Dr. Ludmila De Faria was recently quoted in The New York Times, discussing the potential risks of benzodiazepine use. While these medications provide quick relief for anxiety and sleep disorders, long-term use can lead to tolerance and unintended side effects.

Crafting isn’t just a hobby—it can be a powerful tool for mental well-being. According to Andrea Guastello, PhD, an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Psychiatry, artistic expression like crafting serves as a form of behavioral activation, helping individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and connection.

Clinician well-being plays a critical role in patient safety and quality of care. Research shows that distressed healthcare professionals are more prone to medical errors, reduced empathy, and impaired communication, all of which can negatively impact patient outcomes. Burnout also increases the likelihood of clinicians leaving the field, further straining an already burdened workforce.

To address these challenges, Dr. Lisa Merlo Greene developed Clinician Well-Being: Promoting Fulfillment in the Healthcare Setting, a featured course in the new Quality & Patient Safety Initiative (QPSi). This FREE course is available to everyone—clinicians and non-clinicians alike—and offers valuable strategies to enhance well-being, job satisfaction, and overall healthcare quality.

The Florida Psychiatric Society (FPS) held its Annual Spring CME Meeting from March 28-30 in Orlando. Enjoy these highlights from the conference!

We would like to congratulate two of our faculty who have been selected as departmental nominees for College of Medicine awards to be announced later this spring! Their nominations reflect their outstanding contributions and dedication to advancing medicine and improving lives. Please join us in celebrating their excellence in research and…

Our department is fortunate to have many dedicated individuals who work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. One such team member is David Roberts, our child psychiatry fellowship program coordinator.

David has been with the department since 2018, first providing admin support for CAN and COARD at the MBI before stepping into his current role. His knowledge of the department, reliability, and proactive approach make a tremendous difference in our day-to-day operations. Whether ensuring schedules are seamless, handling logistics with ease, or keeping everything and everyone on track, David does it all—with a smile!

One of our fellows put it best:

"Having a great program coordinator streamlines everything and lets us focus on patient care and education. David is always on top of everything, and that too with a smile! What a huge asset to the CAP department!"

David’s dedication and expertise are truly appreciated, and we are grateful for all he does to support our team!

As discussed at the last faculty meeting, we’d like to highlight a publication from one faculty member in each monthly newsletter. To get this started, we’re asking for volunteers to suggest one of their recent publications that can be summarized in a few sentences. If you are interested, please send the following information to Dr. Setlow:

Title

Full names and affiliations of all authors

Journal/book in which it is published

Electronic link to publication if available (e.g., DOI, publisher’s website, PubMed link, etc.)

One sentence summarizing the goal or problem addressed in the publication

One-two sentences summarizing the findings described in the publication

One-two sentences summarizing the conclusions and broader implications of the work described in the publication.

All About Best Buddies Living

Tuesday, April 8, 2025; 7:00 - 8:30PM | ONLINE

Best Buddies Living is an inclusive housing opportunity for people both with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. With an apartment format, residents are living independently, typically working or attending school. At Best Buddies Living there are also planned social activities including weekly dinners and four monthly events. The events can be anything from game nights at the apartment to community events around Gainesville. Residents also have the opportunity to work with the on-site residential manager on independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, money management, social skills, and more. These meetings are tailored specifically to each resident to help them reach their own personal goals.

Life Care Planning: Making the Future More Secure for your Dependent with Special Needs

Wednesday, April 16, 2025; 7:00 - 8:00PM | ONLINE

In this workshop, we will discuss what a Life Care Plan is and the steps recommended to create one for a loved one with special needs. As a caregiver of a dependent with special needs the single most important issue on your mind, regardless of the age of the dependent, is what will happen to my dependent after I’m gone. There are some needs that will always be present and they must be carefully considered and planned for appropriately. This workshop will address such critical issues as protecting government benefit eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, creating Special Needs Trusts, the importance of a Will, Guardianship, Financial Strategies including ABLE Accounts and preparing Letters of Intent. You will learn about the comprehensive steps, available resources, and necessary tools to help develop your personal agenda – a customized path that will keep you on track as you consider what’s right for your situation. Following the planning stages can help insure the type of care and quality of life for your loved one’s well-being today and tomorrow.

Preparing for Natural Disasters

Wednesdays, April 23 & 30, 2025; 6:00 - 7:00PM | ONLINE

Session 1: Preparing for Disasters: Creating a Disaster Supply Kit

It’s important to have the necessary supplies for a disaster kit. In this presentation, participants will learn about what needs to go into a disaster supply kit, how long to prepare, what to consider for loved ones with special needs, and how to store the supplies.

Session 2: Preparing for Disasters: Evacuation and Shelter Planning          

Evacuation and Shelter planning takes early awareness and education. This webinar will guide your planning and give you tips to make sure you and your loved ones will be safe in the event of needing to leave your home and find shelter. Special needs planning is discussed in this workshop.

All About the Smart Driver Program

Monday, May 12, 2025; 5:00 - 6:00PM | ONLINE

Driving and community mobility enables adolescents to begin to develop social capital (relationships and social connections that an individual has within his or her community). This can affect their overall quality of life long-term. Neurodiverse novice drivers face challenges to participate in this area that begin long before they take the learner’s permit test. This presentation will cover barriers to participation, pre-driving skills and the role driver rehabilitation may play in achieving the goal of independent mobility.

Introductory Training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)

Wednesday - Friday, July 9 - 11, 2025; 9:00AM - 4:00PM | GAINESVILLE

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is offering a 3-day Introductory Training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). The ADOS-2 is a measure used for assessing and diagnosing autism across ages, developmental levels, and language levels. This is an introductory workshop with instructional methods that include lectures, videos, demonstrations of administration and scoring, and discussions. This workshop is designed for researchers and clinicians with prior background in autism spectrum disorder and formal testing, including speech-language pathologists, physicians, psychologists, school-based autism specialists, and occupational therapists. This training is necessary for anyone planning to use the ADOS-2 in clinical or school settings and serves as a prerequisite for more in depth training required to obtain research reliability in order to use the ADOS-2 for research purposes.

Parent/Caregiver Lunch and Learn Series

Third Friday of every month; 12:00 - 1:00PM | ONLINE

Each session focuses on one of the following areas:  

- A special guest speaker addressing topics based on your interests and questions from our support group discussions.  

- A monthly theme, such as Autism Awareness Month or other dedicated events.  

- A deep dive into a specific topic, like caregiving, self-care, or accessing services, etc.

This session is a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, reflect, and grow as parents/caregivers. You will gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and leave feeling energized and supported. 

Find us at these community events!

04/02/25 Marion Oaks Municipal Services’ Autism Resource and Information Event (Ocala) 

04/12/25 UF Health Shands Children's Hospital's Healthy Heroes Day for Kids Safety Fair (Gainesville) 
04/12/25 Waldo Community New Vision Coalition's 3rd Annual Waldo Community Health and Education Fair (Waldo) 
04/19/25 Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo's Party for the Planet (Gainesville) 

04/26/25 Alachua County Public Schools, Sidney Lanier Center’s Spring Spectacular (Gainesville)  

05/16/25 Just Between Friends’ Safe KIDS Day (Alachua) 

07/23/25 Alachua County/City of Gainesville's 2025 Disability Awareness Expo (Gainesville) 

08/09/25 Alachua County Library District-Millhopper Branch’s Homeschool Resource Fair (Gainesville) 

Sign up for the UF CARD eNews, visit the UF CARD website, and follow the UF CARD Facebook Page to stay informed about events.

If you know someone in need of UF CARD services, please direct them to the UF CARD registration page or have them call 352-265-2230.