Communications Bulletin

Review important information, news and announcements that are of interest to Department faculty, staff, residents and trainees.

  • Congratulations to Dr. Todd Woodward, Recipient of a UBC Research Facility Support Grant

    Congratulations to Professor Dr. Todd Woodward, who has received a 2023/2024 UBC Research Facilities Support Grant (UBC RFSG) to enhance his lab’s research capabilities and ensure longevity of technology that is crucial to their brain research program. He and his team were awarded this grant to replace essential hardware nets integral to their Geodesic Transcranial…


  • Translational Neuroimaging Educational Program | Free Online Seminar on March 27, 2024

    The Translational Neuroimaging Educational Program invites you to register for a free online seminar on Wednesday March 27, 2024 from 8:30am – 9:30am (PT). The theme of this seminar will be How to Measure Functional Connectivity (FC) in the Brain – Comparison and Evaluation of Potential Connectivity Metrics. Visit the Event Page for more details!


  • SAVE THE DATE: Psychiatry Graduation Gala on Friday June 14, 2024

    Faculty and residents are asked to save the date and join us in celebrating the Postgraduate Psychiatry Grad Gala 2024 on Friday June 14, 2024 at Shaughnessy Restaurant.


  • Calling for Teaching Faculty Participation on April 16, 2024

    ** Sent on behalf of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai, PGE Program Director, UBC Department of Psychiatry ** Dear Faculty, We are currently in the process of preparing the upcoming Psychiatry Residency Program Internal Review which will be taking place between Monday, April 15, 2024 and Tuesday, April 16, 2024. As part of the review process, the…


  • UBC Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | March 2024

    Staff and Faculty can logon with their UBC email address @ubc.ca to use UBC Office 365 and Teams on any computers. Please see below links to logon to UBC Office 365 and Teams via Internet browser by using your @ubc.ca email address, and your CWL password. My M365 Account: Login Access: To log into M365…


  • 5th Annual Psychiatry Summer Immersion Program | Teaching Opportunities

    ** Sent on behalf of the UBC Psychiatry Summer Immersion Program (PSIP) ** Dear Faculty, The Department of Psychiatry 5th annual Psychiatry Summer Immersion Program will take place Mon, June 3 and Tues, June 4, 2024. The two-day program provides an opportunity for 1st Year undergraduate medical students to explore the field of psychiatry as a…


  • Announcement of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai as Interim Associate Head, PGE & CPD

    Dear Staff, Fellows, Residents and Colleagues, Further to the recent announcement that Dr. Jordan Cohen has stepped down from his role as Associate Head, PGE & CPD, as of December 31, 2023, I am pleased to share that our current PGE Program Director Dr. Irfan Khanbhai has been appointed to fill this vacancy on an…


  • 2024 Call for Nominations | New Membership to the Clinical Faculty Appointment, Reappointment, and Promotions Committee

    ** Shared on behalf of the UBC Psychiatry HR Team ** Dear Clinical Faculty Members, The Department has expanded the membership of the Clinical Faculty Appointment, Reappointment, and Promotions Committee. The Terms of Reference has been updated to reflect this. As such, the Department is calling for nominations and self-nominations from clinical faculty members to…


  • Appointment of Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair

    Dear Faculty, Staff, Fellows and Residents, As the Department recently completed the recruitment process for a full-time academic faculty position in Early Intervention in Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder, I am delighted to share that Dr. Kamyar Keramatian has been appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), effective January 1, 2024. As well, he has been…


  • IN MEMORIAM | Dr. Earl D. Hardin

    The Department is very saddened to share the news of the recent passing of Dr. Earl Hardin at the age of 89. As a well-known and respected member of the UBC Department of Psychiatry for many years, Dr. Hardin was also a dedicated clinician and a prominent figure within many professional bodies, including the Western…


  • YOU ARE INVITED: Farewell Tea Reception for Ms. Vicky Yau | Wed February 21 @ 3pm

