Steering Committee

Kristian Dambrino

DNP, PMHNP-BC
Founder| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Dambrino Consulting & Wellness LLC

Kristian Dambrino is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Dambrino Wellness, a mental health clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Belmont University.

A Fulbright Scholar, she is conducting research in Indonesia and India on reducing mental health stigma through nursing capacity building, and serves as adjunct faculty at Belmont University College of Nursing, with prior faculty appointments at Michigan State University and Marian University. As a national speaker and consultant, she serves in leadership as co-chair of Psych Congress Elevate and brings her clinical and research expertise to stages and institutions across the country.

Beyond the clinic, Dambrino is a jazz vocalist who performs annually in France and has shared stages with Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jean Smart, with national television appearances on MSNBC, CNBC, and CMT. She volunteers with Rotary International, Project C.U.R.E., Habitat for Humanity, and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment, has helped raise millions of dollars for hurricane relief in Mississippi, and her sold-out benefit concert Music City Without Borders raised $20,000 for refugee resettlement in Tennessee.

2026 Sessions

Solving Clinical Challenges: Managing Major Depressive Disorder When First-Line Treatments Fall Short

Major Depressive Disorder often persists despite guideline-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, leaving clinicians unsure how to adjust treatment in the face of partial response, symptom heterogeneity, or unclear diagnosis. This session uses real-world case examples to guide clinicians through evaluating treatment resistance, identifying overlooked contributors such as anxiety, trauma, and medical illness, and refining diagnostic impressions. Faculty will demonstrate practical strategies for optimizing antidepressants, choosing augmentation or switching pathways, integrating targeted psychotherapies, and addressing functional impairment. Participants will gain practical tools to navigate complex MDD presentations and improve outcomes when standard approaches are not enough.<br><br>Session developed in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

Speaker

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

Brittany Albright

MD, MPH, DABOM
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 expertise in interventional psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and obesity medicine. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, followed by fellowship training in Addiction Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She currently serves as an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at MUSC.

Dr. Albright is the Founder and CEO of Sweetgrass Psychiatry, South Carolina’s largest physician-owned psychiatry practice, with three locations and a multidisciplinary team of 25+ clinicians. A leader in advancing access to innovative care, Sweetgrass Psychiatry was the first practice to launch esketamine in South Carolina in 2019 and has since developed a comprehensive interventional psychiatry program incorporating esketamine, ketamine, long acting injectables, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Her academic work includes numerous abstracts presented at national meetings and peer-reviewed publications spanning innovative psychiatric treatments and medical education. A nationally recognized speaker and consultant, Dr. Albright serves as President of the South Carolina Psychiatric Association and holds multiple leadership roles with Psych Congress, including Co-Chair of Psych Congress Elevate. She also created the Private Practice Summit, a national educational program focused on advancing independent psychiatric practice.

Her clinical approach integrates psychodynamic psychotherapy, mentalization-based therapy, and motivational interviewing with evidence-based pharmacologic and interventional treatments. She enjoys treating patients across the spectrum of psychiatric illness, with particular interests in complex mood and psychotic disorders and substance use disorders. She is trained and certified in transcranial magnetic stimulation and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Faculty

Rebecca Barbee

MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psych
Physician Assistant
Southlake Psychiatry

Rebecca Kraus Barbee, PA-C, CAQ-Psych is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in psychiatry at Southlake Psychiatry in Davidson, North Carolina. With advanced certification in psychiatry (CAQ-Psych), she is deeply engaged in the clinical management of complex mood and anxiety disorders, with particular expertise in psychopharmacology, novel antidepressant therapies, and treatment-resistant depression.

Rebecca is an active national speaker and educator, frequently presenting on emerging therapies, anhedonia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder recognition, and innovative treatment strategies. She is passionate about translating clinical trial data into practical, evidence-based strategies that improve patient outcomes. In addition to her clinical practice, she has contributed to media discussions on mental health awareness and is committed to advancing education for fellow clinicians through conference presentations and collaborative academic initiatives.

She is an active member of the Association of PAs in Psychiatry, AAPA, and NCAPA, and is dedicated to elevating the role of Physician Assistants in psychiatric care through leadership, education, and advocacy.

Steering Committee

Kristian Dambrino

DNP, PMHNP-BC
Founder| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Dambrino Consulting & Wellness LLC

Kristian Dambrino is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Dambrino Wellness, a mental health clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Belmont University.

A Fulbright Scholar, she is conducting research in Indonesia and India on reducing mental health stigma through nursing capacity building, and serves as adjunct faculty at Belmont University College of Nursing, with prior faculty appointments at Michigan State University and Marian University. As a national speaker and consultant, she serves in leadership as co-chair of Psych Congress Elevate and brings her clinical and research expertise to stages and institutions across the country.

Beyond the clinic, Dambrino is a jazz vocalist who performs annually in France and has shared stages with Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jean Smart, with national television appearances on MSNBC, CNBC, and CMT. She volunteers with Rotary International, Project C.U.R.E., Habitat for Humanity, and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment, has helped raise millions of dollars for hurricane relief in Mississippi, and her sold-out benefit concert Music City Without Borders raised $20,000 for refugee resettlement in Tennessee.

MasterClass: Stepping Out of Mania’s Shadow: Understanding the Nuances of Recognizing and Treating Bipolar I and II Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is frequently underrecognized, delaying accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This session reviews practical strategies for distinguishing bipolar I, bipolar II, and major depressive disorder, examines the clinical relevance of key specifiers, and discusses evolving treatment approaches that support individualized, shared decision-making.<br><br>Supported by an educational grant from Johnson & Johnson.

Speaker

Friday, September 18 10:15–11:45 AM
Room Great Hall B
Steering Committee

Craig Chepke

MD, DFAPA
Medical Director
Excel Psychiatric Associates

Dr. Craig Chepke is a Board-Certified psychiatrist in clinical practice as the medical director of Excel Psychiatric Associates in Huntersville, NC. He serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry for the Atrium Health Psychiatry Residency Program and is the Chief Medical Officer of the Psych Congress portfolio of Continuing Education conferences. Dr. Chepke earned his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at Duke University. As part of an interdisciplinary treatment team in his practice, he employs a person-centered care model to tailor treatments to each individual's needs, integrating traditional pharmacotherapy with psychotherapeutic and physical health and wellness interventions. His clinical and academic interests include serious mental illness, movement disorders, ADHD, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chepke has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is a recipient of the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award.

Steering Committee

Kristian Dambrino

DNP, PMHNP-BC
Founder| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Dambrino Consulting & Wellness LLC

Kristian Dambrino is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Dambrino Wellness, a mental health clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Belmont University.

A Fulbright Scholar, she is conducting research in Indonesia and India on reducing mental health stigma through nursing capacity building, and serves as adjunct faculty at Belmont University College of Nursing, with prior faculty appointments at Michigan State University and Marian University. As a national speaker and consultant, she serves in leadership as co-chair of Psych Congress Elevate and brings her clinical and research expertise to stages and institutions across the country.

Beyond the clinic, Dambrino is a jazz vocalist who performs annually in France and has shared stages with Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jean Smart, with national television appearances on MSNBC, CNBC, and CMT. She volunteers with Rotary International, Project C.U.R.E., Habitat for Humanity, and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment, has helped raise millions of dollars for hurricane relief in Mississippi, and her sold-out benefit concert Music City Without Borders raised $20,000 for refugee resettlement in Tennessee.

Back to top