Back to Faculty
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.

2026 Sessions

Advanced Psychopharmacology Intensive: Emerging Neurobiologic Targets and Metabolic Pathways Reshaping Psychiatric Treatment

<b>*Additional fees apply and pre-registration is required.* </b><br><br>This year’s Advanced Psychopharmacology Intensive is designed as a clinically grounded primer for the modern psychiatric clinician, focusing on emerging neurobiologic targets, metabolic pathways, and treatment strategies that are increasingly shaping real-world psychopharmacologic practice. As the field continues to expand beyond traditional monoaminergic models, clinicians must understand not only what new treatments exist but how novel systems are being leveraged to improve psychiatric outcomes.<br><br>Through four focused, expert-led sessions, this intensive will review foundational mechanisms, emerging evidence, and practical prescribing considerations for several rapidly evolving areas of psychopharmacology. Sessions will examine orexin pathways, glutamatergic and dopaminergic circuits, muscarinic receptor modulation, and bioenergetic and GLP-1–related pathways. Emphasis will be placed on translating neuroscience and systems-level biology into clinical decision-making, helping attendees build a strong conceptual framework that will support deeper learning throughout the remainder of the Psych Congress program.<br>
Each session will include time for interactive discussion and clinical Q&A, ensuring attendees leave confident and prepared to integrate these concepts into patient care.<br><br><b>Topics to Be Covered</b><br>1. Orexin-Based Emergent Treatments: New Targets for Wakefulness, Mood, & Attention - David T. Plante, MD, PhD<br>A primer on orexin neurobiology and its role in regulating arousal, sleep–wake balance, and emotional processing. This session will review mechanisms of action, emerging clinical applications, safety considerations, and how orexin-based treatments may fit into evolving psychiatric treatment strategies<br><br>2. Glutamate and Dopamine Brain Circuits: Novel Approaches for Mood, Anhedonia, and Wellness - Brittany Albright, MD and Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH <br>An introduction to treatments targeting glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems beyond traditional models. Attendees will explore foundational mechanisms, the neurobiology of reward and motivation, and the role of these pathways in symptoms such as anhedonia. This session will also review emerging clinical applications in mood and psychotic disorders and how circuit-level approaches are informing next-generation pharmacologic interventions. <br><br>3. Targeting Muscarinic Systems: Redefining Psychosis and Beyond - Greg Mattingly, MD<br>An overview of muscarinic receptor pharmacology and its expanding role in psychiatric treatment. This session will review the science behind muscarinic-based agents, emerging clinical data, tolerability considerations, and how these therapies may reshape future treatment paradigms.<br><br>4. GLP-1 Mechanisms and Bioenergetics: From Metabolism to Mood and Addictions - Brittany Albright, MD, MPH and Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH <br>A foundational review of bioenergetic principles and GLP-1–based treatments, examining how metabolic signaling intersects with brain function and psychiatric symptoms. This session will address mechanisms of action, clinical relevance, and practical considerations as these agents increasingly enter psychiatric conversations.

Speaker

Tuesday, September 15 9:00–12:00 PM
Room Great Hall D
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Steering Committee

Brittany Albright

MD, MPH
Founder and Medical Director of Multidisciplinary and Interventional Psychiatry Practice
Sweetgrass Psychiatry; Medical University of South Carolina

Brittany Albright MD, MPH is a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified psychiatrist with clinical expertise in interventional psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and obesity medicine. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at the nation’s top ranked program, Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital and a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she serves as an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Albright is the Founder and CEO of Sweetgrass Psychiatry, South Carolina’s largest physician-owned psychiatry practice with three locations.

Her research and academic work include numerous abstracts presented at national meetings and peer-reviewed manuscripts focused on innovative treatments and psychiatric education. A national speaker and consultant, she serves as President Elect of the South Carolina Psychiatric Association and holds multiple leadership roles with Psych Congress, including co-chair of Psych Congress Elevate and originator of the Private Practice Summit.

She firmly believes in collaborative, comprehensive treatment and the restoration of wellness in her patients and practices psychotherapy with expertise in mentalization based therapy and psychodynamic therapy. She also holds certifications in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

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.

Co-Chair

Gregory Mattingly

MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Washington University School of Medicine, Midwest Research Group, St. Louis, MO, United States

Dr. Mattingly is a physician and principal investigator in clinical trials for Midwest Research Group. He is also a founding partner of St. Charles Psychiatric Associates where he treats children, adolescents and adults. A St Louis native, he earned his medical degree and received a Fulbright scholarship while attending Washington University. Dr. Mattingly is board certified in adult and adolescent psychiatry and is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at Washington University where he teaches psychopharmacology courses for the 3rd year medical students. Dr. Mattingly has been a principal investigator in over 400 clinical trials focusing on ADHD, anxiety disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Having served on numerous national and international advisory panels, Dr. Mattingly has received awards and distinctions for clinical leadership and neuroscience research. Dr Mattingly is the President for APSARD-The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders and is on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Workd Federation of ADHD. Having served on the board of Headway House, a community support program and as a certifed evaluator for both the NFL and MLB, Dr Mattingly is firm believer in holistic mental health, education and advocacy.

