Drs. Liwski and Parker present at Patient Safety and Risk Management Meeting
December 2017
At this year’s Pennsylvania Psychiatry Society Patient Safety and Risk Management Meeting, Drs. Kathy Liwski and Matthew Parker (PGY-2 residents) presented an intriguing and novel case-report poster regarding the role social media plays on adolescents and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. Their presentation earned them a third place prize. They hope to continue researching and possibly help implement future changes surrounding this relevant topic.
Dr. Shelly Co Published in AJP Residents’ Journal
November 2017
Congratulations to Dr. Shelly Co, second-year Drexel Psychiatry resident, who recently published the lead article in the November 2017 American Journal of Psychiatry’s Residents’ Journal. The title of the article was "The Supreme Court, Child Abuse, and the Role of the State." Dr. Co's article focused on the unfortunate case of DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, a case in which county and state officials allowed a child abuse victim to be returned to his abuser, at which point the victim was grievously injured by the abuser. The lawsuit filed with the Supreme Court argued that the state's failure to protect the child constituted a violation of the Due Process Clause, but the Court found that this was not true. In essence, “There was no constitutional duty for states to protect child abuse victims, however individual states may establish their own laws to define state responsibility to the victims of child abuse.” Dr. Co pointedly illustrates what she perceives as the flaws of this case and raises the question of what role the state take on, along with its accountability for “what happens next” once mandated reporting of child abuse has taken place.
Awards at Benjamin Rush Gala
November 2017
The Philadelphia Psychiatric Society held the 118th annual Benjamin Rush Gala on November 10, 2017. This event is held to honor those who have significantly contributed to the field of psychiatry, specifically within Philadelphia. Awardees are nominated by their peers and mentors. This year one former Drexel chief resident, Dr. Fran Smith (Class of 2017), and one current PGY-3 resident, Dr. Mark Messih, received the Resident Achievement Award and Resident Research Award, respectively.
The Resident Achievement Award is given to a resident who has demonstrated exemplary achievement within Philadelphia. During his time at Drexel, Dr. Smith was dedicated to promoting mental health awareness within the LGBTQ community. After being inspired and moved by his first clinical transgender patient, he spent his third and chief years developing the first psychiatric LGBTQ colloquium. Not stopping there, he was integral in developing citywide strategies to aid physicians and psychiatrists working with the LGBTQ community.
The Resident Research Award is given to a resident who is the primary author of a research paper suitable for publication. Dr. Messih’s innate writing talent, thirst for learning and interest in qualitative research deservingly received this award. During his three years at Drexel, he has had notable articles published discussing the LGBTQ community, refugee populations, and underserved communities.
Drexel Residents Attend PPS Residents’ Night
September 2017
Drexel was well represented at Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society Residents’ Night. The event took place at Bourbon Blue in Manayunk on September 13, 2017. Residents, medical students and faculty from the various psychiatric training programs interacted and provided a forum for open discussion. Drs. Dimal Shah (PGY-2), Julian Artunduaga (PGY-1), Travis Dichoso (PGY-1), Sarita Metzger (PGY-1) and Michael Pelekanos (PGY-1) were in attendance.
Drs. Mangiardi and Thangaraj Attend DevelopMental Leaders Retreat
August 2017
The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society hosted a leadership seminar in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from August 4 – 5, 2017. Drs. Thangaraj and Mangiardi were selected to attend. The meeting consisted of various discussions and hands-on workshops regarding health care issues.
2nd Annual LGBT Symposium
July 2017
The second annual Drexel Psychiatry LGBT Symposium was held on July 12, 2017, at Friends Hospital. This symposium was organized by two of Drexel’s Psychiatry Residents, Drs. Mark Messih (PGY-3) and Philip Arellano (PGY-2).
The keynote speaker was Dr. Richard Limoges, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Drexel University. Dr. Limoges has been practicing and advocating for the LGBT community for over two decades. He humbly honored the audience by presenting his personal and professional endeavors and struggles trying to promote awareness within the psychiatric and medical community about the importance of understanding and supporting members of the LGBT community. His storytelling abilities took the audience through historic time periods when LGBT people were dismissed and shunned to a now more accepting time, where shifts in attitudes within psychiatry, medicine and the general population have occurred.
In addition, Drs. Sarah Nobel, attending physician at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and Zachary McClain, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine, provided vital information regarding the role of psychiatrists in aiding this community. Dr. Nobel laid out the framework and current standards of mental health care for gender non-conforming individuals. Dr. McClain discussed the topic of medical care for gender variant youth. Both physicians have been leaders within this community, establishing well-known clinics for LGBT adults and adolescents, respectively.
Drs. Messih and Arellano ended the day with a review of the highlights and information learned from the professionals and future goals within the LGBT community and the field of psychiatry.
Drs. Aditya Pawar and Aarya Rajalakshmi Recently Published
July 2017
Drs. Aditya Pawar and Aarya Rajalakshmi recently contributed to two published articles. Dr. Pawar was involved with a review of digitally assisted parent training programs (DPTs) targeting the treatment of children and adolescents with disruptive behaviors. Dr. Rajalakshmi was involved with a case report of a clozapine-stabilized, treatment-resistant bipolar disorder patient with ovarian carcinoma requiring chemotherapy.
