| |
'TERMINAL ANOREXIA': The vexing problem of treating an advanced eating disorder
University of Florida psychiatry residents, Nadia Cacodcar, MD and Gabriel Jerkins, MD with assistant professor, Lauren Schmidt, MD were featured in the July issue of Clinical Psychiatry News for their APA presentation: “I’d Rather Die Than Eat” an Examination of Ethicolegal Conflict in Three Cases of Severe Anorexia Nervosa.
|
| |
|
| |
Positive Psychiatry in College Mental Health
|
Tools to enhance positive feelings and behaviors are critical to well-being. Marica Morris, MD offers some examples of how college psychiatrists can use positive psychiatry to help their students.
|
|
|
| |
2023 IOCDF Conference
The International OCD Foundation held their 28th Annual OCD Conference the first week of July in San Francisco. Several of our faculty and members of our staff attended to present and represent our program. Click below to learn more about the presenters and their topics.
|
| |
|
| |
Psychiatry Trainees appointed to Housestaff Council Executive Committee
Two of our trainees have been appointed to the Housestaff Council Executive Committee. PGY-3 Georgio Legerme, MD has been appointed as Vice Chair for Community Outreach and Belonging and Addiction Medicine Fellow Steven Suastegui, MD is Member at Large. The Housestaff Council was founded in July…
|
| |
|
| |
Department of Psychiatry Summer Photo Contest
As hard as it is to believe, the summer is nearly halfway over, and it has definitely been a hot one. In honor of this most iconic of Florida seasons, the Department of Psychiatry is holding its first (I think) summer photo contest. This is a chance to show off your artistry and also the fun or exotic or heartwarming experiences you are hopefully having this summer. Please send your best photo, taken this summer, to Melinda Fawcett by August 18. Photos will be posted (with permission) in the newsletter and on the Departmental website. Winners will be announced in September.
|
| |
|
| |
|
Ashraf Muzwagi, MD was born in Arizona and grew up in Libya. He graduated from the University of Tripoli, Libya and moved back to the US to pursue further medical training. Dr. Muzwagi finished his psychiatry residency at Texas Tech University where he served as Chief of the Resident Education Committee and moved to Gainesville to pursue a child and adolescent fellowship at the University of Florida. Here he served as Chief Fellow for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Muzwagi’s special interests are neurodevelopmental disorder, mood disorder, and psychosis. Dr. Muzwagi will be the attending physician on the Child and Adolescent Unit at the UF Health Psychiatric Hospital. Please join in welcoming Dr. Muzwagi to the TEAM!
|
| |
| |
New Staff
A warm welcome to Natalya who began her career with the department of psychiatry on July 7, 2023. Natayla previously worked as a recruiter and with the licensing board with the State of Michigan. She received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources.
In her role as an HR Generalist I, she will be responsible for all OPS, residents, fellows, volunteers and other trainee hires. She will also support these groups with their essential HR needs.
Outside of work she likes to spend time with her husband and two fur babies, a 13 year old Chihuahua and a two year old Jack Russell Terrier. She likes to read, go hiking and boating.
stewart.natalya@ufl.edu | Office: 352.594.4306 | Fax: 352.265.7983
|
| |
|
 |
| |
|
Priscilla Spence has retired after 38 wonderful years with the Department of Psychiatry!
Her presence will be greatly missed, she has been an important part of our history and a great support to our department throughout the years, a celebration is in order to thank her for her wonderful years of service.
Please save Saturday, September 9th for a Retirement Celebration for Priscilla. She has requested we make it a department wide social and welcome to our new faculty and staff members. Details to come.
|
| |
| |
Hurricane Season is Here
Hurricane season is officially here, please keep in mind the resources available to support you in case of a tropical cyclone. Learn more about the university’s emergency plans and create your own plan to ensure you've taken necessary precautions.
|
| |
|
| |
Join UF Psychiatry Alumni Society
|
Become a member of the UF Psychiatry Alumni Society! The society fosters alumni networking, socializing and sharing current trends in psychiatric and behavioral science. Show your support of the education, research and clinical mission of the department by joining. • Annual Dues: $100 • Lifetime Dues: $2,500 (payable over five years, $500 per year) Membership dues support activities of the society, training programs and receptions at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meetings. To learn more about giving back to the department and alumni opportunities, please contact Callie Wilkes. (calliewilkes@ufl.edu).
|
|
|
| |
Health Equity & Inclusion Group
|
It’s not too late to join the Health Equity & Inclusion Group on the UF Health Bridge! We would love for you to join us for these new and thought provoking opportunities and welcome you to join the group and present ideas of your own. Go to the UF Health Bridge to join the group, and see more details, on resources, activities, and events.
Join us for our next meeting, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on October 16, 2023 for discussions focused on anti-racism, social justice and health equity so we can learn together and from one another, strengthening our teams.
|
|
|
 |
| |
UF CARD Update
| |
 | | |
ADOS-2 Workshop | August 30 - 31, 2023 | Gainesville, FL
The 2-day Introductory Training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is designed for researchers and clinicians with prior background in autism spectrum disorder and formal testing, such as speech-language pathologists, physicians, psychologists, school-based autism specialists, and occupational therapists.
Behavior Strategies That Work | Mondays September 11 - October 30, 2023 | Online
For this series of sessions, participants will learn strategies for managing the spectrum of behaviors observed in children with autism. The sessions are appropriate for educators and caregivers of children with ASD.
