NJPA's 2020 Spring Conference
Psychiatry in 2020: Why Advocacy Matters

Program Overview
From treating patients affected by gun violence to helping refugees struggling in our healthcare system, the need for psychiatrists to engage in grassroots advocacy on public health issues has never been greater. This conference will focus on how such efforts can make a beneficial, lasting difference on our field and in our patients' lives. Dr. Debra Koss will open the day with some expert guidance on effective communications with legislators, explaining exactly how and when to access the APA and NJPA advocacy tool kits and how to build meaningful constituent relationships. Then we will delve into the two public health issues most likely to be prominent in 2020: gun violence and migrant health. First we'll hear from Dr. Stephanie Bonne, a trauma surgeon nationally recognized for her work on urban violence. Dr. Bonne will present a public health approach to preventing gun violence, with an emphasis on those components of the approach that can specifically be addressed by psychiatrists. On migrant health issues, our concluding speaker will be Dr. Suzan Song, an international expert whose work focuses on youth, family resiliency and stress from a clinical, advocacy and research perspective. Dr. Song will discuss a dimensional approach to understanding mental health issues for forcibly displaced people, and explore ways that psychiatrists can treat these patients using a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach. We expect you to leave our conference with new insights and greater confidence in your role as an advocate, armed with tools to improve patient care, provide an expert voice in your community and engage more effectively with lawmakers on these vital concerns.

Overall Desired Outcomes
This conference is designed to provide the attendee with new insights and greater confidence in the psychiatrist’s role as an advocate. We will provide tools to improve care, provide an expert voice in the community and engage more effectively with lawmakers on two of our society’s most pressing vital public health concerns: gun violence and mental health care for forcibly displaced persons.

Conference Agenda
7:30am
Registration · Breakfast · RFM Poster Contest · Vendor Visits

8:30am
The Importance of Physician Engagement in Mental Health Advocacy
Debra Koss, MD

9:35am
Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue
Stephanie Bonne, MD

10:40am
Break · RFM Poster Contest · Vendor Visits

11:10am
Crossing Borders: Mental Health Care and Advocacy for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Unaccompanied Minors
Suzan Song, MD

12:20pm
Q&A · RFM Best Paper & Poster Contest Award Ceremony

 • • • • • • • • • • • Attendee Benefits • • • • • • • • • • • •
Poster Contest
Support New Jersey's Resident and Fellow members as they present their research in the brand new NJPA poster contest.

Vendor Raffle
Enter into various vendor raffles by dropping your business card into their bucket.

Register Now!

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and New Jersey Psychiatric Association (NJPA). The APA is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation Statement
The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.