    As you are all aware, our Director of Administration Ms. Vicky Yau will be leaving her position in the UBC Department of Psychiatry at the end of February. As such, we would like to host an afternoon Tea Reception in her honour and in recognition of her many wonderful contributions over the last 20-plus years.…


  • UBC Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | February 2024

    Important Email Changes Coming in February 2024 In February 2024, Gmail and Yahoo will implement stricter requirements for bulk email senders, including UBC. Due to this change, individuals who have redirected or forwarded their UBC emails to non-UBC mail services may experience issues. UBC’s enterprise mail services are already compliant with the new Gmail and…


  • Congratulations to the UBC Psychiatry Members Awarded Funding in the 2023 Fall CIHR Project Grant Competition

    As the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced the results of its Fall 2023 project grant competition this week, we wish to congratulate our faculty and principal investigators Dr. Lakshmi Yatham, Dr. Kyooseob Ha, Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, and Dr. Lynn Raymond, along with their teams, who were awarded grant funding to support their respective…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday February 21 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. The Eternal Memory Chile 2023…


  • UBC Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | January 2024

    Recent Data Breach: ~26 BILLION records leaked – GO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS! We strongly recommend that you update and change your passwords that could be been linked to a recent data breach. Notable sites like LinkedIn, Adobe, X (formerly Twitter), and Canva has been comprised. If you received any emails about changing passwords from these…


  • Announcing the Departure of Ms. Vicky Yau as Director, Administration

    Dear staff, fellows, residents and colleagues, It is with mixed feelings that I announce the departure of Ms. Vicky Yau from her role as Director of Administration in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, as she has accepted a new administrative leadership position within the UBC Department of Family Practice. We will sorely miss Vicky and…


  • UBC Department of Psychiatry Staffing Update | January 2024

    Dear Department members, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, and also share some staffing updates and announcements regarding our UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office. Firstly, I am delighted to introduce you to our new Administrative Assistant Ms. Rei Sakuma, who started in her role on January 8.  Rei is…


  • Happy 2024! Clinical Faculty Updates, Opportunities & Resources

    ** Shared on behalf of Dr. Joseph Tham, Clinical Faculty Affairs Representative, UBC Faculty of Medicine, UBC Department of Psychiatry ** Greetings UBC Clinical Faculty, I hope you’ve all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season! A big thanks to all of you for helping out with the teaching, supervision, and clinical research done routinely across the…


  • Worksite Safety Inspection Survey

    **This message is sent on behalf of Nick Steel, Senior Advisor, Health & Safety, UBC Faculty of Medicine** Dear colleagues, I hope everyone had a happy and relaxing holiday break. This week, the Faculty of Medicine’s Health & Safety team is pleased to launch the second annual Worksite Safety Inspection Initiative. This initiative is designed to…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday January 17 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. back home Canada/Cuba 2022 (90…


  • REMINDER: 2023-24 Psychotherapy & Research Supervision Invoice Submission

    ** Sent on behalf of the UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Team. Please direct related inquiries to psychiatry.education@ubc.ca. ** Dear UBC Postgraduate Psychotherapy and Research Supervisors, This is a reminder to submit your Psychotherapy and Research Supervision Invoices for the 2023-24 fiscal year (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024) for PGY1-5 UBC residents and PGY6…


  • 2023 in Review: Don’t Miss the UBC Department of Psychiatry Annual Newsletter!

    Dear colleagues, With the end of 2023 drawing near, I wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to each of you for your countless contributions and hard work, and also celebrate our collective achievements this year as a Department. The concrete targets outlined in our Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 continue to serve as…


  • You Are Invited: UBC Psychiatry Annual General Meeting on Thursday February 15 @ 4:30pm

    Department Head Dr. Lakshmi Yatham invites you to attend the UBC Department of Psychiatry Annual General Meeting on Thursday February 15, 2024 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.  The meeting will be held at UBC Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Room LSC 1003. **For those unable to attend in person, virtual attendance via…


  • Thanks to Everyone Who Joined Us at the Year-End Festive Celebration!

