Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

2026 Sessions

Integrative Psychiatry Intensive: Systems-Level Biology and Lifestyle Factors Transforming Psychiatric Practice

<b>*Additional fees apply and pre-registration is required.*</b><br><br>This year’s Integrative Psychiatry Intensive is designed as a clinically grounded primer for the modern psychiatric clinician, focusing on evidence-based integrative strategies that complement and enhance contemporary psychopharmacologic care. As psychiatric treatment increasingly moves toward whole-person models, clinicians must understand not only how medications work, but how nutrition, metabolism, sleep, and physiologic regulation can be strategically integrated to optimize mental health outcomes.<br><br>Through four focused, expert-led sessions, this intensive will review foundational mechanisms, emerging evidence, and practical clinical considerations across core domains of integrative psychiatry. Sessions will examine nutritional psychiatry, metabolic approaches to mood and energy regulation, sleep optimization as a foundational treatment target, and temperature-based interventions that influence stress physiology and emotional resilience. Emphasis will be placed on translating integrative science into real-world clinical decision-making, helping attendees build a cohesive framework that aligns with and strengthens standard psychiatric treatment.<br><br>Each session will include time for interactive discussion and clinical Q&A, ensuring attendees leave confident and prepared to thoughtfully incorporate integrative strategies into patient care.<br><br><b>Topics to Be Covered</b><br>1. Temperature-Based Interventions: Thermoregulatory Influences on Mood and Mental Health - Charles L. Raison, MD<br> An introduction of temperature-based approaches and their relevance to psychiatric care. This session will examine how controlled heat and cold exposures influence stress physiology, mood regulation, and emotional resilience, along with emerging evidence and practical considerations for integrating thermoregulatory strategies into integrative psychiatric treatment.<br><br>2. Sleep Optimization in Psychiatry: Mechanisms, Health Impact, and Clinical Integration - Ashley E. Mason, PhD <br>This presentation will review common sleep myths, the definition of clinical insomnia, and provide an overview of four high-impact, evidence-based, low- and no-cost, rapid strategies that can be integrated within psychiatric care to improve sleep. <br><br>3. Nutritional Influences in Psychiatry: Biological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications - James Greenblatt, MD <br>A summary of how nutrition and micronutrient status influence brain function, mood regulation, and psychiatric outcomes. This session will explore the role of specific nutrients and dietary patterns in supporting neurotransmitter synthesis, neuronal resilience, and emotional well-being, along with evidence-based guidance for integrating nutritional strategies into comprehensive psychiatric care.<br> <br>4. Metabolic Regulation and Brain Function: Pathways Linking Energy Balance and Mood - James Greenblatt, MD<br>A focused overview of how metabolic processes and diet patterns influence brain function and psychiatric outcomes. This session will explore mechanisms linking energy metabolism, nutritional states such as ketosis, neuronal resilience, and mood regulation, along with emerging clinical evidence and considerations for integrating metabolic strategies into comprehensive psychiatric care.

Speaker

Tuesday, September 15 9:00–12:00 PM
Room Great Hall B
Integrative Psychiatry
Steering Committee

James Greenblatt

MD
Founder and Medical Director
Psychiatry Redefined

A pioneer in the field of functional and integrative medicine, board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, James M. Greenblatt, MD, has treated patients since 1988. After receiving his medical degree and completing his psychiatry residency at George Washington University, Dr. Greenblatt completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Dr. Greenblatt has lectured internationally on the scientific evidence for nutritional interventions in psychiatry and mental illness. He is the author of several books including Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD, Finally Hopeful and the upcoming book The Lithium Revolution.

He is the founder of Psychiatry Redefined, an educational platform dedicated to the transformation of psychiatry, which offers online courses, educational webinars, and fellowships for professionals. He is also the founder of Finally Living, a precision functional psychiatry clinic for children and adults. Please visit www.JamesGreenblattMD.com for more information.

