June 2013:

The IOL's Awards and Recognition Day Ceremony was held on June 11th

The Institute of Living held its annual Awards and Recognition Day ceremony on June 11, 2013, recognizing the accomplishments and dedication of many care givers at the IOL. Click here for the list of award recipients, including a description of the awards they received.

David F. Tolin, Ph.D., ABPP awarded research grant

Dr. David Tolin, Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center/Center for Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Stevens of the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, was awarded a $2.9 million research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. His 5-year project, "Neural Mechanisms of CBT Response in Hoarding Disorder," will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify mechanisms of response to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with hoarding disorder, and to use information gathered from fMRI data to refine CBT procedures to maximize their effectiveness. For more information, contact the Anxiety Disorders Center at 860-545-7685.

New networking group for early career professionals in psychology, psychiatry, and neurology

Dr. Mary Foster of the Division of Neuropsychology has begun a social and networking group for early career professionals in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and neurology. All doctoral-level staff in psychology, psychiatry, or neurology who have completed their training approximately within the past ten years are invited to join. A goal of this group is to facilitate professional connections between staff members with the intent to create opportunities for referrals, program development, and/or research collaboration. Please contact Dr. Foster at Mkfoster@harthosp.org for more information.

David F. Tolin, Ph.D., ABPP lectures at Nobel Forum

Dr. David Tolin, Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center/Center for Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, presented an invited lecture at the Nobel Forum in Stockholm, Sweden. This lecture was hosted by the Karolinska Institute, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious medical universities. His lecture, entitled "Science, Pseudoscience, and Mental Health Treatment," can be viewed at www.youtube.com/psychiatrylectures.

Harold I. Schwartz, MD invited to a conference at the White House

Dr. Schwartz was recently invited to represent Hartford Hospital at a mental health conference at the White House. This conference, which is the kickoff for the "national dialogue on mental health" took place on June 3, 2013 and included remarks by the President and the Vice President.

May 2013:

APA Presentations

IOL researchers made six presentations at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. The meeting was held in San Franciso, CA from May 18-22, 2013. Click here to view the titles of their presentations.

Harold I. Schwartz, MD was invited to participate at several recent events

On May 9th, Dr. Schwartz participated in "Refusing Violence in Our Cities: Stakeholder Discussion with Representatives Larcen, Esty and Mike Thompson at the Faith Congregational Church in Hartford. On May 10th, Dr. Schwartz provided expert testimony to the Field Hearing of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force at Hartford High School's Law and Government Academy (entered in the Congressional Record). Dr. Schwartz was one of only two invitees on the subject of mental health. Other participants were Governor Malloy, Mayor Segarra, Senators Leiberman and Murphy, Congressmen Larcen and Thompsen and Congresswomen DeLauro. And on May 16th, Dr. Schwartz was the featured guest speaker at the Salons at Stowe: the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Salon Series, speaking on "Mental Health: Stigmas, Stereotypes and Solutions".

Nursing Week Awards recipients

During National Nurses Week, several IOL staff members were presented with awards. The IOL's Director of Nursing, Ellen Blair, APRN, NEA, BC, received the Doris Armstrong Nursing Leadership Award and  Ray Lilburn, RN, BSN - D3N received the Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing. Other award recipients included:
The Linda Richards/June Long Awards for Nurses:

• Susan Olander, RN - D1N
• Greg Cukrowski, RN - D3N
• Laurie Lombardo, RN - D3S
• Elmedina Efendic, RN - D3N

The Dedicated to Caring Award for Psychiatric Technicians and PAAs:

• Rowena Mullings, PAA - D2S
• Ida Fisher, PT - D3S
• Semonea Virgo, PCA - D2N

IOL events to celebrate National Nurses Week

On May 1st, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and light refreshments served in the IOL Library from 2-4PM to celebrate the Dedication of the Annie Goodrich Room. On May 9th, during National Nurses Week, Dr. Barbara Wolfe, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Dean for Research at Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing was recognized as the second recipient of The Institute of Living's Annie Goodrich Distinguished Nurse Lectureship Award. The award was created to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments and rich legacy of Dr. Goodrich, who was consulting director of Nursing at the IOL from 1938-1941 and established its nationally famous postgraduate program in psychiatric nursing. Dr. Wolfe, a celebrated speaker, prolific writer, and nurse researcher, was chosen to receive this award because she exemplifies Goodrich’s values: excellence in scholarship, teaching, and in advancing the psychiatric nursing practice. Dr. Wolfe received the award after her presentation at the Annie Goodrich Distinguished Lectureship from 12-1:15PM in the Commons building. The title of Dr. Wolfe's presentation was “Neurotransmitter Regulation & Eating Behavior”.  A reception followed from 1:30-3:30PM in the Donnelly lobby. Click here for more information.

April 2013:

Ellen Blair and Christine Waszynski were recently published in Advances for Nurses

Co-authors Ellen Blair, APRN, NEA, BC and Christine Waszynski, APRN, MSN, GNP-BC were recently published in Advances for Nurses. Their article entitled: "A Multidisciplinary Approach to Fall Prevention in an Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Setting" was published in the April 2013 edition of Advances for Nurses.

March 2013:

Webb School students display their art in public

Recently the artwork of Webb School students has been getting some public display. In February, two items by students from the Webb School at Cheshire were included at the 2013 Art Slam at the Capitol Exhibit at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Art Slam is an exhibition of Pre-kindergarten to grade 12 student artists from public and private schools throughout CT. Then, during a Youth Art Month Celebration (March 4th-23rd), five more students from the Webb School at Cheshire displayed their works in a beautiful gallery space with young artists from across the state at West Woods Upper Elementary in Farmington. All of the IOL students' artwork in the exhibits were selected by their art teachers, members of the CT Art Education Association, to exemplify diverse styles and media. Many families, friends, and teachers attended the reception.

Dr. Laura Saunders to present at the True Colors conference on March 21st

On March 21, 2013, Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP, staff psychologist at the IOL/HH will present a Professional Best Practice Seminar at the True Colors conference on:  Coming Out and Self-Acceptance in Co-Occuring Mental Illness:  A Treatment Model. This evidence-based treatment model will serve as the foundation for a new IOP program in the Young Adult Service at the IOL to address the unique mental health needs of the LGBT community. True Colors organizes the largest LGBT youth conference in the country with more than 2000 attendees and manages the state’s only LGBT mentoring program. The conference is held at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. True Colors has been spotlighted by both national and local media for their expertise in LGBT youth issues, including most recently CNN. This ground-breaking organization works collaboratively with other social service agencies, schools, and within communities to ensure the needs of sexual and gender minority youth are recognized and competently met.

Dr. Paul Weigle to present at the Webb School's Breakfast Series on March 6th

The Grace Webb School's Breakfast Series Workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 from 7:45AM-10:00AM in the Hartford Room of the Commons Building at the IOL. Dr. Paul Weigle will be discussing the mental health effects of playing with video games. Click here to view the flyer and for registration information.

Hartford HealthCare Research News – March 2013 Issue

Click here to read the March issue of Hartford HealthCare Research News, the Research Program's monthly newsletter.

February 2013:

Anxiety Disorders Center/Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy News

An IOL research study investigating transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was featured in an article appearing in the New England Psychologist. Click here to view the article. This study is currently enrolling. For more information please contact Laura Bragdon, M.A. at (860) 545-7386.

Behavioral Health Network’s commercial to air on PBS during their Sandy Hook Series

One of the first official advertisements this year, on behalf of the Behavioral Health Network (BHN), which includes Natchaug, Rushford, IOL, HOCC and MidState, is scheduled to air on PBS during their upcoming series, “After Newtown”. PBS has announced plans to broadcast the weeklong series of documentaries and news specials surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, "After Newtown," from Monday, February 18th, thru Friday, February. 22nd. One of those specials, a psychological profile of the Sandy Hook gunman, Adam Lanza, was created by Frontline in collaboration with The Hartford Courant. When presented with the opportunity to create a TV commercial that would air during this series, the BHN was delighted to have the chance to showcase the BHN and the entities who comprise it. Click here to view the BHN's 30-second commercial.

