack of measures available in American Sign Language (ASL). In addition, relevant Deaf cultural factors (e.g., acculturative stress) are rarely assessed nor integrated into care.

Despite URMC being a leader in Deaf health, ASL-translated behavioral health screening measures are not available and are needed to improve identification, referral, and intervention for our Deaf patients. This gap represents an opportunity to optimize care for Deaf patients that could also serve as a model nationwide to reduce health disparities. This quality improvement project will develop an ASL behavioral health assessment toolkit. 

Health Equity Pilot Awards Fund Research Projects Focused on Violence Prevention and Caregiver Support

Friday, August 23, 2024

The Office of Health Equity Research’s “Pilot Studies in Health Equity” award supports research in the Office’s key community-identified priority areas: safe and healthy housing, prevention of mental health and substance use disorders, prevention of gun violence, prevention of re-incarceration, and prevention and management of chronic diseases.

This year, the Office of Health Equity Research (OHER), part of the Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP) at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is proud to fund two research projects in these critical areas.

• Intergenerational Mentoring to Promote Healthier and Safer Communities
• Building Social Connections for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia from Underserved Communities

“We are excited to offer these awards for the second year and to be able to support such meaningful research that will impact our community for years to come,” said Edith Williams, MS, PhD, director of the CCHP and founding director of OHER.

Read more about the Research Projects

Intergenerational Mentoring to Promote Healthier and Safer Communities

Violence and the resulting trauma are leading causes of morbidity and mortality across the lifespan, disproportionately impacting under-served, urban communities. For older adults, violence in the community can lead to isolation and loneliness, which are often linked to a decreased quality of life and overall well-being. With funding from the Pilot Study in Health Equity Award, Corey Nichols-Hadeed, JD, principal investigator (PI) and Kimberly Van Orden, PhD (Co-I and mentor), will work to reduce community violence by promoting intergenerational social connection.

Nichols-Hadeed is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (URSMD) and co-directs both the Firearm Injury Prevention Program and Geriatric Forensic Psychiatry Program. Van Orden leads the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Helping Older People Engage (HOPE) lab, co-directs the Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, and directs the Department of Psychiatry’s CSPS NRSA T32 fellowship.

 Their project, “Intergenerational Mentoring to Promote Healthier & Safer Communities,” is grounded in academic-community partnership, with scientific and clinical expertise in healthy aging, community-partnered research, and community violence prevention. Goals include developing an intergenerational “Community Conversations” program aimed at older adults and youth, creating training manuals and training experiences for older adult mentors, refining curriculum, and piloting the program to examine effectiveness.

The funding provided by OHER will build on existing work supported by a Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award from the National Academy of Medicine (NAM award) and established community partner relationships to ensure sustainability and responsiveness to community needs.

“We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue this work and bring more attention to the importance of healthy aging across the lifespan while addressing the prominent health crisis of community violence,” shared Nichols-Hadeed. “We look forward to being able to share what we learn with our community.”

Building Social Connections for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia from Underserved Communities

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are 6.9 million Americans living with dementia in the United States (2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures). The majority of persons with dementia are cared for by unpaid family members. Health inequities and the lack of access to clinical care and support can make caregiving more challenging for Black caregivers from underserved communities. With limited support, these caregivers may experience significant social disconnectedness and loneliness that is often associated with negative physical and mental health.

Sandhya Seshadri, PhD, MA, MS (PI), assistant professor of Neurology and associate director of research in the Neuropalliative Care division of the Department of Neurology, Paula Amina Alio, PhD, (Co-I) professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and associate professor of Clinical Nursing in the School of Nursing, and Benzi M. Kluger, MD, MS, the Julius, Helen and Robert Fine Professor of Neurology (Co-I) will use funds awarded by the OHER Pilot Study, co-funded by the University of Rochester Aging Institute (URAI), to build social connections and decrease social isolation and loneliness among Black caregivers by developing an intervention that is scalable across marginalized Black communities.

The project, “Building Social Connections for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia from Underserved Communities,” aims to:

• Understand the social needs, and experiences of isolation and loneliness among Black caregivers of persons living with dementia.
• Co-develop an intervention, entitled “Congregational Compassionate Care (CCC) for Black caregivers of persons living with dementia.”