    The UBC Psychiatry Festive Celebration was held on Friday December 15th, with another great turn out. It was wonderful to see so many faculty, staff, students, trainees and residents to gather together for a fun and relaxed evening. Thank you to all who attended! View all the event’s photos in our UBC Psychiatry Flickr Album!


  • Departure of Dr. Jordan Cohen as Associate Head, PGE & CPD

    Dear Colleagues, I am writing to share with you that, due to medical reasons, Dr. Jordan Cohen will be stepping down from his role as Associate Head, Postgraduate Education & Continuing Professional Development, effective December 31, 2023. Since his appointment in April 2022, Dr. Cohen has served in this role with a great deal of…


  • UBC Department of Psychiatry Staffing Update | December 2023

    Dear Department members, I wish to share with you some important staffing updates and announcements regarding our UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office. Firstly, we are delighted to welcome Ms. Terena Zhao as our new Administrative Assistant to our six Division Heads. Terena is a recent UBC graduate with previous experience working in a busy…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Alexander Levit, Awarded Funding Through the COPE Special Fund Initiative!

    Congratulations to PGY4 resident Dr. Alexander Levit, whose educational project proposal was selected for funding by the Coordinators of Psychiatric Education (COPE) Special Education Fund. This fund is meant to encourage a broad range of educational activities, led by residents, that are related to postgraduate psychiatry training in Canada. His project, titled “Interactive simulation training…


  • UBC Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | December 2023

    Happy Birthday to Allan Kwan! Allan has been a great part of the IT department and has made my transition very easy. I look forward to working with him in the New Year to continue supporting the Department.  It will also mark the last day for Prabhjot Singh, our temp IT support. It’s been great…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Kamyar Keramatian and Dr. Janet Mah, Awarded Funding Through the Convening & Collaborating (C2) Program!

    Congratulations to Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Kamyar Keramatian (Project: Early identification of bipolar disorder in adolescents and young adults: Establishing a collaborative research agenda) and Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Janet Mah (Project: Rising Up: Collaborating with Chinese Families and Communities to Promote Mental Health Literacy), who have each been awarded funding for their respective research…


  • IN MEMORIAM: Dr. Robert Hewko, Clinical Professor

    The Department is deeply saddened to share the news that Dr. Robert Hewko passed away last week. As a Clinical Professor and member of the Department for over three decades, Dr. Hewko was also a well-known and respected clinician who served as the Clinical Manager of the Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service at VGH for many…


  • Announcement of 2023/2024 Stimulus Grant Awardees

    Dear Faculty, Staff, Fellows and Residents, We are delighted to share that, following careful review and deliberation by an external Scientific Committee comprised of members outside of UBC and Canada, the selection process for the 2023/2024 Stimulus Grant Initiative has been completed. A total of three innovative projects have been recommended for funding by the…


  • PGY2-5 STACER Examiner List Update

    ** Shared on behalf of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai, Program Director, UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Program ** Dear Clinical Faculty, The Program is in the process of updating our STACER Examiner list for all tracks across the province.   As many of you are aware, the Royal College requires that the PGY4/5s successfully complete 2 STACERs (Structured…


  • Appointment of Dr. Andrew Howard as Director, Fellowship Program

    Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Howard has been appointed to the new role of Director, Fellowship Program for the UBC Department of Psychiatry, effective July 1, 2023 (retroactive). As the new Fellowship Director, Dr. Howard will be responsible for providing leadership and oversight on all aspects of the UBC Psychiatry…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday December 13 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. Much Ado About Dying Ireland/UK…


  • 2024 Dates for Research and Scholarly Activity Committee Meetings Available 

    The quarterly 2024 meetings for the department’s Research and Scholarly Activity Committee meetings have now been confirmed for: February 8th, April 25th, July 25th and November 7th. Please note that both abstracts and final reports need to be submitted at least one week prior to the meetings. The links to the Qualtrics forms for both abstract and final report submissions can be found on this…


