Psychopharmacology Unplugged: Advanced Strategies for the Busy Psychiatrist
- A Live, 2.5 Day Virtual Conference
- Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
- 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- $499 - Nonmember; $399 - Member; $249 - Resident/Fellow/Medical Student
Join us for 2026 Psychopharmacology Unplugged: Advanced Strategies for the Busy Psychiatrist, a dynamic 2.5-day virtual conference designed for psychiatrists seeking to stay current with evolving psychopharmacologic approaches across the lifespan and diagnostic spectrum.
Returning by popular demand and expanded for 2026, this interactive program features nationally recognized experts presenting on timely and clinically relevant topics in psychopharmacology, including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, obesity and eating disorders, pediatric and geriatric psychiatry, neuromodulation, ketamine, and other emerging areas of practice.
Through a combination of focused lectures, case-based presentations, and moderated discussion sessions, participants will have opportunities to explore contemporary treatment strategies, examine challenging clinical scenarios, and engage with faculty in meaningful dialogue. Whether refining existing approaches or exploring new developments in psychiatric care, attendees will gain practical perspectives to help inform their everyday clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
- Review current evidence and emerging developments in psychopharmacologic and neuromodulation-based treatments for psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
- Evaluate patient-specific factors, including age, comorbid medical conditions, reproductive status, and substance use, when selecting and optimizing treatment strategies for common and complex psychiatric presentations.
- Apply evidence-informed approaches to the management of challenging clinical scenarios involving mood, anxiety, substance use, eating, and neuropsychiatric disorders through case-based discussion.
- Compare the benefits, limitations, and appropriate clinical use of established and novel interventions, including neuromodulation, ketamine-based therapies, and digital therapeutics.
- Integrate practical strategies for monitoring treatment response, minimizing adverse effects, and addressing medication-related safety considerations in everyday psychiatric practice.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Jonathan E. Alpert, M.D., Ph.D. is Chair of Psychiatry at Montefiore Einstein and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A nationally recognized leader in psychiatry, his academic interests include innovative treatments for mood disorders, childhood-onset depression, and medical education. He has published over 240 peer-reviewed articles and received numerous awards for teaching, mentorship, and service. Dr. Alpert is actively engaged in research and professional leadership across the field.
Dr. Mark A. Frye, M.D. is a psychiatrist and researcher at Mayo Clinic with a focus on the genomics, neuroendocrinology, and brain imaging of mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, as well as alcoholism. His clinical expertise centers on the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder and depression. Dr. Frye’s research integrates cutting-edge approaches to better understand the biological underpinnings of these conditions, supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Mayo Clinic’s Samuel C. Johnson Genomics of Addiction Program, and private foundations. His work at Mayo Clinic advances personalized medicine approaches to mood disorders and addiction.
Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, M.D., M.P.H. is Affiliate Faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a board-certified physician in internal medicine and obesity medicine. An Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins, her research focuses on obesity prevention and treatment, including lifestyle interventions and anti-obesity medications, as well as the impact of obesity on healthcare experiences. She has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications, founded and directed the Johns Hopkins Obesity Medicine Program and Fellowship, and previously served as Chief Medical Officer of the ABOM Foundation and Medical Director for the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
Dr. Roger McIntyre, M.D., FRCPC is Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and Head of the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at the University Health Network. Recognized multiple times by Clarivate Analytics as one of the "World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds," his research centers on mood disorders, cognition, and novel therapeutics. Dr. McIntyre has played a key role in developing clinical guidelines and innovative treatment clinics, and he is an internationally sought-after speaker and educator in psychiatry.
Dr. Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D, Ph.D. is Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and Co-Director of the McGill Center for Psychedelic Sciences. A leading expert on mood and anxiety disorders, his research highlights the impact of child abuse and neglect on psychiatric risk. Dr. Nemeroff has authored over 1,200 publications and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. He has held prior leadership roles at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is actively involved in professional psychiatric organizations.
Dr. Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D. is Director of the Stanford Mood Disorders Center and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. A past president of the American Psychiatric Association, he has authored more than 700 scientific publications and is internationally recognized for his pioneering research on the biology and psychopharmacology of depressive disorders. Dr. Schatzberg is a leading authority on mood disorders and their treatment.
