• Thursday, March 4, 2010
• Friday, March 5, 2010
• Saturday, March 6, 2010
• Sunday, March 7, 2010
• Monday, March 8, 2010

This Meeting Schedule is subject to change – please check back frequently.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

6:30 AM–6:00 PM
Onsite Registration/Pre-Registered and Exhibitor Registration

7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Speaker Ready Room Open

7:00 AM–9:00 AM
Developing Your Research Career
Sponsored by the AAGP Research Committee

Information on opportunities for new researchers in geriatric psychiatry and how to get started, obtain research training and support, and persist in the research field. This session is very popular and has been expanded to two hours from previous programs. Light breakfast will be served.

7:30 AM–8:30 AM
Past Presidents Meeting
(PAST PRESIDENTS ONLY)

7:30 AM–9:00 AM
AAGP-PAC Board of Directors Meeting
(AAGP-PAC BOARD MEMBERS ONLY)

8:00 AM–10:00 AM
Spouse and Partner Coffee

Join other families at this light breakfast to learn about things to do in Savannah. Savannah is a unique town that has many unusual activities as well as plays a major part in United State’s history. This event will take place at the Savannah Westin.

8:00 AM–9:00 AM
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Breakfast

The Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall is a must-do event featuring a Southern breakfast buffet and many informative exhibits.

9:00 AM–12:00 NOON
Scholars Program for Medical Students
Sponsored by AAGP Teaching and Training Committee and funded by the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

Co-Chairs: Brent Forester, MD
E.J. Santos, MD

This program is designed to increase interest in geriatric psychiatry among medical students, inform about opportunities to learn more about clinical elective and research opportunities during medical school, inform about opportunities available in psychiatry residency programs, and connect medical students with a mentor who can help them to further their understanding of the profession and enhance their academic learning.

9:00 AM–12:00 NOON
Scholars Program for Psychiatry Residents
Sponsored by AAGP Teaching and Training Committee and funded by the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

Co-Chairs: Paul D. Kirwin, MD
Alicia Romeo, MD

This program is designed to showcase the benefits of fellowship training in geriatric psychiatry, educate residents about the scope and practice of geriatric psychiatry, and foster professional relationships to assist residents with career planning now and in the future.

9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Understanding the Quality Landscape in Medicine and Psychiatry
Sponsored by the AAGP Clinical Practice Committee

Chair: Richard Goldberg, MD, MS

This presentation is a lecture with question and answer period, focused on the history, background, current practice, and future directions of quality assessment, monitoring, and demonstration in psychiatry.

9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Disparities in Mental Health Care Among Older Adults:
Moving from Description to Interventions

Chair: Joseph Gallo, MD, MPH

Faculty: Amy Kilbourne, PhD
Marsha Wittink, MD, MBE
Mario Cruz, MD
Hillary Bogner, MD, MSCE

Discussant: Jerry Johnson, MD

This symposium will present an opportunity to discuss research related to mental health care disparities among older adults.

9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Group Psychotherapy with Older Adults

Chair: Marc Agronin, MD

Faculty: Ken Schwartz, MD, FRCPC

Group psychotherapy with older adults is a cost and clinically effective treatment. However, it is under-utilized as clinicians remain unaware of its benefits and technique. The presentation will serve as an introduction to group psychotherapy with an ever increasing population, the elderly.

9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Preventing Depression in At-Risk Elders

Chair: Jules Rosen, MD

Faculty: Robert Robinson, MD
Barry Rovner, MD
Francis Lotrich, MD, PhD

Discussant: Charles Reynolds, MD

As a result of biological and/or social stressors, a subset of elders are at very high risk to develop an episode of depression. Early identification of these high-risk elders gives clinicians the opportunity to offer interventions that may protect them from the additional morbidity of depression.

9:00 AM–10:30 AM
Early Markers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Are They Ready for Clinical Use?

Chair: Davangere Devanand, MD

Faculty: Steven Arnold, MD
Gary Small, MD

Recent research has identified several clinical, neuroimaging and biochemical markers of Alzheimer’s disease that are abnormal even at the stage of mild cognitive impairment. The presenters will discuss their research, and other data in the field, to provide guidelines to the audience regarding the status of these early markers for potential clinical application.