  • Please Share: Registration for the ‘UBC Micro-certificate in Health Data Analytics: Opportunities and Applications’ is Open Now

    The UBC Department of Medicine is excited to launch a new training program bridging data science and health. Advances in data infrastructure and technology have created a huge skills gap in today’s health sector. To keep pace within an evolving system and seize the many opportunities associated with health data, including increased operational efficiency, improved…


  • UBC Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | November 2023

    Don’t Get FISHED by Emails Email phishing is a type of fraud where scammers pretend to be trustworthy sources to obtain personal information or take advantage of victims.  Here are some quick tips to protect yourself and your data. And it’s not limited to email based attacks. There has been a rise in SMS text…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Roberto Sassi and Dr. Vijay Seethapathy on Joining the CPA Board of Directors!

    Dr. Roberto Sassi and Dr. Vijay Seethapathy were elected as new directors on the Canadian Psychiatric Association’s Board during the Association’s Annual General Meeting held on October 21, 2023.  Drs. Sassi and Seethapathy will be serving alongside four other directors and we are excited about their contributions to further the CPA’s objectives. Join us in…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Steven Taylor, Selected as One of the Highly Cited Researchers in 2023!

    Each year, Clarivate™ identifies the small fraction of the global research scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research. This select group contribute disproportionately to extending the frontiers of knowledge and gaining for society innovations that make the world healthier, more sustainable and more secure. Congratulations to…


  • Call for Applications for the UBC Institute of Mental Health (IMH) Marshall Fellows Program in Mental Health for 2024-2025

    Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce the call for applications for the UBC Institute of Mental Health (IMH) Marshall Fellows Program in Mental Health for 2024-2025. The Marshall Fellows Program in Mental Health was established in 2019 by the IMH to support the training of young investigators in translational research in order to create…


  • Appointment of Dr. William Panenka as Director, Research Track, UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Program

    Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that Dr. William Panenka has been appointed to the role of Director, Research Track (RT) for the UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Program, effective November 15, 2023. As the new Director, Research Track, Dr. Panenka will be responsible for developing and implementing processes for the Resident Research Track training program…


  • RSVP for the Festive Celebration on Friday December 15, 2023 @ 5:30pm | Arbutus Club

    Dear Department Members, On behalf of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham cordially invites you to our year-end Festive Celebration on Friday December 15, 2023! The event will take place at the Arbutus Club at 2001 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver BC, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.   All Department members, including faculty, staff, fellows,…


  • A Great Turnout at the Pacific Psychopharmacology Conference on September 28-29, 2023

    The 17th Annual Pacific Psychopharmacology Conference, organized by the UBC Department of Psychiatry and UBC CPD, took place on September 28-29, 2023 at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront in Vancouver and online. This year’s program included keynote speakers Professor Andrew Nierenberg of Harvard Medical School and Professor Philip McGuire of the University of Oxford, who joined a…


  • Notification to Clinical Faculty About the Updated Resident Supervision Guidelines

    ** Shared on behalf of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai, Program Director, UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Program ** Dear Clinical Faculty, For those of you who supervise residents on either core or elective rotations, we have updated our guidance document “Supervisor Responsibilities for Resident Teaching 2023” linked here.  We are hoping that this brief document can be…


  • Please Share: UBC Mood Disorders Centre is now recruiting for a new clinical trial examining the efficacy of adjunctive cannabidiol (CBD)

    The UBC Mood Disorders Centre is now recruiting for a new clinical trial that is examining the efficacy of adjunctive cannabidiol (CBD) in treating bipolar depression. The research team is looking for individuals who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I or II, currently taking a mood stabilizer and/or atypical antipsychotic and are currently experiencing…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday November 15 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. Another Body USA 2023 (80min…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Recipient of the 2023 ACPC Annual Award for Creative Professional Activity!