Faculty

Ashley Mason

PhD
Associate Professor in Residence
University of California San Francisco

Ashley Mason, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Residence at the Weill Institute of Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Mason received her PhD from the University of Arizona, completed her resident training in behavioral medicine at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and completed a National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowship training at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health.

Dr. Mason has an active federally and philanthropically funded research program. She directs the Sleep, Eating, and Affect (SEA) Laboratory, which focuses on the development of novel mind and body treatments that address long-neglected targets in (1) mood disorders, principally clinical depression, (2) insomnia and sleep-related anxiety, and (3) reward-related behaviors, in particular, craving-related and compulsive overeating. She focuses on treatments that employ cognitive-behavioral processes and reward-based learning, as well as thermal therapies. She also has an active research area in firefighter health. Clinically, Dr. Mason directs insomnia treatment at the UCSF Osher Center, where she provides cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) to patients with insomnia and patients who want to quit using substances for sleep. She has published more than 85 peer-reviewed manuscripts and several handbook chapters, and her work has been featured in many news outlets, including NPR, AXIOS, and WIRED magazine.

To learn more about digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, check out the Rest App, which Dr. Mason advises. Clinician trials are available: https://getrest.app/for-clinicians

Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

Psychedelic Therapy After the Executive Order: Now What?

As psychedelic therapies gain visibility, clinicians are increasingly asked to interpret clinical research, evolving policy, and growing patient interest. This session provides a balanced, current view of the field, including a patient story that illustrates the lived experience of treatment. A targeted policy update focusing on what is known today and how existing frameworks may influence clinical practice in the immediate term. As well as a multidisciplinary panel of experts who will discuss the current state of psychedelics, offering practical insight to help clinicians navigate this evolving area of mental health care. 

Speaker

Tuesday, September 15 1:45–3:15 PM
Room Great Hall A
Faculty

Amber Capone

Co-Founder and CEO
VETS, Inc.

Amber Capone is a nationally recognized
leader, advocate, and changemaker in
veteran mental health and family resilience.
As Co-Founder and CEO of VETS, she
has built a globally respected nonprofit at the
forefront of expanding access to
psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans
suffering from post-traumatic stress and
traumatic brain injury.
Since co-founding VETS in 2019, Amber has
helped grow the organization into a highimpact force for change—raising millions in
funding, supporting more than 1,300 veterans, and advancing
critical research and policy initiatives across
the country. Under her leadership, VETS has
become a trusted voice in the national
conversation around mental health
innovation and veteran care.
Amber has played a pivotal role in advancing
legislative efforts, including the
Texas Ibogaine Initiative (TII). Her ability to unite
lawmakers, researchers, and veteran
advocates has helped drive meaningful
progress toward safe, regulated access to
emerging therapies.

In addition to her advocacy work, Amber continues to
expand VETS’ cultural and educational impact through
storytelling. She was instrumental in the production and
release of In Waves and War, a powerful documentary
project that premiered on Netflix and brings visibility to the
veteran healing journey and the potential of psychedelicassisted therapies.
A two-time honoree on Inc.’s Female Founders 500 (2025
and 2026), Amber is widely recognized for her visionary
leadership, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment
to those who have served. Her work is grounded in a
deeply personal mission—to ensure that veterans and their
families have access to the most advanced care available.

Faculty

Marcus Capone

Founder
VETS: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions

Marcus Capone is a visionary entrepreneur, health innovator, and decorated Navy SEAL on a mission to rewrite the future of mental health. A veteran of U.S. Special Operations, Marcus retired from active duty in 2013 after a distinguished career that included multiple combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, earning numerous combat awards with valor at SEAL Team Ten and the legendary SEAL Team Six, the world's premier counter-terrorism unit.

As Chairman and Co-Founder of VETS: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Marcus leads a national movement that's shattered stigma and paved new trails in evidence-based, alternative therapies for U.S. veterans. By championing groundbreaking solutions and policy reform, Marcus and his team have delivered over $145 million in funding, research, and hope, unlocking public and private funding for innovative brain health treatments, empowering thousands of veterans and families to access truly transformative care.