9:30 AM–10:30 AM
Nurses’ Interest Group

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
More Turns in the Roadmap: 2nd Annual Workshop for Established Investigators

As research funding becomes increasingly competitive, NIH institutes are reassessing how they set priorities and make funding decisions. This workshop, sponsored by the AAGP Research Committee, is a continuation of last year’s very successful discussion among senior NIH staff and established investigators. This conversation will focus particularly on recent and ongoing changes at NIH with respect to changes in funding priorities and decision-making; the peer review process; the impact of evolving conflict of interest standards and rules on the grant process.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Inpatient Geropsychiatry in a Changing Regulatory Environment

Chair: David Greenspan, MD

This program will review and update the CMS and The Joint Commission inpatient regulations that require ongoing attention from practicing inpatient psychiatrists.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Alzheimer’s Disease: The Results of Studies on A Regionally Based Cohort

Chair: Crystal Flynn Longmire, PhD

Faculty: Boyd Davis, PhD
Jacobo Mintzer, MD, MBA

In this symposium, information describing important aspects of assessing cognition, a resource of communications with people who have Alzheimer’s disease, and findings regarding risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in the Carolinas will be presented.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Complementary and Alternative Interventions for Late-Life Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Focus on Meditation, Tai Chi, and Management of Obesity

Chair: Helen Lavretsky, MD, MS

Faculty: Martha Payne, PhD, RD, MPH
Julie Malphurs, PhD

This symposium will provide in-depth discussion of the complementary use of mind-body approaches such as meditation and Tai Chi, as well as management of obesity to treat late-life mood and anxiety disorders. The session targets a broad audience of clinicians, researchers and trainees at various levels of training in geriatric psychiatry. Participants will gain familiarity with the potential uses of Tai Chi, meditation, and weight management to treat geriatric depression and will be provided with an overview of the use of CAM in late-life mood and anxiety disorders.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Beyond ACGME Requirements: Enhancing Exposure to Geriatric Psychiatry Among Residents
Sponsored by the AAGP Teaching and Training Committee

Chair: Lisa Boyle, MD

Faculty: Lewis Krain, MD
Susan Maixner, MD
Ronald Yearwood, MD

This session will present the experiences and strategies adopted by geriatric psychiatry educators at three different programs to enhance residents’ exposure to the field of geriatric psychiatry. The audience will hear from a trainee at one of the programs about the trainee’s perspective. An interactive audience discussion about the challenges and approaches to facilitate early exposure of trainees in order to cultivate interest in geriatric psychiatry careers will follow.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Maintaining Brain Fitness and Avoiding Cognitive Decline: What is the Evidence?

Chair: William Reichman, MD

Faculty: Mary Sano, PhD
Karen Miller, PhD
Gary Small, MD

Through the use of didactic lectures and PowerPoint slides, this symposium will describe the “Brain Fitness” movement and the available evidence for prevention of cognitive decline through health management, cognitive exercise and novel stimulation such as Internet searching.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Controversies in Delirium: Finding Common Ground

Chair: Joseph Flaherty, MD

Faculty: James Rudolph, MD, SM

Discussant: Joseph Flaherty, MD

This symposium will address three major topics in translational research and work in delirium, including the implications of pathophysiological findings for the development of disease modifying agents and the work of the VA National Delirium Working Group to promote mental status change as a vital sign to enable screening for delirium. The third topic includes a debate on the uses of neuroleptics for delirium in the absence of any significant evidence base for medication uses of all classes in this field.

11:00 AM–12:00 NOON
Gay and Lesbian Interest Group

12:00 NOON–3:00 PM
Caregiver Roundtable Health Policy Discussion
(INVITED PARTICIPANTS)

12:00 NOON–1:30 PM
Scholars Mentoring Lunch
(INVITED PARTICIPANTS—FOR ASSIGNED MENTORS AND TRAINEES)

12:30 PM–2:30 PM
Lunch Symposium—TBA

1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Poster Viewing Session

2:30 PM–3:30 PM
Disaster Preparedness Task Force

2:30 PM–3:30 PM
Nominations Committee
(CLOSED MEETING)

2:30 PM–3:30 PM
VA Caucus

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Illness Experiences and Pathways to Care for Older Men with Depression: Preliminary Results from a Mixed-methods Study in Primary Care

Chair: Ladson Hinton, MD

Faculty: Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA
Judith Barker, PhD
Carolina Varano, PhD

Older men are less likely to receive depression care yet very little is known about the barriers or facilitators of depression care in older men. This panel presents preliminary findings from an ongoing NIMH funded mixed-method study of depression experience and pathways to care among older white non-Hispanic and Mexican-American men.

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Research Awards Paper Session
Sponsored by the AAGP Research Committee

This year, AAGP will feature presentations at a single session by all three Research Award winners, providing an opportunity to hear from one of the field’s most eminent scientists and two of the most promising junior researchers:

• The 2010 AAGP Distinguished Scientist Award, which is based on the body of original scientific works accomplished during the course of a career as well as mentorship of the careers of successful contributing junior researchers in the field of geriatric psychiatry.
• The Barry Lebowitz Early Career Scientist Award, presented for the best original research paper submitted by a scientist in a fellowship or holding an academic rank no higher than assistant professor.
• The Member-in-Training Research Award, presented for the best original research primarily performed by a medical student, resident, or fellow.