    The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada (ACPC) Annual Award for Creative Professional Activity highlights the importance of creative professional activity in Canadian Departments of Psychiatry by rewarding exceptional contributions. Congratulations to this year’s winner: Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor and a clinical faculty member in the UBC Department of Psychiatry for over thirty…


  • Career Opportunity | Now Accepting Applications for a Re-entry Residency Position in Interior Health!

    The UBC Department of Psychiatry will be funded yearly for 1 Re-entry Residency Position in Psychiatry in the Interior going forward. This re-entry residency position comes with a 3-year Return of Service (ROS) contract with the Ministry of Health. This year, the ROS will be completed in the Interior Health Authority in British Columbia. The…


  • You are Invited: MAiD and Mental Disorders:  How did we get here? | Thursday November 9 @ 5:30pm

    You are invited to attend an in-person / virutal talk on MAiD and Mental Disorders:  How did we get here? on Thursday November 9th, 2023 at 5:30pm. This talk will be presented by Sandra Martin, an award-winning journalist and a contributing writer for The Globe and Mail and the author of the critically acclaimed national bestseller,…


  • SAVE THE DATE! UBC Department of Psychiatry Festive Celebration | Friday December 15th @ The Arbutus Club

    Please mark your calendars for the UBC Psychiatry Festive Celebration to take place on Friday December 15th at 5:30pm at The Arbutus Club! Stay tuned for more details and an RSVP request to follow in the coming weeks. To save this in your Outlook calendar, click on the link and remember to click “Save &…


  • Call for Nominations: Killam Teaching Prizes 2024 | Deadline: Feb 1, 2024, 12:00pm

    ** Sent on behalf of Dr. Sophia Frangou, Associate Head – Research, UBC Department of Psychiatry** Dear UBC Psychiatry Faculty, Killam Teaching Prizes 2024 Faculty of Medicine Internal Deadline:Thursday, February 1, 2024 12:00pm UBC Killam Teaching Prizes are UBC’s most prestigious teaching awards. The UBC Killam Teaching Prizes recognize excellence in teaching in the medical…


  • ACTION REQUIRED: Psychiatry IT – File Share Migration

    PSYCHIATRY IT – FILE SHARE MIGRATION WHY is it happening: Psych IT will be migrating mapped drive shares I: M: N: P: U: V: Y: to a new file server. WHEN is it happening: 5:00 PM on Friday October 6 till 5:00 PM on Monday October 9 WHO it will affect: For all supported computers…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday October 18 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. All My Puny Sorrows Canada…


  • Updated Public Health Measures – Medical Mask Wearing Requirement Effective October 3, 2023

    **This message is sent on behalf of Dr. Roger Wong, Vice Dean, Education, UBC Faculty of Medicine and Jennifer Golinski, Senior Director, Education Programs and Services, Office of the Vice Dean, UBC Faculty of Medicine** On Thursday, September 28, the Government of B.C. announced updated public health measures in health-care facilities to protect patients, residents…


  • Psychiatry IT: Memos & Updates | September 2023

    Multiple Vulnerabilities in Apple Products Discovered by Researchers, September 27, 2023 Latest security research found exploits that could enable remote access to Apple devices with outdated software which can allow attackers to install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. RECOMMENDATIONS: For more additional information go to: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201222…


  • Appointment of Dr. Ashley Miller as Postgraduate CAP Subspecialty Program Director

    Dear colleagues, As the recruitment process for the position of Postgraduate Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Subspecialty Program Director has concluded, we are delighted to announce that Dr. Ashley Miller has been appointed to this role for a three-year term, from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026. Broadly, as CAP Subspecialty Program Director Dr.…


  • UBC Department of Psychiatry Staffing Update | September 2023

    Dear Department members, I wish to share with you some important staffing updates and announcements regarding our UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office. I am delighted to share the news that Mr. Simon Chong has joined the Department as our Computer Systems Manager effective September 20, 2023, filling the vacancy due to the retirement of…


