By Albert J. Arias, MD
PSV President
VCU Health Systems
Richmond, VA
We are thrilled to announce the Psychiatric Society of Virginia’s highly anticipated Fall Meeting, which will be held on October 20-21, 2023, at the Hilton Downtown Richmond. This educational conference is dedicated to promoting resilience through innovation, collaboration, and motivation.
The Fall Meeting aims to equip psychiatrists with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the challenges faced by our patients in their daily lives. With a cross-cutting theme centered around the current “culture wars,” we will explore how politics, leaders, and the media impact the well-being of our patients and delve into strategies for helping them thrive and be resilient.
We are pleased to present an exceptional lineup of renowned speakers who will share their expertise and insights on various pivotal topics in psychiatry. The speakers for the Fall Meeting are as follows:
Friday, October 20, 2023
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Gun Violence by Dr. A. Bela Sood
Bella Sood, MD, is a highly accomplished psychiatrist with a strong dedication to mental health advocacy and policy development. She has held various influential positions, including serving on the State Board of Social Services and as a mental health expert on the blue-ribbon panel investigating the VA Tech massacre. Dr. Sood actively participates in statewide initiatives and councils, championing the involvement of families in child mental health policy and promoting workforce initiatives. Her special interests lie in reducing stigma, outcomes research, mood disorders, ADHD, and improving access to mental health care through innovative approaches like telemedicine. Dr. Sood’s contributions have been recognized with multiple awards and accolades.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
8:00 am – Leadership Analysis and the Impact of Politics, Leaders, and the Media on Patients’ Daily Lives by Dr. Kenneth Dekleva
Kenneth Dekleva, MD, is a Professor and the McKenzie Foundation Endowed Chair in Psychiatry I at UT Southwestern Medical Center. With expertise in adult psychiatry, he serves as Director of Psychiatry-Medicine Integration and Associate Director of the Psychiatry Clinic. Dr. Dekleva is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has a diverse range of clinical interests, including integrated care, global telemedicine, leadership analysis, and medical diplomacy. He has held esteemed positions, received numerous honors, and contributed extensively to the field through lectures and published works. Dr. Dekleva is a distinguished psychiatrist and an esteemed speaker at our upcoming Fall Meeting. With a wealth of experience and expertise in the field, Dr. Dekleva is known for his insightful analysis of leadership dynamics and the impact of politics, leaders, and the media on the daily lives of our patients.
8:45 am – Supporting Health and Wellness among Transgender Individuals: What Role Can Psychiatrists Play? by Dr. Jeremy Kidd and Zakia McKensey
Jeremy Kidd, MD, is an addiction psychiatrist and health disparities researcher with over 15 years of experience. He has dedicated his career to improving health outcomes for LGBTQ+ populations, focusing on substance use disparities. Dr. Kidd holds an MD from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MPH from Boston University, where he worked under the mentorship of experts in addiction and LGBTQ+ mental health. As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, he is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. In addition to his research, Dr. Kidd serves as an attending psychiatrist in the Washington Heights Community Service and actively contributes to training efforts for affirming healthcare for LGBTQ+ patients.
Zakia K. McKensey, a native of Richmond, Virginia, is a highly experienced professional in HIV prevention and education with over 15 years of dedicated work. As a certified HIV Test Counselor, Prevention Educator, and Advocate, she has made significant contributions to the field. Zakia’s accomplishments include implementing the pioneering Transgender Clinic program and linking HIV-positive individuals and those infected with STIs to essential care and support services. She aims to make a positive impact on the Transgender and LGBTQ+ community by providing education on STIs and HIV, while also striving to eliminate the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
9:45 am – Telepsychiatry by Dr. Varun Choudhary and Abby Worthen, APA
Varun Choudhary MD, MA, DFAPA is a Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist who has worked in the mental health industry for over 19 years providing care to patients in the public sector, correctional arena, private practice, and community-based settings. He has been a consultant to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Virginia and is currently the Governor appointed Psychiatrist to the state Behavioral Health Board. Dr. Choudhary has been a practicing Tele-psychiatrist since 2006 and has helped create and develop Telehealth departments in two different companies in the past. He began his managed care career with Magellan Health in 2013. He is active in policy, legislation, and advocacy issues within behavioral health.
Ms. Worthen is the Deputy Director of Digital Health at the American Psychiatric Association. Her work focuses on behavioral health equity, access, and quality through regulatory policy and strategy for technology-enabled mental health care. Previously, she has held roles in international, federal, state, and nonprofit agencies at the intersection of population health and health care policy and practice. Ms. Worthen holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado, Denver and a BA in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania.
1:45 pm – Gender Health and Affirming Care: A Collaborative Approach by Dr. Catherine Casey and Dr. Elena Herndon
Catherine Casey, MD, is an experienced associate professor of family medicine at UVA, specializing in LGBTQ health. She played a key role in establishing UVA Health’s adult transgender clinic and is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for LGBTQ patients. Dr. Casey’s commitment to family medicine extends to teaching and mentoring students and residents, continuously expanding her knowledge and skills. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her son and indulging in the New Yorker magazine.
Dr. Elena F. Herndon, MD, is an Assistant Professor at UVA’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Washington University and her medical degree from UNC School of Medicine. With a background in private practice, Dr. Herndon is now a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult psychiatric disorders, particularly mood and anxiety disorders. She primarily works as a psychiatric consultant to the Department of Family Medicine, providing evaluations, consultations, and treatment recommendations while also teaching and consulting with family medicine residents and faculty members.
2:30 pm – Trauma and Resilience by Dr. Kara Beatty and Anne McDonnell
Kara Keuthan Beatty, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in Brain Injury Medicine. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Texas A&M University before attending medical school at the University of Texas, Houston Medical Center. During her residency at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she served as chief resident, she developed a passion for Richmond and its offerings. After residency, she pursued fellowship training in Brain Injury Medicine. Dr. Beatty practices general psychiatry at Resilience Health, with a focus on providing specialized psychiatric care for patients with traumatic brain injury or stroke. She is actively involved in various volunteer activities, including serving on the Board of Directors for Community Brain Injury Services (CBIS) and holding leadership positions in professional psychiatric societies. Additionally, she serves as adjunct faculty for the VCU Department of Psychiatry.
Anne McDonnell is the former Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia.
Altogether, we have gathered a talented and diverse group of faculty members who will provide a comprehensive and enlightening educational experience. Each presentation is designed to help you better understand the confounding factors that impact our patients and equip you with effective strategies to enhance patient care.
