News

February 14 2014

Past Meetings in Greece, 2013

As usual there were many very successful meetings in Greece during 2013.

HAPA was involved in the following meeting:

In July 2013, Jeffrey Lieberman, MD President of the APA visited Athens Greece. HAPA worked with Professor Christodoulou on this visit. Dr Lieberman was welcomed by Professor Christodoulou who introduced Dr Lieberman to the leadership and members of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, HPA. as well as to the Department of Psychiatry. On July 2nd Dr Lieberman visited the Eginition University Psychiatric Hospital where he was the Grand Rounds speaker on “Prevention of Mental Illness: An Idea Whose Time has Come“. In appreciation for his presentation the Department of Psychiatry gave him a statuette of a figure of the geometrical period of Ancient Greek art and Professor Christodoulou gave him a copy of the book on Prevention edited by George Christodoulou, Dusica Lecic and Vasilis Kontaxakis.

December 10 2013

Greetings & Update from HAPA

Greetings from the Executive Committee of HAPA

As 2013 is coming to a close we wish you & your family a HEALTHY & ENJOYABLE Holiday.

We also wish to invite you to the 2014 15th HAPA Annual meeting in NYC in connection with the APA Annual meeting and ask for your support by renewing your membership or by becoming a new member.

The 14th HAPA Annual meeting in San Francisco was a great success. The presentations were outstanding.

The first presentation was by Professor Cassimatis, President and CEO of ECFMG & Chair of the Board of FAIMER. His talk was timely and instructive. His message was that the US is still setting the standards for medical education & care for the world medical community. Presently here in the US, the crisis in health care is also a challenge for us to live up to our own standards. The hope is that the US leadership in education and research based medical care will continue.

The second presentation was by Iannis Zervas, MD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Athens University School of Medicine. His presentation was very impressive. He detailed the results of 10 years work in addressing the mental health needs of women at the Eginition Psychiatric Clinic of the University Hospital in Athens, Greece. The level of research and care in his clinic was very high, effective and quite impressive. Hopefully his example will be implemented in all of Greece as the country’s economic troubles are resolved. You can see both of these presentations at our website: www.hellenic-psych.org.

For over 15 years, HAPA has been providing a forum where the academic, clinical & research work by Hellenic psychiatrists from the US, Greece and the Hellenic Diaspora can be shared and featured. Our meetings are educational, inspirational and promote networking. Presently, HAPA is considering the establishment of the HAPA Excellence in Psychiatric Education Award that will recognize outstanding achievements by psychiatric trainees of Greek origin from the US, Greece or the Diaspora during their training in any of the many accredited programs here in the USA. The HAPA Award will recognize exceptional work in any of the following areas: patient care, research, teaching and education or community involvement. Such an award will further HAPA’s mission of linking Hellenic psychiatrists of the US with those from Greece and the Diaspora. HAPA is also in the process of establishing the HAPA Foundation to raise much needed funding in support of its mission and is considering several other projects such as offering scholarships for medical education and postgraduate medical training as well as for the development of special programs in partnership with Greek communities to address mental health needs.

NONE of these goals can be achieved without YOU.HAPA needs YOU to grow. HAPA’s work has always been carried out by members of the Executive Committee on a volunteer basis with NO paid staff. There has been no fee increase since the founding of HAPA. HAPA is fully dues dependent for its existence. Pay your HAPA membership dues for 2014 on the HAPA website:

https://www.hellenic-psych.org/membership/pay-dues

(General Members $52.00, and Members-in-Training $27.00). We need you to renew. If not already a member, you can apply on the website by filling out the application & paying your dues.

Join us on Tuesday May 6th 2014 for the 15th HAPA Annual meeting in NYC. The HAPA meetings are also opportunities for good old Greek kefi and good food at a local restaurant, (Dutch treat) at the conclusion our business and educational parts of the program.
Join HAPA and become part of the growth of the only Hellenic psychiatric professional organization in the APA and the US. Contribute to HAPA and help us materialize our vision of HAPA as a link for the psychiatric community and as a resource for Hellenic communities in the US, Greece and Diaspora. YES together we can make a difference.