  • Dr. Jehannine Austin Appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Genetic Counseling

    Congratulations to Professor Dr. Jehannine Austin, who has been appointed the next Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Genetic Counseling. Dr. Austin currently serves as an Associate Editor for the journal, and will step into this new position on January 1, 2024. The Journal of Genetic Counseling is the official journal of the National Society of…


  • PLEASE PARTICIPATE!  Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike event on Friday September 15, 2023

    The June 2023 Canadian Psychiatric Association’s Position Statement on Mental Health and the Climate Crisis recommends that psychiatrists “participate in climate-related advocacy or activism at institutional and systems levels. Ongoing delays to decarbonize (“mitigation”) and to meaningfully prepare for the coming changes we cannot avoid (“adaptation”) represent policy choices that harm the mental health of…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday September 20 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    A monthly film series promoting professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. Presented by The Cinematheque and the Institute of Mental Health, UBC Department of Psychiatry. Screenings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each month at The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC. Before the screening, please join…


  • IN MEMORIAM: Dr. Edith G. McGeer, Professor Emerita

    Dear Colleagues, With great sadness, we share the news that Professor Emerita Dr. Edith (Edie) McGeer passed away on Monday August 28, 2023 at the age of 99. As a pioneering researcher who made seminal contributions to our understanding of the biochemical pathology of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, Dr. McGeer leaves behind a legacy…


  • Appointment of Dr. William Panenka, Associate Professor (Tenure)

    Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Residents, As you will recall, the Department has been engaged in a recruitment process for a full-time academic faculty position in the area of translational neuropsychiatric research, an opportunity created for Psychiatry through the Faculty of Medicine Academic Renewal Program, intended to support the recruitment of tenure-stream faculty in the…


  • Strategic Plan in Action: Announcing the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation Professorship in Mental Health

    Dear Colleagues, Over the past year, the UBC Department of Psychiatry has been working in close collaboration with the Fraser Health Authority, the Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) Foundation, and the UBC FoM Dean’s Office in order to create a new academic faculty position to be based in Fraser Health. In our discussions, there was broad…


  • IN MEMORIAM: Dr. Hassan Azim, Honorary Professor

    We are very saddened to share the news of the recent passing of Honorary Professor Dr. Hassan Azim at the age of 91.  Dr. Azim’s distinguished career began over 60 years ago in Cairo, Egypt, where he completed his training in psychiatry and became one of Egypt’s first psychiatrists. In 1960, he arrived in Canada…


  • IN MEMORIAM: Dr. Jennifer Oates, Clinical Instructor

    We are deeply saddened to share the news that Dr. Jennifer Oates passed away on August 8, 2023.  Dr. Oates had been a geriatric psychiatrist within Island Health since 2009, and joined the UBC Department of Psychiatry as a Clinical Instructor in 2015. As a valued UBC Psychiatry member, Dr. Oates made important contributions to…


  • Announcing the IMH Marshall Fellows for 2023/2024

    Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Residents, As the IMH Marshall Fellows Program enters its fifth year since its inception in 2019, I am delighted to share that the selection process for 2023/2024 has been completed and six outstanding proposals have been recommended for funding by the Chairs of the Committee. The decisions were finalized following…


  • Dr. Lakshmi Yatham and Team Publish Findings in New England Journal of Medicine Which May Inform Future Guidelines for Bipolar Depression Management

    In the New England Journal of Medicine this week, lead author Dr. Lakshmi Yatham and a team of researchers have published the results from the world’s first randomized clinical trial assessing the duration of adjunctive antidepressant therapy in bipolar depression, the findings of which show that, while the primary outcome of time to any mood…


  • Academic Advisor Role Change and Recruitment Request

    ** Sent on behalf of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai, PGE Program Director, UBC Department of Psychiatry ** Dear Clinical Faculty, I am writing to you today about the Academic Advisor (AA) position that we have for each of our residents.   We are making a significant change in the Academic Advisor duties about which I wanted to update…


