The 2026–2027 FPS Council election has concluded, and we are pleased to announce the newly elected members.

Congratulations to those elected, and thank you to all the candidates who were willing to run and serve. We are grateful for your engagement and commitment to advancing our mission, and we look forward to working with each of you in the year ahead!

President-Elect:
Colleen Bell, MD, DFAPA

Vice President:
Krithika Iyer, MD, DFAPA

Treasurer:
Michelle Jacobs-Elliott, MD, DFAPA

Secretary:
France Leandre, MD, FAPA

Councilors:
Eileen Glocer, MD
Sam Moss, MD
Christopher Rienas, MD

APA Assembly Representative:
Jose Hawayek, MD

The Florida Psychiatric Society's leadership training program for psychiatric chief residents and chief fellows, RIPPLE, equips residents with tools and experiences to help them succeed in leadership positions.

RIPPLE, short for "Residents in Psychiatry Programs: Leadership Experience," is a certification program where our chief residents and chief fellows will learn how to be effective leaders through self-awareness and improved communication, as well as other skills critical to success and satisfaction as both a psychiatrist and a leader.

Learn more and register on our website HERE.

Submit your abstract HERE.

For more information about our Fall CME Meeting, please see: https://www.floridapsych.org/page/Fall2024

We are looking forward to seeing you at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, October 6-8, 2023. Book your room prior to September 13, 2023 to receive the FPS discounted rate.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
One Grand Cypress Way
Orlando, FL 32899
Room Rate: $195.00

To book a room in the FPS Block, please visit: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/VISTA/G-FPS2

Cut-Off date is Wednesday, September 13, 2023.  

FPS is accepting applications for the Tom and Donna Buchanan Grant for RFMs.  Resident Fellow members may receive a grant of up to $300 to offset the costs associated with attending an FPS CME Meeting & Expo event.  The deadline to apply for a grant for the Spring 2023 CME Meeting is Friday, March 24^th.  For more information, please visit: https://www.floridapsych.org/general/custom.asp?page=RFMBuchananGrant

The 2023 FPS Spring Meeting submission site is currently open to New Research poster submissions. The site will close on Friday, February 24, 2023.  For more information on the FPS John Adams poster competition, please visit: https://www.floridapsych.org/page/JohnEAdamsAward.  

Over the course of three sessions, chief residents participated in engaging small group exercises and modules under the incredible facilitation and volunteer support of the following faculty members: Daniel Castellanos, MD, Omair Abbasi, MD, Ludmilla Barbosa De Faria, MD, Carolyn Drazinic, MD, PhD, MBA, and Audrey La Noce, DO. Thank you, faculty, for your time and efforts given to the residents and this program!

FPS leadership and staff would like to send a heartfelt thank you to RIPPLE program developer and facilitator Dan Castellanos, MD, formerly of Florida International University. Dr Castellanos has accepted a new position as the Founding Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education and Associate Designated Institutional Official (DIO) for the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance in Phoenix.

Dr. Ludmilla De Faria and Dr. Audrey La Noce will take over as the new Program Chairs in 2023!

President
Caryn Schorr, MD, DLFAPA

President-Elect
Uma Suryadevara, MD, DFAPA

Immediate Past President
Ethan Kass, DO, MBA, DLFAPA

Vice President
Bruce Saltz, MD, DLFAPA

Secretary
Sushil Puskur, MD, DFAPA

Treasurer
Steven Kanfer, MD, DFAPA

Councilors
Colleen Bell, MD, FACHE, FAPA
Michelle Jacobs, MD, FAPA
Audrey La Noce, DO, FAPA
Barbara Gracious, MD, DFAPA
Michael Shapiro, MD, DFAPA
Aleksandr Kaipov, MD

RFM Representative to FPS Council
Kamron Fariba, DO, RFMAPA

Representative, APA Assembly
Ryan C.W. Hall, MD, DLFAPA
Debra M. Barnett, MD, DFAPA
Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, PhD, DFAPA
Cassandra F. Newkirk, MD, DLFAPA

To learn more and to register, visit here.

2021-2022 Board of Directors

President
Ethan Kass, DO, MBA, DLFAPA

President-Elect
Caryn Schorr, MD, DLFAPA

Immediate Past President
Tonia L. Werner, MD, DFAPA

Vice President
Uma Suryadevara, MD, DFAPA

Secretary
Carolyn Drazinic, MD, PhD, MBA, FAPA

Treasurer
Steven Kanfer, MD, DFAPA

Councilor
Colleen Bell, MD, FACHE, FAPA
Steven Cuffe, MD, DFAPA
Michelle Jacobs, MD, FAPA        
Israt Jahan, MD, FAPA
Audrey La Noce, DO, FAPA 
Bruce Saltz, MD, DLFAPA

Representative, APA Assembly
John T. Bailey, DO, DFAPA
Debra M. Barnett, MD, DFAPA

Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, PhD, DFAPA
Cassandra F. Newkirk, MD, DLFAPA

_______________________________

Representative, FMA Specialty Society Section
Ryan C.W. Hall, M.D., DFAPA

Delegate, FMA House of Delegates 
Debra M. Barnett, MD, DFAPA
F. Kevin Butler, MD, DLFAPA
Ryan C.W. Hall, MD, DFAPA
Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, Ph.D, DFAPA
Rigoberto Rodriguez, MD, DLFAPA
Tonia L. Werner, MD, DFAPA

We would also like to thank the following individuals for their hard work and dedication to FPS, our members, and psychiatric patients in Florida this last year:

2020-2021 Board of Directors

President

Tonia L. Werner, M.D., DFAPA

President-Elect
Ethan Kass, DO, MBA, DLFAPA

Immediate Past President
J Ryan C.W. Hall, M.D., DFAPA

Vice President
F. Kevin Butler, MD, MBA, MPH, DLFAPA

Secretary
Uma Suryadevara, MD, DFAPA

Treasurer
Caryn B. Schorr, MD, DFAPA

Councilor
Ludmila de Faria, MD, DFAPA
Carolyn Drazinic, MD, Ph.D, MBA,FAPA

Steven Cuffe, MD, DFAPA

Israt Jahan, MD, DFAPA

Bruce Saltz, MD, DLFAPA

JoAnna VanVleet, DO, FAPA

RFM Representatives to FPS Council

Kamron Fariba, DO, RFMAPA
Carlos Diaz, MD, RFMAPA

Representative, APA Assembly
John T. Bailey, DO, DFAPA
Debra M. Barnett, MD, DFAPA

Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, PhD, DFAPA
Cassandra F. Newkirk, MD, DLFAPA

_______________________________

Representative, FMA Specialty Society Section
Ryan C.W. Hall, M.D., DFAPA

Delegate, FMA House of Delegates 
Debra M. Barnett, MD, DFAPA
F. Kevin Butler, MD, DLFAPA
Ryan C.W. Hall, MD, DFAPA
Jacqueline Hobbs, MD, Ph.D, DFAPA
Rigoberto Rodriguez, MD, DLFAPA
Tonia L. Werner, MD, DFAPA

Practitioner of the Year Award: Caryn Schorr, M.D., DLFAPA

Dr. Caryn Schorr is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst in private practice in Fort Lauderdale.  Dr. Schorr has served as Treasurer on the FPS Council for 2 years and is a Distinguished Fellow of the APA.

Friendship Award: Ethan Kass, DO, MBA, DLFAPA

Ethan Kass D.O., M.B.A., DLFAPA Graduated from New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medical School 1983. He attended and Completed Hahnemann University Hospital Psychiatry Residency 1987. He completed fellowships in C-L Psychiatry, Georgetown University and Forensic Psychiatry, SUNY/Upstate Medical Center. He earned an MBA from FAU in 2001. Dr. Kass has been the Program Director of Psychiatry Residency Program, HCA Healthcare, East Florida Division, GME since 2011. He is Board Certified in General, Forensic, Geriatric, Addiction, and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Dr. Kass obtained DLFAPA in 2020. He has held a private Practice in Coral Springs almost 25 years.

Public Service Award: Cassandra Newkirk, M.D., DLFAPA

Dr. Newkirk currently serves as the Chief Psychiatric Officer for Wellpath. Dr. Newkirk practiced general and forensic psychiatry in Atlanta with faculty appointments at Emory University and Morehouse Schools of Medicine, and currently holds a voluntary faculty position at Florida International University and Morehouse School of Medicine.   Dr. Newkirk has held a variety of positions in professional organizations, including the Florida Psychiatry Society, and the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association. She currently serves as an Assembly representative to the American Psychiatric Association from the state of Florida and is the Chair of the Telemedicine Committee.  She received her bachelor’s degree from Duke University, her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a master’s degree in business administration with emphasis in healthcare management from Regis University. Dr. Newkirk was Chief Resident at Emory University School of Medicine and is board certified in general adult and Forensic psychiatry.

First Place: Dr. Grace Kim, MD with Poster 15: Omeprazole-induced Visual Hallucinations. Dr. Kim is a PGY3 at the University of Central Florida HCA GME Consortium (Greater Orlando). View this poster here.

Second Place: Dr. Mary Wright Phelps, DO with Poster 22: The Challenge of Re-Challenging a Patient with Clozapine. Dr. Wright Phelps is a PGY2 at the University of Central Florida HCA GME Consortium (Gainesville). View this poster here.

Third Place: Drs Benjamin Spurling, MD and Rhonda Robeel, MD with Poster 23: Economics of Antidepressant Augmentation. Dr. Spurling is a PGY-3 at University of South Florida Morsani Program, and Dr. Robeel recently completed residency there and is now completing a fellowship at UNC. View this poster here.