See you on May 6th in NYC,

Katina Matthews-Ferrari, MD, HAPA President 2011-2014
Maria T. Lymberis, MD, HAPA Founder & Past President

October 9 2013

Past HAPA Distinguished officer George S. Alexopoulos, MD receives Special Presidential Commendation

During the APA 57th Convocation of Distinguished Fellows May 20th 2013 San Francisco, CA

George-S-Alexopoulos This Special Presidential Commendation is awarded in recognition of Dr. Alexopoulos’ seminal contributions to research, training and clinical care in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Alexopoulos is the SP Tobin and AM Cooper Professor, Professor of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Vice Chairman for Geriatric Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He founded the Weill-Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry and still serves as its Director. He is also the Director for the NIMH-supported Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research in Geriatric Mood Disorders. Dr. Alexopoulos received his medical degree from the National University of Athens, in Greece. He was initially trained at New Jersey Medical School and completed his psychiatric residence at Cornell University Medical College, where he also had his research fellowship in Psychobiology. Dr. Alexopoulos has received four consecutive Center Grants from the NIMH as well as individual (R01) grants. He has been the Director of the T32 NIMH Research Fellowship in Geriatric Mood Disorders since 1989. Dr. Alexopoulos is the editor for the Western Hemisphere of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and is on the editorial board of other professional journals. Dr. Alexopoulos has received numerous awards including, the International College of American College of Geriatric Psychoneuropharmacology Research Award, the APA Greenberg Award, and the American College of Psychiatrists Geriatric Research Award.

May 24 2013

Dutch Treat Dinner at the H.A.P.A. 14th Annual Meeting

KokkariEstiatorio HAPA Dutch Treat Dinner

May 21st, 2013
8:45PM

Kokkari Estiatorio
200 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 981-0983

(between Front St & Battery St)
Neighborhood: Financial District

[googlemap width=”450″ height=”400″ address=”200 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111″]

www.kokkari.com

Welcome to Kokkari Estiatorio, a Restaurant that prepares the finest Hellenic cuisine; which is one of the many wonderful gifts that the ancient Greeks contributed to the modern world.

The origin of this cuisine, (so mythology tells us), began when Zeus planned his wedding banquet to celebrate his marriage to the Goddess Hera, on the island of Samos. Zeus commanded that Dionysos, the God of food and wine gather the world’s freshest, healthiest, and most savory ingredients and to prepare a banquet truly “fit for the God’s”. Zeus loved this food so much that he decided to share it with his beloved Greek mortals giving birth to this new cuisine.

At Kokkari Estiatorio, we prepare this Aegean cuisine in the style of innovative California faire. So please, come and join us for a truly memorable experience!

February 28 2013

Join us for the 14th Annual Meeting of H.A.P.A.

SanFrancisco February 2013

Greetings from HAPA

The HAPA Executive committee invites you to join us on May 21^th2013 for the 14^th Annual meeting of HAPA at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. This year HAPA is featuring two very special presentations. One from Greece on “The Women’s Mental Health Clinic at Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece: The first ten years” by Iannis Zervas MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Chief, Women’s Mental Health & Perinatal Psychiatry Clinic, Egintion Hospital, Athens, Greece. The other from the US by, Emmanuel Cassimatis MD, DFAPA, Professor of Psychiatry, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, USUHS, President and CEO President and CEO, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG); Chair, Board of Directors, Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). . His presentation, “Improving the quality of medical education worldwide: The contributions of ECFMG and FAIMER”. Both are timely and relevant as they are addressing some current central concerns.

The Hellenic American Psychiatric Association (HAPA) is the ONLY Hellenic psychiatric group in the APA promoting communication and addressing vital issues of interest to Greek or Hellenophile psychiatrists living in the US, Greece and in the Greek Diaspora. The Association meets annually on Tuesday evening at 6:00PM during the APA annual meeting. The executive committee of HAPA meets monthly via teleconference. All of HAPA business is on a volunteer basis mainly via the net. Currently, HAPA is in the process of establishing a foundation to fulfill its mission and advance its scientific and professional goals including the funding a post graduate fellowship to aspiring psychiatrists to further their professional development in any clinical or research special area of interest either in US or where ever their work is.

The HAPA business meeting follows the scientific presentation. A Dutch treat dinner at a gourmet restaurant with local flavors wraps up the evening in a relaxed enjoyable atmosphere. The annual meetings are exciting opportunities to see good friends, network, discover new friends and share cultural and professional experiences. Greek American psychiatrists need a home in the APA and HAPA is fulfilling that need. Join HAPA, or re-join HAPA. Become part of the growth of the only Hellenic psychiatric professional organization in the APA.