  • Inviting Expressions of Interest in the Role of CAP Subspecialty Program Director

    Dear Colleagues, Further to our announcement that Dr. Jennifer Russel will be stepping down from her role as the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Subspecialty Program Director on August 31, 2023, we would like to invite expressions of interest for this key leadership role in the Postgraduate Education Program.  This appointment will come with a…


  • Resignation of Dr. Sophia Frangou as Director, Research Track, UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Program | Call for Expressions of Interest

    Dear colleagues, I wish to share that Dr. Sophia Frangou will be stepping down from her role as Director, Research Track (RT) for the UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Program. Dr. Frangou was appointed to this role in November 2021, and during this time, she implemented standards and processes to facilitate the RT Program meeting the intended…


  • UBC Department of Psychiatry Staffing Updates | July 2023

    Dear Department members, I wish to share with you some staffing updates regarding our UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office. Firstly, we are delighted to welcome to our team Dr. Nicole Sanford, who has accepted the role of Research Manager for the UBC Institute of Mental Health (IMH) as of July 1, 2023. Nicole was…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Terrance Snutch, Recipient of the 2023 Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize

    The Department warmly congratulates Professor Dr. Terrance Snutch, who has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize by the UBC Faculty of Medicine. This award recognizes Dr. Snutch’s outstanding translational research, which has contributed significantly to the development of new therapeutic targets relevant to multiple neurological diseases. As a foremost expert and…


  • Departure of Dr. Jennifer Russel, CAP Subspecialty Program Director

    Dear colleagues, It is with mixed feelings that we announce that Dr. Jennifer Russel will be leaving her position as the UBC Psychiatry Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Subspecialty Program Director effective August 31, 2023, as she has accepted the prestigious position of Psychiatrist in Chief at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto. We are thrilled…


  • Congratulations to 2023 FoM Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients, Dr. Evelyn Stewart and Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez!

    The Department congratulates Dr. Evelyn Stewart and Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, both of whom are recipients of a 2023 Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award! Professor Dr. Evelyn Stewart is the recipient of the Award for Service to the University and Community, in recognition of her significant contributions to local, national, and international communities aimed at…


  • The Online 2022/2023 Clinical Faculty Annual Report Form is Now Available!

    *** Sent on behalf of the UBC Psychiatry HR Team *** Dear Department Clinical Faculty Members, The Online Clinical Faculty Annual Report Form for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 has been released, so please set a reminder to complete and submit this before December 31, 2023: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0CWsbdt9euzYrpY If you were appointed to…


  • Announcement of Division Head Appointments

    Dear Colleagues, As the search and selection process has concluded for the three Division Head positions for each of the restructured Divisions in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, we are delighted to announce the following appointments: In their new leadership roles, Dr. Schütz, Dr. White and Dr. Murphy will each be responsible for providing direction…


  • UBC Department of Psychiatry Staffing Update | June 2023

    Dear Department members, I wish to share with you some important staffing updates and announcements regarding our UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office. Firstly, I am thrilled to share the news that Ms. Leah Ranada has been promoted to the position of Assistant HR Manager. As you are all aware, Leah has been in the…


  • Stimulus Grants NOW OPEN for New Applications | Zoom Information Sessions at Noon on July 7 & August 17

    **Shared on behalf of Dr. Sophia Frangou, Associate Head, Research, UBC Department of Psychiatry** Dear Colleagues, The Stimulus Grants are now open for new applications. Please see our website for details: https://psychiatry.ubc.ca/research/stimulus-grants-initiative/. Information Sessions: On July 7th and August 17th, I will hold 45min Zoom meetings at 12:00pm noon, which are open to anyone interested in…


  • Many Thanks to All the Clinical Faculty Who Attended the Annual Dinner Yesterday Evening!