Find us at these community events!
08/13/23 Florida Museum of Natural History Museum and Me (Gainesville) 11/11/23 Fundamental Therapy Solutions’ 3rd Annual Fall Festival (Gainesville) 11/11/23 JBF’s Fall 2023 Safe KIDS Day (Alachua) 11/12/23 Alachua Harvest Festival (Alachua) See the UF CARD website for information about our Support/Social Groups for adults and children. Sign up for the UF CARD enews 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.
|
| |
|
| |
July 31 - August 4 & | Fear Facers Camp
August 7 - August 11
Fear Facers Summer Camp will be taking place at Veteran's Memorial Park the first two weeks of August.
This camp is for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or anxiety. Where, in addition to daily therapy, participants between the ages of 7 and 15 will experience activities that allow for personal growth and improved behaviors.
|
| |
|
| |
August 23 | UF Classes Begin
Welcome new students to the University of Florida!
Expect delays and parking congestion around UF campuses.
|
| |
|
| |
August 31 | International Overdose Awareness Day
FREE community event to honor those who lost the fight against drug overdose and raise awareness. This event offers an opportunity for individuals to have discussions about prevention and drug policy, learn about how to prevent and reduce drug-related harm, and provide information on the range of support services that are available in the community.
Speakers:
Kent Mathias, MD
Assistant Professor, UF Psychiatry
Jennifer Webb
Author, Zap! Ow! Kazam! 11 Super Powers to Change Your Career & Life
Thursday, August 31st
6:00PM - 8:30PM
The event will conclude with a candle light vigil to remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
|
| |
|
| |
GatorCare Wellness August Calendar
|
| |
|
This quarter focuses on occupational, social, and cultural wellness with our spotlight – Healthier Together! Participate in our Plank & Drank Challenge, various walking challenges, daily gratitude messaging, and much more! Download or bookmark the flyer to view upcoming program details!
|
| |
| |
In-person fitness classes for faculty and staff
|
Faculty and staff are invited to attend these in-person fitness classes for all fitness levels at no cost throughout the semester.
- Yoga - Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:15 - 1 p.m., Monday @ Smathers Library room 100 & Tuesdays @ Ustler Hall Atrium
- Zumba - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 - 6:15 p.m., Professional Park, register here!
- Pilates - Every other Thursday @ 6:00 p.m., Reitz Union North Lawn, no registration needed.
Note: For Pilates and Yoga, please complete this waiver.
|
|
|
| |
FREE Mental Health Workshops
| |
 | | |
The UF Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) offers free online mental health workshops for UF STUDENT, FACULTY, and STAFF. Workshops provide the opportunity to learn new skills to strengthen personal resilience, develop healthy self-care habits, and grow mental health awareness. No consultation or appointment is needed. Just RSVP and join at your convenience. The full list of workshops is available here: https://counseling.ufl.edu/outreach/workshops/. Recordings of previous workshops are also available on the UF CWC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/UFCWC
|
| |
|
| |
Mental health helpline devoted exclusively to UF faculty and staff
 |
|
In an effort to more efficiently connect UF and UF Health faculty and staff and their families to mental health services, UFHR, in partnership with the UF departments of Psychiatry and Clinical and Health Psychology, is introducing a new Mental Health Services Access Line devoted exclusively to university employees and their dependents. Faculty, staff and their dependents may call (352) 627-0032 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to receive assistance identifying and securing access to the mental health services best suited to their needs.
The new helpline is designed to increase access to mental health care and to supplement existing resources like the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) rather than replace them, providing a single point of entry and ensuring employees get the help they need in a timely manner. UF employees and their household members may still call the EAP at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (833) 306-0103, and anyone experiencing a crisis with more urgent needs should call the Alachua County Crisis Center at (352) 264-6789.
|
|
|
|
|
Guidance Connect service provides quicker, more direct access to therapists
UF's Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, provides UF faculty and staff as well as their household members access to free live counseling support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through its partnership with ComPsych. Now, in addition to calling its toll-free number, (833) 306-0103, faculty and staff have the option to search for a network therapist and determine their availability via ComPsych's portal.
To access the EAP's new Guidance Connect feature, visit guidanceresources.com and click on the Register tab to establish your profile, using the Organization Web ID: UFEAP. After registering, click on "Connect to Care" to answer a few questions and to get matched with a pool of therapists who meet your clinical needs and preferences. In-person, telephone, video or chat counseling options are available.
If you have questions or would like more information, please email eap-help@ufl.edu. |
|
|
| |
Psychiatry Staff Professional Development Program
|
| |
|
Faculty from across UF Psychiatry have created a Staff Professional Development Fund designed to provide direct support from faculty to our support staff in their efforts to advance professionally.
|
| |
| |
UF GatorSAFE Mobile App
| |
 | | |
Safety resources at your fingertips with the new UF GatorSAFE Mobile App. Smartphone users who download the free GATORSAFE app can now report tips to the UF Police Department, make emergency calls and perform other functions that improve their personal safety and security. Apple Store Google Play Store
|
| |
|
| |
Get in the News
| |
 | | |
Do you have some news or an announcement you would like to share? Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond and who you would like to recognize? Want us to save the date for an upcoming event?
Editorial Team:
Melinda Fawcett
Aubrey Bonsal
|
| |
|
|