We urge you to join us in San Francisco. Renew your HAPA membership for 2013. HAPA membership dues are General Members $52.00, and $27.00 for Members-in-Training.

To register to attend, please complete this form then send in your payment.

H.A.P.A. 14th Annual Meeting Registration

See you in San Francisco,

Katina Matthews-Ferrari, MD, HAPA President 2011-2014

Maria T. Lymberis, MD, HAPA Founder, Past President

July 11 2010

Recent Publications by HAPA Members

Several HAPA members have recently published very worthwhile books or articles. The following are worthy of your attention:

1) Book by HAPA member Philip Candilis, MD

“Forensic Ethics and the Expert Witness”

By Philip J. Candilis, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA, Robert Weinstock, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA & Richard Martinez, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center/Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA Springer Publishing, New York 2010

From the cover of the book: “” The expert witness’ job is often described as a balancing act: duty to clients on the one hand, duty to society on the other. Forensic Ethics and the Expert Witness probes beyond the familiar conflict of interest/overlapping roles framework to present a new, innovative model of professional ethics. Richly illustrated with cases from medicine, psychiatry, and law, this elegantly written volume examines the common moral ground that links these usually separate domains, and relates forensic ethics to larger concepts of morality and justice. In this integrative approach, the expert witness is redefined as one who can balance professional with societal and personal codes in what the authors call ‘robust professionalism’.”

2)Book by HAPA member Petros Levounis, MD

“Handbook of Motivation and Change

A practical Guide for Clinicians”

By Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A. ,Bachaar Arnaout, M.D. APPI Press 2010.

To order: www.appi.org

From the cover of the book: “What a fun book! Levounis and Arnaout have assembled a wonderful collection of authors who present tons of evidence-based clinical science—and even more clinical wisdom—in an entertaining and engaging way. Reading the introduction and the first chapter makes you want to read more. Most physicians are contemplative or precontemplative about how they can motivate their patients to change unhealthy behaviors—this Handbook of Motivation and Change will prepare clinicians to ‘get into action’ applying these approaches to the benefit of people under their care.”

Handbook of Motivation and Change: A Practical Guide for Clinicians is a busy clinician’s guide to Motivational Interviewing. With a special focus on substance use disorders and addiction, this unique handbook equips readers with a full understanding of the Motivational Interviewing approach—an understanding that readers can flexibly apply to address patients’ issues of motivation and change even beyond substance use. The handbook is written by more than 20 practitioners of different psychotherapies who employ motivational work. This volume features a collection of case studies punctuated by movie references that illustrate discussed concepts, practical suggestions for treatment and trainee supervision, and summary key points and multiple-choice questions for readers. Authors focus on interventions ranging from psychopharmacology to support groups, zero in on the unique challenges of treating patients at various stages of their lives, examine how motivational work can change the culture of an organization and discuss the evidence base of this effective and compelling therapy. The practical reach of this handbook will appeal not only to the general psychiatrist but to family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, medical students, and allied professionals. More than a “how-to,” this book provides clinicians with expert insight and information that will help them meet their patients in the midst of the very real challenges of motivation and lasting change””.

We welcome other submissions

3) An article by HAPA member Nick Bouras, PhD

“A historical account of modern Hellenic Medical Diaspora”

N. BOURAS Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK

Archives of Hellenic Medicine 2009, 26(2):151–159

Summary

There has been an increasing interest in recent years on the Greek Diaspora. Very little is known, however, about the role of Greek physicians and biomedical scientists of the diaspora and their contributions. The physician of King Charles II was Greek and other very well known doctors of the diaspora included Adamantios Korais, pioneer of the Greek Enlightment, Iakovos Pyla?inos early contributor to the immunization of small pox, Constantine von Economo who described the encephalitis lethargica and George Papanikolaou the originator of the “pap-test”. The World Hellenic BioMedical Association was the first structured initiative to bring together the Hellenic BioMedical Diaspora in contemporary times. The First World Congress of the Hellenic Medical Diaspora was organised in Athens in 1990, in collaboration with the Athens Medical Society. Since then eight more World Congresses were organised in Athens, Cyprus and New York with the participation of many biomedical colleagues from Greece and many other countries all over the World. The Hellenic Medical Journal was also publishes for a while as well as two newsletters. This article presents the activities of the World Hellenic BioMedical Association from 1990 to 2008 and comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the overall endeavour.”