“Technology-Assisted Parent Training Programs for Children and Adolescents With Disruptive Behaviors: A Systematic Review”
Baumel A, Pawar A, Mathur N, Kane JM & Correll CU
J Clin Psychiatry. doi: 10.4088/JCP.16r11063, PMID: 28493653 (2017)
“Use of clozapine alongside chemotherapy in a treatment-resistant bipolar disorder patient with ovarian carcinoma: A case report and brief review”
Pakhre A, Krishnan A, Pattanayak RD & Khandelwal SK
Indian J Psychiatry, 58(4), 462-466. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.196711, PMID: 28197007 (2016)
2017 Graduation
June 2017
June 8, 2017, marked the graduation of Drexel’s Adult and Child Psychiatry Residency/ Fellowship Program Class of 2017. The ceremony took place at Tedenza Hall. During this momentous event, friends, family members, co-residents and professors gathered to recognize the individual and collaborative achievements of this class. For most of the graduates, their education continues with fellowship training, while others have chosen to delve directly into the psychiatric inpatient/outpatient profession (see Recent Graduate Placement).
Many residents, faculty and staff were recognized for their contributions within the program regarding community outreach, academics, didactics, medical student outreach and more. Drs. Manoharan, Divakarla, Smith, Pandhi and Zaveri were recognized for their service as chief residents and fellows, and for taking on the responsibility of overseeing and advocating for the entire residency program class, as well as mediating interactions between residents and attendings.
Below are the additional awards given in order of program year:
First-Year Residency
Dr. Rajalakshmi: Excellence in Journal Club Presentation
Second-Year Residency
Dr. Thangaraj: Excellence in Medical Student Teaching
Dr. Vulas: Excellence in Consultation & Liaison Service
Dr. Mangiardi: Excellence in PMCU Service
Dr. Messih: Excellence in Scholarly Activity
Third-Year Residency
Dr. Rowan: Excellence in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Taormina: Excellence in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Ayub: Excellence in Scholarly Activity
Fourth-Year Residency
Dr. Divakarla: Excellence in Teaching
Dr. Manoharan: Excellence in Resident Wellness
Dr. Hicks-Black: Excellence in Community Service
Dr. Smith: Excellence in Diversity
The residents also recognized the following staff from Hahnemann University Hospital, Northwest Human Services, the 1427 Vine Street Clinic, Abington Memorial Hospital and Friends Hospital:
- Ms. Fields
- Ms. Moyer
- Mr. Kelly
- Ms. McCarthy
- Mr. D’Arco
- Dr. Magnani
- Dr. Patnaik
- Dr. Fallon
- Dr. Bedrick
- Dr. Waheed
- Dr. Oluwabusi
2017 APA Annual Meeting
May 2017
Drexel was well represented at this year’s American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in sunny San Diego, California. Six residents exhibited their work in the Medical Student/Resident Poster Competition. Congratulations to the following:
PGY-2:
Mark Messih, MD
Swaminathan Thangaraj, DO
PGY-3:
Charles Wisniewski, DO
Shahana Ayub, MD
PGY-4:
Francis Smith, MD
Swati Divakarla, MD
Residents Attend Annual Retreat
May 2017
Once a year, each subspecialty affords residents the opportunity to get together to share experiences and partake in team-building exercises. This year the psychiatry residency class retreated to the remote parts of the Poconos. There is always uncertainty in combining 20 plus distinct characters in one location for consecutive days. However, with uncertainty comes excitement and new enriching possibilities. During this retreat each event – whether it was blindfolded games or more serious discussions regarding didactics – had a purpose:
- To strengthen the ties among residents and between classes
- To create a judgement free environment promoting new ideas
- To analyze the strengths and weakness of the program
- To assess how to implement new strategies.
Dr. Mikal Hicks-Black Works with the Broad Street Ministry
April 2017
Dr. Mikal Hicks-Black organized a community service event for a group of residents to go to the Broad Street Ministry. There were 10 in total who participated in serving local individuals struggling with homelessness in the city of Philadelphia. This is an organization that we have also provided with clothing donations and supplies in the recent winter months. During that day, residents from psychiatry, neurology and internal medicine attended and help serve.
2017 Colloquium of Scholars
April 2017
Philadelphia Psychiatric Society's 'Colloquium of Scholars' was held at the College of Medicine's Queen Lane Campus. The following Drexel residents submitted posters:
PGY-1: Aditya Pawar, MD; Aarya Rajakshmi, MD; Dimal Shah, MD; Katarzyna Liwski, DO; Phillip Arellano, MD
PGY-2: Abena Apraku, MD; Damira Vulas, MD; Mark Messih, MD; Mario Mangiardi, MD; Swaminathan Thangaraj, DO, Yasmin Mohabbat, MD
PGY-3: Shahana Ayub, MD
Dr. Swati Divakarla was one of eight residents nationally to receive the "Resident Recognition Award for Excellence in Family Oriented Care" for 2017 - being awarded by the Association of Family Psychiatrists. Aditya Pawar, MD, Aarya Rajakshmi, MD, and Katie Newton, DO, were the Drexel representatives for the Mind Games competition. They finished in an impressive 2nd place.
Dr. Mark Messih Wins Honorable Mention in Writing Contest, Presents at Meeting
March 2017
Dr. Mark Messih participated a recent writer's contest organized by The Psychiatric Times, and won an honorable mention. This was a writing contest in which readers were invited to write about a single patient who made them a better psychiatrist. Mark also presented a poster on Wellness at this year's AADPRT meeting. This poster was also submitted to Academic Psychiatry in the format of a letter to the editor. We are also eager to see his next publication very soon: "Psychiatry and LGBT Patients: How Can We Do 'Better'?" in the American Journal of Psychiatry Resident's Journal (in press).
Dr. Shahana Ayub Publishes, Presents
March 2017
Dr. Shahana Ayub co-authored a review article titled "Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuropsychiatric Complications" in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. She is also working with Dr. Donna Sudak on a manuscript that is expected to be published soon. She will present two posters at APA this May.
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