Faculty

David Plante

MD, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison

David Plante, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also serves as the Medical Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness/Wisconsin Sleep and as the Program Director of the clinical sleep medicine fellowship. He completed residency in adult psychiatry at Massachusetts General/Mclean Hospital and fellowship in sleep medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He has served as the Chair of the ICSD-3 Text Revision Hypersomnolence Section Working Group and Chair of the Medical Advisory Board for the Hypersomnia Foundation. Dr. Plante is a clinician-scientist whose research focuses broadly on central nervous system disorders of hypersomnolence as well as the interface of sleep and neuropsychiatric disorders.

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

Out of the Darkness: Walking in Unity After Patient Loss

Suicide, overdose, and alcohol-related mortality are rising nationwide, leaving not only families but also clinicians carrying profound, often unspoken grief. This session, presented with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), offers a supportive space for health care professionals to acknowledge and process the loss of patients. Through poetry, narrative reflection, and collective remembrance, participants will honor those who have died while exploring evidence-based strategies for clinician healing, including WILD 5 wellness practices, peer support, mentorship, and rituals of remembrance. The session concludes with an invitation to join the “Out of the Darkness” Walk, affirming community, connection, and hope.<br><br>Session developed in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Speaker

Tuesday, September 15 6:30–7:30 PM
Room Great Hall B
AFSP Partner Session
Steering Committee Partner

Jill Harkavy-Friedman

PhD
Senior Vice President of Research
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Jill Harkavy-Friedman, PhD is the Senior Vice President of Research and leads the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s research program to advance the field of suicide prevention. AFSP's research program provides funding to research grants, offers workshops and training to researchers and disseminates research findings to increase public awareness and support advocacy in mental health and suicide prevention. With over 40 years of experience as a clinician and a researcher in the field of suicide prevention, she is passionate about translating research into practice, publishing over 130 peer-reviewed article and book chapters.

Dr. Harkavy-Friedman earned her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. She completed her internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital. In 1984, she joined Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, establishing the Adolescent Depression and Suicide Program which is currently still active. In 1989, she moved to Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute where she was an associate professor in the department of psychiatry until 2025. She joined the staff AFSP in 2011. She maintained a clinical practice in Manhattan for almost 40 years.

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.

Solving Clinical Challenges: Untangling Sleep Problems in Psychiatric Practice

Sleep complaints frequently complicate psychiatric care, yet clinicians often struggle to determine whether insomnia or hypersomnia reflects medication effects, primary sleep disorders, circadian disruption, trauma, or worsening psychiatric illness. This session uses real-world case examples to help clinicians differentiate psychiatric from sleep-driven symptoms, identify key diagnostic clues, and address treatment resistance when sleep disruption persists. Faculty will explore strategies for optimizing medication timing, integrating behavioral sleep interventions, navigating comorbid conditions such as pain or substance use, and deciding when to pursue sleep studies. Participants will gain actionable, case-based tools to improve sleep and stabilize overall psychiatric outcomes.<br><br>Session developed in partnership with the Sleep Research Society Foundation (SRSF).

Speaker

Wednesday, September 16 1:30–2:30 PM
Room Great Hall A
SRSF Partner Session
Steering Committee Partner

Philip Gehrman

PhD, CBSM, FAASM
Professor of Psychology
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Dr. Gehrman is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and a clinical psychologist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. He directs the Sleep, Neurobiology and Psychopathology lab at Penn. He has an active research program exploring the mechanisms and treatment of sleep and circadian dysregulation in the context of mental health disorders. Dr. Gehrman’s clinical specialization is on the delivery of cognitive behavioral and chronotherapeutic interventions for insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and other sleep disorders. The overarching goal of his work is to advance the understanding of the links between sleep and mental illness through translational research that spans biology to therapeutics.

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.

Faculty

Hara Oyedeji

DNP, PMHNP-BC, MSEd
Founder & Lead Clinician
Fortitude Wellness Group

Hara is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner currently working in outpatient care but has experience in inpatient and psychiatric hospital settings.
She serves as owner, clinician and clinical preceptor in her private group practice, Fortitude Wellness Group, and is the Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director of a CARFaccredited Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Greater Chesapeake Health and Wellness in Baltimore City. Hara completed her undergraduate degree at Rutgers University and her Master’s degree in education from Monmouth University in New Jersey. She completed her
Master’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland with her Post-Master's training as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner from Drexel University.