Also involved in the research is community partner Reverend Phyllis Jackson, RN, founder of the Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition. At the community level, faith-based institutions and churches have historically played an important role in addressing public health issues and providing support to Black families. These groups, however, have not been involved in partnerships with researchers in the design and implementation of interventions to support caregivers of persons living with dementia. A large focus of this project will be the collaboration between healthcare researchers and congregations, fostering a sense of ownership of the intervention among community and congregational leaders.

“The Interdenominational Health Ministry is excited to participate in this project,” shared Reverend Jackson. “The more compassionate care we can provide Black and Brown caregivers who are struggling with these issues, the better positioned we are to help them maintain their mind, body, and spirit wellness. This project is ministry in action for us.”

“We are delighted to receive the OHER Pilot Study award,” said Seshadri. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to address the issues of social isolation and loneliness among dementia caregivers in the City of Rochester. By collaborating with Reverend Jackson, we will be best prepared to develop an intervention that meets the needs of these caregivers and well poised to apply for funding for a larger study through the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging.”

“The UR Aging Institute is delighted to partner with the Office of Health Equity Research to fund new research initiatives in support of aging and health equity,” shared Annette (Annie) Medina-Walpole, MD, URAI director and chief of the Division of Geriatrics & Aging.

“Both pilot grants illustrate the importance of social connections in older adults. With the ever-rising number of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, improving social connections and combatting loneliness in caregivers is both timely and critical. Ms. Nichols-Hadeed’s research around building social connections through an intergenerational program to prevent community violence is equally important to URAI and will no doubt have a lasting impact.”

Health Equity Research Core Investigators affiliated with OHER are eligible to apply for these pilot grants. The grant program is currently co-sponsored by OHER, the University of Rochester Aging Institute, and the Environmental Health Science Center/Institute of Human Health and Environment. 

The Pilot Studies in Health Equity award will open again in January 2025. OHER can fund up to five proposals depending on participating co-sponsors and the merit of applications received. Researchers interested in affiliating with OHER are encouraged to contact oher@urmc.rochester.edu.

John "Jack" McIntyre, MD Receives 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Earlier this spring, Dr. John "Jack" McIntyre, MD was presented with the URMC Department of Psychiatry's 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. McIntyre graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1967 and completed his residency in the URMC Department of Psychiatry in 1973 followed by a fellowship in Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Dr. McIntyre has published research in multiple periodicals including The American Journal of Psychiatry, Schizophrenia Research, and The American Journal of Psychiatry. 

"Dr. Jack McIntyre embodies the essence of compassionate and insightful psychiatric care," says Hochang Ben Lee, MD, John Romano Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, "Jack embodies Rochester Psychiatry, and his footprints looms large across all mental health services in our region. His work as the President of the American Psychiatric Association (1993-1994) also reflected his profound dedication and unwavering commitment to mentally ill patients' well-being. Jack has been a standout alumnus and advocate for UR Psychiatry for decades. His innovative approach and empathetic nature are truly inspiring and invaluable to both fellow alumni and current trainees." 

View More Photos from the Event: John "Jack" McIntyre, MD Receives 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award

Enhancing care with Proactive Integrated Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (PICLP)

Monday, August 19, 2024

Ben Lee, MD, was a member of the Home Study team to assess the effects of enhancing older inpatients’ care with Proactive Integrated Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (PICLP).  Read the full article below. 

Sharpe, M., Walker, J., van Niekerk, M., Toynbee, M., Magill, N., Frost, C., ... & Yousif, M. (2024). Proactive integrated consultation-liaison psychiatry and time spent in hospital by older medical inpatients in England (The HOME Study): a multicentre, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Psychiatry.

Read More: Enhancing care with Proactive Integrated Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (PICLP)

A New Chapter for Kate Cerulli

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

​​​As of July 1st, Kate Cerulli, JD, PhD retired from her role as Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Susan B. Anthony Center. During her 20+ years with our department, she founded the Laboratory of Interpersonal Violence and Victimization and the Healing through Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law Collaborative while shaping our current focus on translating scientific research into practical solutions for those facing challenges in meeting their social determinants of health.

As she moves into semi-retirement and a part-time role with Mt. Hope Family Center, we hope you join us in congratulating Dr. Cerulli on this new chapter! 

Panic Attacks vs. Heart Attacks: Understanding the Differences

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Panic attacks are alarming because the symptoms can mirror a life-threatening heart attack.

Read More: Panic Attacks vs. Heart Attacks: Understanding the Differences