Building on this legacy, Marcus founded TARA Mind, where he serves as CEO, to bring advanced, science-backed mental health treatments to those who need them most. TARA Mind's elite nationwide network of integrative clinics, providers, and therapists is revolutionizing modern behavioral healthcare, working alongside visionary employers and healthcare systems to redefine wellness benefits and ensure breakthrough therapies are accessible across America. Marcus and his team have built a proprietary AI platform to raise the standard of care, focused on data-driven outcomes. His story and leadership continue to move the needle, driving new standards in mental healthcare and wellbeing for diverse communities both in the US and across the globe.

Co-Chair

Rakesh Jain

MD, MPH
Clinical Professor
Texas Tech - Permian Basin

Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, attended medical school at the University of Calcutta in India. He then attended graduate school at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, where he was awarded a “National Institute/Center for Disease Control Competitive Traineeship”. His research thesis focused on impact of substance abuse. He graduated from the School of Public Health in 1987 with a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree.

Dr. Jain served a three-year residency in Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He followed that by obtaining further specialty training, by undergoing a two-year fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In addition, Dr. Jain completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Research Psychiatry at the University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, in Houston. He was awarded the “National Research Service Award” for the support of this postdoctoral fellowship.

Steering Committee

Saundra Jain

MA, PsyD, LPC
Adjunct Clinical Affiliate, University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing;
Private Practice, Austin, Texas

Saundra Jain, MA, PsyD, LPC, is an Adjunct Clinical Affiliate in the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin and a psychotherapist in private practice. Dr. Jain is a co-creator of WILD 5 – A Proven Path to Wellness and co-author of The Science and Practice of Wellness: Interventions for Happiness, Enthusiasm, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO). She is the co-creator of the Psychedelics and Wellness Survey (PAWS), exploring the intersection between psychedelics and wellness. She is the co-host of the newly launched podcast Happy Human 3.0, which explores how modern humans can move beyond merely surviving 21st-century stressors and begin to flourish by integrating neuroscience, positive psychiatry, and compassionate, human-centered care.

In addition, Dr. Jain serves on the Psych Congress Steering Committee, helping guide educational priorities and identify emerging needs in mental health practice. She also teaches with Fluence Training, a leading provider of psychedelic education for mental health professionals, where she serves as faculty in their certification programs in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

Steering Committee

Andrew Penn

MS, PMHNP-BC
Clinical Professor / Director of Clinical Nursing Operations
University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing / Salma Health

Andrew Penn, MS, PMHNP is a Professor in the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing where his teaching has received the UCSF Academic Senate Distinction in Teaching Award, among other recognitions. Trained as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, he directs clinical nursing operations for Salma Health an early stage psychiatric interventional treatment clinical company. As a researcher, he has collaborated on psychedelics studies of psilocybin and MDMA in the Translational Psychedelics Research (TrPR) and the Carhart-Harris labs at UCSF. A leading voice in nursing, he is a cofounder of the Organization of Psychedelic and Entheogenic Nurses (OPENurses.org), advocating for the perspective of nurses in psychedelic therapy, he has published on psychedelics in the American Journal of Nursing, Frontiers in Psychiatry, The Journal of Humanistic Psychotherapy, and JAMA. An internationally invited speaker, he has lectured at SXSW, Aspen Health Ideas Festival, TEDx, the Singapore Ministry of Health, and Oxford University and can be found at Andrewpennnp.com.

Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

Faculty

Matthew Zorn

JD

MasterClass: Unlocking the Doors of Depression: Neuroplastic and Psychedelic Therapies in MDD

Advances in neuroplasticity research are reshaping the future of depression treatment. This session examines glutamatergic and serotonergic pathways, reviews the latest evidence surrounding investigational psychedelic therapies and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and discusses their potential role within the evolving treatment landscape for MDD.<br><br>Supported by an educational grant from AbbVie Inc.