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Electroconvulsive Therapy: Optimizing Outcomes for the Seriously Depressed Geriatric Patient

Chair: Charles Kellner, MD

Faculty: William McDonald, MD
Georgios Petrides, MD

Discussant: Robert Greenberg, MD
Shawn McClintock, PhD

This session will provide clinicians with an update of current techniques in ECT with special relevance to the elderly patient.

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Neuroscience Advances in the Study of Late-Life Depression

Chair: Jovier Evans, PhD

Faculty: Warren Taylor, MD
Gretchen Neigh, PhD
Howard Aizenstein, MD, PhD

This symposium will highlight research encouraged and supported by the Translational Neuroscience program of the NIMH Geriatrics Research Branch. In addition, this session will feature ongoing work that focuses on neurobiological investigations that feature possibilities for translational research. This work would highlight the current emphasis of the NIMH on biomarkers and biological discovery.

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Pain, Palliative Care and End of Life Issues in Psychogeriatric Patients: A Primer

Chair: Jothika Manepalli, MD

Faculty: Veerainder Goli, MD
George Grossberg, MD

This symposium will address the growing problems of pain management, palliative care and end of life issues. This session will highlight key issues of assessment of pain in the presence of cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety and discuss pharmacological and behavioral strategies in the management of pain. The needs of end-stage dementia patients and their caregivers and the challenges of surrogate management such as healthcare proxy, living will, and code status will be addressed.

2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Aging Services Network Providers: Partners in Mental Health Care for Seniors

Faculty: Yeates Conwell, MD
Jo Anne Sirey, PhD
Mark Snowden, MD, MPH

This session will consider the role that the Aging Services Network (ASN) might play in improving late-life mental health care, offering examples of programs implemented in that setting that target mentally ill older adults.

4:00 PM–6:00 PM
Poster and Exhibit Hall Reception
(POSTER AUTHORS PRESENT)

4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Ethnic Minorities Interest Group

4:00 PM–5:00 PM
Public Policy and Communications Committee Meeting

4:00 PM–5:30 PM
GMHF Scholar Donors Reception
(INVITED PARTICIPANTS—FOR DONORS TO THE GMHF SCHOLARS PROGRAM)

4:30 PM–6:00 PM
Lifelong Substance Abuse and the Management of Comorbid Medical Illness

Chair: Louis Trevisan, MD

Faculty: Juan Carlos Cleves-Bayon, MD
Paulo Correa, MD

This symposium will take the form of an interactive workshop and will review the recognition, assessment and evidence-based treatment of lifelong substance abuse and comorbid medical illness in the outpatient clinic and geriatric clinic setting. Videotape of clinician-patient interaction and interactive lecture will be used to stimulate discussion among participants about the identification, assessment and treatment of lifelong substance-abusing elderly patients as well as learning the co-management of their often severe medical problems. Content will include discussion of prevalence, evidence-based screening and assessment techniques and evidence-based psychosocial and pharmacological treatment techniques.

4:30 PM–6:00 PM
Promising New Psychotherapy Practices for Positive Aging

Chair: Mariko Foulk, LMSW, ACSW

Faculty: Lynn Stern, LMSW, ACSW
Mary Rumman, MSW
Berit Ingersoll-Dayton, MSW, PhD

Discussant: Helen Kales, MD

This will be a dynamic and interactive session intended for practicing clinicians. The session will expose participants to promising new psychotherapy practices for older adults including: mindfulness, forgiveness and “Positive Aging.” Research to date will be summarized and case vignettes will be used to illustrate impact in older adults with depression and anxiety.

4:30 PM–6:00 PM
Electronic Medical Records in Modern Medicine: Bane, Bonus, or Both with a Focus on Psychiatric Practice
Sponsored by the AAGP Clinical Practice Committee

Chair: Maureen Nash, MD, MS

Faculty: Henry Desmarais, MD, MPA

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other federal forces are moving towards requiring Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in all healthcare systems over the next few years. This session will examine how such systems work, potential benefits for patients and providers, how these apply to psychiatric practice and the challenges in implementing and operating these systems.

6:30 PM–9:00 PM
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation Fundraiser: “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration”
(TICKETED EVENT)

The Foundation’s annual fundraising event will be a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah. Savannah is home to the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the country and the GMHF will bring some of the Irish festivities to the AAGP meeting. Guests will enjoy a traditional Irish buffet (along with some southern delicacies) and be entertained by Irish musicians, singers, and dancers. Support the work of the GMHF by attending this March 6th event. Purchase your tickets when you register for the Annual Meeting. Adults: $75. Children ages 4–12 accompanied by a ticketed adult: $30.