Thanks to these programs for participating in the contest this year:

• Aventura Hospital & Medical Center Program
• Jackson Memorial Hospital/ Jackson Health System
• Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood
• Palm Beach Consortium for Graduate Medical Education
• University Hospital & Medical Center
• University of Central Florida HCA GME Consortium (Greater Orlando or Gainesville)
• University of Florida
• University of South Florida Morsani Program

2020 Fall CME Meeting and EXPO

September 25-26, 2020

We will also have:

• Expert speakers presenting on timely topics, with a live Q&A session for each course.
  
• The John Adams Poster Competition for Residents and Fellows
• A raffle for a $400 or $200 Gift Card
• An online Exhibit Hall
• Opportunities to video chat with fellow participants
• A complimentary Lunch-and-Learn from PsychU on Neuroimmunology of Schizophrenia
• PRMS clients who attend Insanity by Malpractice, On Matters of Death and Dying, and Liability for Violent Patients: Facts vs. Fiction, may be eligible to receive a 5% premium discount. To receive the discount, insureds should submit a copy of their CME certificate to Client Services (log in to your PRMS account to submit).

Learn more or register HERE!

There is a dangerous idea making its way through the Florida Legislature. Rather shockingly, during an ongoing opioid crisis, some in the Florida Legislature want to allow individuals with no medical training to write prescriptions for potentially addictive drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines.

Who are these individuals? Psychologists. The average person may not understand that there is an important difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. 

A psychiatrist is a physician — a medical doctor who attended medical school and participates in at least four years of intensive supervised clinical training to be competent in prescribing medication, as well as understanding medication interactions for all types of medications, not just mental health medicines.

A psychologist is also well-educated and well-trained but primarily to be a psychotherapist. Their training is in statistics, research and psychotherapy. They do not have the same educational and practical background that a physician psychiatrist has.

If you or a loved one requires the services of a psychiatrist, you are potentially dealing with a condition such as depression, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, dementia, developmental disorders or PTSD. A psychiatrist evaluates both a patient’s mental health and their physical health. 

A psychiatrist is trained to rule out other medical conditions that may mimic a mental health disorder — such as hypothyroidism, which may present with symptoms similar to depression. A psychiatrist is trained to treat mental health problems and use medicines when appropriate for patients with co-occurring medical conditions such as heart problems, kidney disease or liver difficulties.

Mental health diagnosis is more than just looking at symptoms, but includes trying to learn the underlying causes of the symptoms, whether brought on by a physiological disease state, a side effect from a drug that was prescribed for a physiological condition (for example some acne and allergy medications can induce depression and other mental health type symptoms), or a more traditional situational stressor or life event. The job of a psychiatrist is to evaluate and understand the underlying causes of the mental health condition.

This is why psychiatrists go to medical school and are in hands-on supervised residencies for so long.

It is vital to understand that psychiatrists and psychologists oftentimes work closely to help patients get better, and at times, aspects of their work — such as psychotherapy —overlap. But there are also times their training and roles significantly diverge. 

I have immense respect for the role psychologists play in helping patients get well. But they are not medical doctors, and should not be allowed to write prescriptions for things like opioids, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, antidepressants or anti-psychotic medications.

It’s a needless risk to the people of Florida and one not worth taking.

Dr. Ryan C.W. Hall is the president of the Florida Psychiatric Society.

This article was published in the TC Palm on 2/11/2020 and the Tallahassee Democrat on 2/27/2020

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2020/02/27/only-medical-professionals-should-write-prescriptions-opinion/4880684002/

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/2020/02/11/letters-editor-feb-11-2020/4699996002/

This online forum can be accessed through your member profile (please contact us if you have trouble logging in), and is a place for you to post your original publications, comment on others' posts, and more. It is a fantastic place to network with your peers, get recognition for your work, and have in-depth conversations about the latest research by FPS members.

To get started, please read our instruction post: https://www.floridapsych.org/forums/Posts.aspx?topic=1481723

The Member Forum can also be accessed through the Resources drop down menu at the top of the page. Click "FPS Member Forum" and you will see the latest posts. Read, post, comment - your interaction level is up to you! Any member is welcome to post or comment (though the forum is moderated - see link above).

You can subscribe to email notifications through the "Forum Actions" drop-down menu, either instantly or a weekly digest. This makes it easy to keep up with the forum, at the frequency you prefer.

We hope you enjoy this new feature!

There is also a Chat Room for Resident Fellow Members!

It has the same features as described above, but you can post anything you'd like relating to psychiatry, working in Florida, passing Board exams, getting licensed, handling loans, and more! Ask questions, give advice, share your successes, and more. This chat room is JUST for RFMs, so the space is truly yours (although it will also be moderated by the Editorial Board as well).

March 27th - 29th, 2020

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Orlando, FL

More information here!