Speaker

Thursday, September 17 10:15–11:45 AM
Room Great Hall A
Steering Committee

Andrew Penn

MS, PMHNP-BC
Clinical Professor / Director of Clinical Nursing Operations
University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing / Salma Health

Andrew Penn, MS, PMHNP is a Professor in the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing where his teaching has received the UCSF Academic Senate Distinction in Teaching Award, among other recognitions. Trained as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, he directs clinical nursing operations for Salma Health an early stage psychiatric interventional treatment clinical company. As a researcher, he has collaborated on psychedelics studies of psilocybin and MDMA in the Translational Psychedelics Research (TrPR) and the Carhart-Harris labs at UCSF. A leading voice in nursing, he is a cofounder of the Organization of Psychedelic and Entheogenic Nurses (OPENurses.org), advocating for the perspective of nurses in psychedelic therapy, he has published on psychedelics in the American Journal of Nursing, Frontiers in Psychiatry, The Journal of Humanistic Psychotherapy, and JAMA. An internationally invited speaker, he has lectured at SXSW, Aspen Health Ideas Festival, TEDx, the Singapore Ministry of Health, and Oxford University and can be found at Andrewpennnp.com.

Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Where the Evidence Stands Today and What Comes Next

Research in psychedelic psychiatry continues to advance rapidly, expanding both scientific understanding and clinical interest. This session will provide a current, evidence-based update on psychedelic-assisted therapies, reviewing recent clinical trial data, evolving regulatory developments, and emerging therapeutic indications. Faculty will examine advances across established and novel compounds, discuss safety and implementation considerations, and address ongoing controversies surrounding access and use. Emphasis will be placed on distinguishing validated clinical evidence from public enthusiasm, helping psychiatrists understand where the field stands today and how psychedelic therapies may realistically integrate into future psychiatric practice.

Speaker

Friday, September 18 3:45–4:45 PM
Room Great Hall A
Steering Committee

Andrew Penn

MS, PMHNP-BC
Clinical Professor / Director of Clinical Nursing Operations
University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing / Salma Health

Andrew Penn, MS, PMHNP is a Professor in the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing where his teaching has received the UCSF Academic Senate Distinction in Teaching Award, among other recognitions. Trained as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, he directs clinical nursing operations for Salma Health an early stage psychiatric interventional treatment clinical company. As a researcher, he has collaborated on psychedelics studies of psilocybin and MDMA in the Translational Psychedelics Research (TrPR) and the Carhart-Harris labs at UCSF. A leading voice in nursing, he is a cofounder of the Organization of Psychedelic and Entheogenic Nurses (OPENurses.org), advocating for the perspective of nurses in psychedelic therapy, he has published on psychedelics in the American Journal of Nursing, Frontiers in Psychiatry, The Journal of Humanistic Psychotherapy, and JAMA. An internationally invited speaker, he has lectured at SXSW, Aspen Health Ideas Festival, TEDx, the Singapore Ministry of Health, and Oxford University and can be found at Andrewpennnp.com.

Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

Inflammatory and Immune-Driven Depression: CRP, Biomarkers, and Anti-Inflammatory Treatment Pathways

Inflammation plays a meaningful role in depression for a subset of patients and evidence increasingly supports CRP-guided antidepressant selection. This session reviews inflammatory depression presentations, immune biomarkers, and the mechanisms connecting cytokines to mood disruption. Faculty will discuss anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies, glutamatergic modulation, microbiome-focused interventions, and lifestyle approaches targeting immune activity. Attendees will learn practical ways to evaluate inflammatory contributors and apply personalized treatment strategies based on emerging biological insights.