Hartford HealthCare Research News – January/February 2013 Issue

Click here to read the January/February issue of Hartford HealthCare Research News, the Research Program's monthly newsletter.

January 2013:

Dr. Laura Saunders to start a monthly radio appearance on January 30th

Laura M. I. Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP, a board-certified clinical psychologist in Child & Adolescent Services at the IOL/HH will be starting a monthly segment on The Mary Jones Show on WDRC 1360am. The first segment is Wednesday, January 30th at 5PM. Mary Jones is a well known AM radio personality who has just gotten a new time slot - from 3PM to 6PM. Dr. Saunders got to know Ms. Jones after doing several radio interviews following the Sandy Hook tragedy. The focus of her segment will be psychoeducational, addressing developmental milestones, and parenting issues. Dr. Saunders will share some basic research findings and highlight some strategies to improve the quality of family life. The first topic will be: The Psychological Benefits of the Family Dinner. The alloted day/time of her segment is scheduled to be the last Wednesday of each month around 5PM.

IOL holds seminar on "Assessing Dangerousness" on January 18th

Each month at The Institute of Living, the child psychiatry Fellows meet with local psychiatrists, psychologists, attorneys, and judges for a seminar on forensic issues, with emphasis on the areas where psychiatry and the law intersect. This month’s scheduled topic was “Assessing Dangerousness”.  In light of the recent tragedy in Newtown and the current national debate, the scope of the class held on January 18th was expanded to include additional members of the community. The panel members included Dr. Harold I. Schwartz (Psychiatrist-In-Chief at the IOL, who was recently named to Governor Malloy’s Sandy Hook Advisory Commission), The Honorable Robert Killian, Jr. (Hartford Probate Court), Rosemary Baggish (Community Education Consultant at the IOL), and Dr. Laurie Singer (Director of Special Education Services for the Farmington Public Schools).

Drs. Schwartz and Bentman of The Institue of Living to serve on the Governor's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission

In the wake of the tragic mass shootings at an elementary school in Sandy Hook (Newtown), Connecticut, in which 26 students and teachers were murdered, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has appointed a commission to look into the issues of gun control, school safety, and mental health that touch on this tragedy. Dr. Harold I. Schwartz, Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Vice-President, Behavioral Health and Dr. Adrienne Bentman, Director of the Psychiatric Residency Program have both been appointed to serve on this critically important 16 member commission. The commission is expected to have an interim report by March 15th, in time to impact legislation in the current legislative session. A final report is expected to be issued in December, 2013.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Internship Track at The Institute of Living

The Anxiety Disorders Center is pleased to announce the addition of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Track to the pre-existing APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship at The Institute of Living. The CBT Track will be a one-year specialty track and is scheduled to begin September 2013. The track features a year-long part-time rotation at the Anxiety Disorders Center/Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ADC/CCBT; David F. Tolin, Ph.D., director) as well as additional rotations and electives with other departments including adult or adolescent inpatient services, young adult services, health psychology, schizophrenia rehabilitation, clinical neuropsychology, and clinical health psychology. The CBT Track will provide general training in Clinical Psychology with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy and evidence-based practice. Accordingly, training will focus on a practical integration of psychological science and practice. The track will serve as an integrated extension of the current internship and will promote the IOL's exceptional potential to serve as a national leader in education and training.

Inpatient Psychiatric Nursing: Clinical Practices and Practical Interventions won 2nd place AJN Book of the Year Award

Co-authors Ellen Blair, Karen Larsen, and Cynthia Belonick, who contributed two chapters to the textbook Inpatient: Psychiatric Nursing: Clinical Practices and Practical Interventions, were recently informed that the book won the second place American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year award in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing category.

APA Presentations

IOL researchers will make six presentations at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. The meeting will take place in San Franciso, CA from May 18-22, 2013. The titles and dates of these presentations are listed below.

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