Dr. Manpreet Kaur Singh, M.D., M.S. is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Robert H. Putnam Endowed Chair in Bipolar Research and Treatment at UC Davis. A physician-scientist, her work focuses on the neurobiology of childhood-onset mood disorders and stress adaptation. She develops innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies, with clinical expertise in bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Singh is also committed to training future clinicians and researchers in mood disorder care and prevention.
Dr. Rajesh Tampi, M.D., M.S., DFAPA is Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Creighton University School of Medicine and the Inaugural Bhatia Family Endowed Chair in Psychiatry. He also holds faculty appointments at Northeast Ohio Medical University and Yale School of Medicine. A past president of both the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and the APA’s IMG Caucus, Dr. Tampi is a nationally recognized leader in geriatric psychiatry. He has received multiple honors, including the AAGP Clinician of the Year (2013) and the Jack Weinberg Award (2021), and has an extensive portfolio of research, publications, and editorial service.
Dr. Erikka D. Taylor, M.D., M.P.H., DFAACAP is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist with over a decade of experience treating eating disorders. Trained at Duke University, she has served as Medical Director of an eating disorder hospital, developed evidence-based programs across levels of care, and advocates for improved access and equity in mental health. Dr. Taylor is active in professional leadership, serving on the Race, Ethnicity, and Equity Committee for the North Carolina Psychiatric Association and as a delegate to the AACAP Assembly.
Dr. Heather Burrell Ward, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in neuromodulation and neuroimaging, with a clinical and research focus on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of mood, psychotic, and substance use disorders. She is dedicated to advancing innovative, evidence-based interventions in psychiatry and has contributed to the development and implementation of TMS protocols for complex psychiatric conditions. Dr. Ward’s work bridges clinical care and research, aiming to improve outcomes for individuals with treatment-resistant mental illness.
Robert Cotes, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry at Grady Health System. He is the founder and Co-Director of the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady, where he leads innovative clinical programs focused on improving care for individuals with schizophrenia and early psychosis.
Dr. Cotes’ research focuses on schizophrenia treatment, including the use of clozapine, antipsychotic medication side effects, psychosocial interventions, and emerging digital approaches in mental health. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Community Mental Health Journal and is a member of the NAMI Scientific Advisory Council.
Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Dean for Professional Development at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where he also serves as Chief of Service at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey.
Dr. Levounis is a nationally recognized expert in addiction psychiatry, with extensive experience in the treatment of substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Previously, he served as Director of the Addiction Institute of New York at Columbia University. He is the author of numerous publications and books focused on addiction treatment, motivational interviewing, behavioral addictions, and psychiatric care.
Gerard Sanacora, M.D., Ph.D., is the George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, Co-Director of the Yale New Haven Hospital Interventional Psychiatry Service, and Director of the Yale Depression Research Program.
Dr. Sanacora is an internationally recognized expert in mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and novel approaches to psychiatric care. His research has advanced understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression and the development of innovative treatments, including ketamine-based therapies. He has led numerous clinical trials investigating emerging interventions for mood and anxiety disorders and continues to advance evidence-based approaches in interventional psychiatry.
Steven Chan, M.D., M.B.A., is Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Faculty Co-Director of the Stanford Frontier Technology Lab, and a member of Stanford Psychiatry’s TechHub Leadership Committee. He is also faculty with the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship and a practicing psychiatrist specializing in substance use disorders and addictions.
Dr. Chan is a nationally recognized leader in digital psychiatry, clinical informatics, and emerging technologies in mental health care. His work focuses on leveraging technology to improve access, engagement, and outcomes in behavioral health. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Committee on Innovation and a sought-after speaker whose work has been featured in leading medical and technology forums.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. 3rd ed. Arlington, VA: APA Publishing; 2020.
- American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Nemeroff CB, Schatzberg AF, Goldstein DJ, et al. Consensus recommendations for the clinical application of antidepressant therapies and management of treatment-resistant depression. (Recent consensus literature may be substituted with the most current publication available at the time of accreditation.)
- American Society of Addiction Medicine. The ASAM National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: 2020 Focused Update. Chevy Chase, MD: ASAM; 2020.