As a national speaker and Key Opinion Leader (KOL) she has presented on disease states and pharmacology for mental health. This includes clinical
perspectives of and approved treatment options for bipolar I and II disorders, as well as both oral and long-acting treatment options for schizophrenia at various conferences. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Psychiatric Nurse Association. She is also a sitting Board Member for the non-profit organization Abilities Network. Her areas of expertise include severe mental illness and psychotic disorders for high-risk populations, mood disorders, depression-related disorders, anxiety, trauma, and attention deficit disorder. She treats across the lifespan from children to adults and also provides medication-assisted treatment for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Hara is committed to health equity within mental health and psychiatry.

Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends in MDD

The landscape of depression research is rapidly evolving, with new discoveries in neurobiology, treatment innovation, and diagnostic frameworks reshaping clinical practice. This session will showcase research from the past year, featuring expert analysis alongside selected poster presenters unveiling emerging data. Faculty will highlight key takeaways from recent clinical trials and emerging trends in pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, offering insight into how these discoveries may influence the future of mood disorder treatment.

Speaker

Thursday, September 17 9:00–10:00 AM
Room Great Hall A
Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends
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.

Faculty

Michael Thase

MD
Professor of Psychiatry
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania SOM

Michael E. Thase is Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry of the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and the Corporal Michael J Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center. A 1979 graduate of The Ohio State University College Medicine, Professor Thase completed internship, residency, chief residency, and post-doctoral training in clinical research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), where he rose to the rank of Professor of Psychiatry and was Chief of the Division of Academic Adult Psychiatry before he moved to Philadelphia in 2007. A renowned teacher, mentor, administrator, researcher, and clinician. Dr. Thase is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and, a member of the American College of Psychiatrists. In 2019, he was elected to the membership of Penn Medicine’s Academy of Master Clinicians, an honor bestowed to only 2% of the medical faculty. He is a Past President of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Professor Thase is a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and a member of advisory boards for the Anxiety and Depressive Disorders Association, the National Network of Depression Centers, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A highly cited psychiatrist, his 1300+ publications include numerous citation classics. His research has been continuously funded by federal agencies for the past 40 years and focuses on novel therapies for difficult to treat depression and CBT.

When Anxiety Persists: Evidence-Based Strategies and Novel Pharmacologic Options Beyond First-Line Treatment

Many patients with generalized, panic, or mixed anxiety disorders experience only partial relief from first-line SSRIs and SNRIs, leaving clinicians uncertain about how to proceed. This session provides a comprehensive, step-by-step framework for evaluating treatment-resistant anxiety and selecting next-line interventions. Faculty will review systematic assessment tools, rational sequencing strategies, and integration of psychotherapy to enhance response. The session will also highlight evidence-informed off-label and emerging pharmacologic options, including gabapentinoids, atypical antipsychotics, buspirone optimization, beta blockers, alpha-agonists, hydroxyzine, and agents targeting glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. Participants will gain practical guidance for delivering safe, individualized, and accountable anxiety care when standard treatments fall short.

Speaker

Thursday, September 17 3:45–4:45 PM
Room Great Hall A
Anxiety Disorders
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.

Faculty

Manish Jha

MD
Associate Professor. Endowed Title: O'Donnell Clinical Neuroscience Scholar
UTSouthwestern Medical Center

Manish Jha is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and O’Donnell Clinical Neuroscience Scholar at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. He received his medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India and completed his psychiatry residency training at UT Southwestern. His program of research is focused on developing novel interventions for psychiatric disorders, personalizing the use of currently available treatments, and bringing these scientific discoveries to clinical practice. In addition to his research and educational activities, Dr. Jha maintains an active clinical practice focusing on evidence-based interventions for difficulty-to-treat depressive and anxiety disorders.He has authored/co-authored over 200 manuscripts.

First-Line Decisions: Lifestyle Modification or Medication? Early Treatment Pathways for PTSD

Determining the optimal first-line approach for posttraumatic stress disorder requires careful clinical judgment, as patients vary widely in symptom presentation, readiness for trauma work, and co-occurring conditions. This session will review the key factors that guide whether to begin with evidence-based psychotherapies—such as Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure—or to initiate pharmacotherapy with SSRIs, SNRIs, or prazosin for targeted symptoms. Faculty will also discuss the role of sleep stabilization, physical activity, grounding skills, and other lifestyle supports in early PTSD care. Participants will learn to create personalized, stepwise treatment plans that balance symptom relief, patient preference, and long-term functional recovery.