Speaker

Saturday, September 19 9:00–10:00 AM
Room Great Hall A
Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

Cultivating Clinical Wisdom in Deprescribing - Practical Considerations for Psychiatry

As patients remain on psychotropic medications for longer periods and treatment regimens become increasingly complex, psychiatric prescribers are frequently faced with difficult questions about when, why, and how to deprescribe. This session explores the clinical judgment required to balance potential benefits of medication reduction against the risks of relapse, withdrawal, and destabilization. Faculty will review practical approaches to identifying appropriate candidates for deprescribing, engaging patients in shared decision-making, and implementing safe tapering strategies across a range of psychiatric conditions. Participants will gain evidence-informed guidance for navigating deprescribing conversations and making thoughtful, individualized medication decisions in everyday practice.

Speaker

Saturday, September 19 2:45–4:00 PM
Room Great Hall A
Closing Session
Co-Chair

Rakesh Jain

MD, MPH
Clinical Professor
Texas Tech - Permian Basin

Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, attended medical school at the University of Calcutta in India. He then attended graduate school at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, where he was awarded a “National Institute/Center for Disease Control Competitive Traineeship”. His research thesis focused on impact of substance abuse. He graduated from the School of Public Health in 1987 with a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree.

Dr. Jain served a three-year residency in Psychiatry at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He followed that by obtaining further specialty training, by undergoing a two-year fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In addition, Dr. Jain completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Research Psychiatry at the University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, in Houston. He was awarded the “National Research Service Award” for the support of this postdoctoral fellowship.

Steering Committee

Saundra Jain

MA, PsyD, LPC
Adjunct Clinical Affiliate, University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing;
Private Practice, Austin, Texas

Saundra Jain, MA, PsyD, LPC, is an Adjunct Clinical Affiliate in the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin and a psychotherapist in private practice. Dr. Jain is a co-creator of WILD 5 – A Proven Path to Wellness and co-author of The Science and Practice of Wellness: Interventions for Happiness, Enthusiasm, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO). She is the co-creator of the Psychedelics and Wellness Survey (PAWS), exploring the intersection between psychedelics and wellness. She is the co-host of the newly launched podcast Happy Human 3.0, which explores how modern humans can move beyond merely surviving 21st-century stressors and begin to flourish by integrating neuroscience, positive psychiatry, and compassionate, human-centered care.

In addition, Dr. Jain serves on the Psych Congress Steering Committee, helping guide educational priorities and identify emerging needs in mental health practice. She also teaches with Fluence Training, a leading provider of psychedelic education for mental health professionals, where she serves as faculty in their certification programs in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration (PHRI) and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).

Steering Committee

Arwen Podesta

MD, DFAPA, DFASAM
Psychiatrist
Podesta Wellness

Boarded in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Forensic Psychiatry and Holistic & Integrative Medicine, Arwen Podesta MD works in Louisiana, with an office in New Orleans. She authored a book on addiction, HOOKED (available on Amazon, see her website, www.podestawellness.com). She was recently awarded the honor of distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatry Association as well as the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is the immediate past President of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association. She consults to the Louisiana governor’s HOPE committee and is a member of the Attorney General’s Opioid Abatement Taskforce. She is a national speaker, she teaches, consults and is an advocate for integrative best practices for those with addiction and psychiatric needs.

Steering Committee

Charles Raison

MD
Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles Raison, MD, is a Professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational Research for Usona Institute, as Director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center, Director of Research on Spiritual Health for Emory Healthcare and as Visiting Professor in the Center for the Study of Human Health at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on the examination novel mechanisms involved in the development and treatment of major depression and other stress-related emotional and physical conditions, as well as for his work examining the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training. More recently, Dr. Raison has taken a leadership role in the development of psychedelic medicines as potential treatments for major depression. He was named one of the world’s most influential researchers by Web of Science for the decade of 2010-2019 and has been honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Raison received the Raymond Pearl Memorial Award from the Human Biology Association “in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biocultural origins of mental health and illness.” Dr. Raison has also won the 2024 Emory University Science on Spiritual Health Torch and Trumpet Award “for a career devoted to the mental and spiritual health of humanity by responding and attending to suffering with a compassionate heart and a keen scientific mind.”

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