Speaker

Saturday, September 19 1:30–2:30 PM
Room Great Hall D
First-Line Decisions
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

Desiree Matthews

PMHNP-BC
CEO
Different Mental Health Program

Desiree Matthews, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Different Mental Health Program, a multi-state telepsychiatry practice providing integrative, patient-centered psychiatric care. Her clinical work centers on the evaluation and treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, and the identification and management of drug-induced movement disorders.

Ms. Matthews is particularly interested in early intervention and longitudinal treatment planning for serious mental illness, with an emphasis on functional recovery and relapse prevention. Her professional interests include long-acting injectable antipsychotics, emerging pharmacologic treatments, and the responsible use of telehealth to expand access while maintaining high standards of care. In addition to her clinical practice, she is actively involved in clinician education and regularly presents on psychiatric treatment planning, practice sustainability, and navigating the evolving mental health care landscape.

Faculty

Clark Sabo

Founder and CEO
Post Traumatic Shef Disorder

Clark Sabo is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran, advocate, and community leader based in the Cincinnati area. After his military service, Clark continued his commitment to serving others through veterans advocacy, public policy work, and local civic engagement. His work focuses on improving access to mental health support, strengthening crisis response systems, and ensuring that veterans, service members, and their families are heard by the people shaping policy.

Clark has testified before the Ohio Senate Health Committee on the importance of 988 and crisis response, drawing from lived experience and a deep understanding of the challenges many veterans face after service. He continues to advocate at the state and federal levels for policies that improve care, expand support, and create more responsive systems for those in need.

In his community, Clark is passionate about bringing people together, building stronger neighborhoods, and creating spaces where honest conversation can lead to meaningful change. He approaches advocacy with humility, purpose, and a belief that the most effective solutions come from listening to the people directly affected.

Whether speaking with lawmakers, organizing community conversations, or supporting fellow veterans, Clark brings a steady, mission-driven approach rooted in service, resilience, and a commitment to making life better for others.

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.”

Psych Congress 2026: Final Thoughts and Panel Discussion

Speaker

Saturday, September 19 4:00–4:15 PM
Room Great Hall A
Co-Chair

Julie Carbray

PhD, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Nursing
University of Illinois Chicago

Dr. Carbray holds her PhD (93) and Master of Science (88) degrees from Rush University, Chicago and her Bachelor of Science (87) degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. A Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Nursing at the University of Illinois Chicago, she has been practicing as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner over 35 years. As UIC faculty, Dr. Carbray teaches course content in psychopharmacology, mood disorders, and development and therapeutic interventions with children and adolescents for students across various multidisciplinary programs. As the Director of the Pediatric Mood Disorder Clinic, Dr. Carbray leads the clinical program and multidisciplinary training and is a nationally recognized clinical expert in children and adolescents with mood disorders. Dr. Carbray holds a national reputation of excellence in serving families of children with mood disorders, and was recognized with the UIC Preceptor of the year award, the Karen Gousman Excellence in Nursing Award, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Best Practices in an Outpatient Program for Bipolar Disorder Award, the UIC Inspire Award, the APNA Distinguished Service Award and the Susan McCabe psychopharmacology lectureship from the International Society of Psychiatric Nurses. Dr Carbray has presented her work nationally and internationally and across communities and organizations including the American Girl Company. With a particular focus on helping families to help their children with mood disorders, Dr. Carbray has engaged in programs of research that are investigating the psychopharmacology of mood disorders, neurobiology of mood disorders, and neurobiologically informed treatments and family response to childhood mood disorders.

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.

Co-Chair

Gregory Mattingly

MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Washington University School of Medicine, Midwest Research Group, St. Louis, MO, United States

Dr. Mattingly is a physician and principal investigator in clinical trials for Midwest Research Group. He is also a founding partner of St. Charles Psychiatric Associates where he treats children, adolescents and adults. A St Louis native, he earned his medical degree and received a Fulbright scholarship while attending Washington University. Dr. Mattingly is board certified in adult and adolescent psychiatry and is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at Washington University where he teaches psychopharmacology courses for the 3rd year medical students. Dr. Mattingly has been a principal investigator in over 400 clinical trials focusing on ADHD, anxiety disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Having served on numerous national and international advisory panels, Dr. Mattingly has received awards and distinctions for clinical leadership and neuroscience research. Dr Mattingly is the President for APSARD-The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders and is on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Workd Federation of ADHD. Having served on the board of Headway House, a community support program and as a certifed evaluator for both the NFL and MLB, Dr Mattingly is firm believer in holistic mental health, education and advocacy.
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