    It was wonderful to welcome all of our clinical faculty members who attended the Annual Clinical Faculty Dinner last night! It was a very fun and relaxed evening, and a great opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for all our clinical faculty members and their many valuable contributions to the Department! As well, the evening included…


  • A BIG Thank You to Everyone Who Joined in Our 2023 UBC Psychiatry Research Day!

    We wish to thank everyone who attended our 2023 UBC Psychiatry Research Day yesterday, either in person or virtually, and also express our sincere gratitude to all of the outstanding poster and Lightning Talk presenters, and our speakers for their engaging presentations and hard work in helping to make our Research Day a success! Additionally,…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Randall White, Recipient of the APA WCDB John D. Hackett Leadership Award!

    Congratulations to Clinical Professor Dr. Randall White, who has received the John D. Hackett Leadership Award from the Western Canada District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Named after the founding president of the Western Canada District Branch (WCDB), Dr. John Desmond Hackett, this award recognizes long-standing members who have made significant and outstanding…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday June 14 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    Love in the Time of Fentanyl Canada 2022Director: Colin Askey80min DCPWednesday June 14th @ 7:00pm, The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St) Share Tweet Forward Film Description A public health emergency around what came to be known as ​“the overdose crisis” was first declared in this province in April 2016—the same year the grass-roots Overdose Prevention Society…


  • Request for Expressions of Interest for the New Residency Program’s EDI Committee

    ** Sent on behalf of Dr. Irfan Khanbhai, PGE Program Director, UBC Department of Psychiatry ** Dear Faculty Members, Our Psychiatry Postgraduate training program is creating an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Antiracism Committee.   The broader goal of this committee will be to promote diversity, improve discrimination, engage in dialogue and help the program further…


  • Memo from UBC Psychiatry IT | Apple Has Fixed Three New Zero-Days Exploited to Hack Devices – Be Sure to Patch Now!

    Apple has addressed three new zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in attacks to hack into iPhones, Macs, and iPads, so make sure you’re patched by updating to the latest software versions! (Go to Settings > General > Software Update.) Even devices that already received a Rapid Security Response at the start of March 2023 have a zero-day…


  • Renewal of MOU between UBC Psychiatry and National Centres for Mental Disorders in China

    Dear Colleagues, I am very pleased to share some exciting news from our recent invitation to China, during which Clinical Professor and Island Regional Head Dr. Wei-Yi Song and I were hosted by leadership teams from Shanghai Mental Health Center (SMHC) at Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the Changsha Second Xiangya Hospital at…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Janel Casey, Runner Up for the BC Business 2023 Women of the Year Community Builder Award!

    Congratulations to Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Janel Casey, who has been named Runner Up for a 2023 Women of the Year Community Builder Award by BC Business! This award celebrates female leaders, innovators and difference makers who play a vital role in building better communities across the province. This year, Dr. Casey is recognized for…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Mario Moscovici, Recipient of a CAPL Fellowship and the AAPL Rappeport Fellowship!

    Congratulations to Forensic Psychiatry PGY6 Resident Dr. Mario Moscovici, who is the 2023 recipient of a Fellowship from the Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (CAPL). This national award is presented annually to a PGY4-6 resident who has made outstanding contributions to research in the forensic field. As part of the award, Dr. Moscovici…


  • Call for Preceptors | Year 2 Psychiatry Clinical Skills Sessions in MEDD 421 this Fall

    ** Sent on behalf of Dr. Kathryn Fung, UGE Program Director, UBC Department of Psychiatry ** Dear Faculty: We would like to invite you to teach our Year 2 Psychiatry Clinical Skills Sessions in MEDD 421 this fall (September, October, November, and December 2023). We only require preceptors for Psychiatry 2 and Psychiatry 3. Psychiatry…


  • Congratulations to Drs. Raymond Lam, Jill Murphy and Erin Michalak, Recipients of a CIHR-GACD Team Grant!

    Dr. Raymond Lam, Dr. Jill Murphy and Dr. Erin Michalak have been awarded $1.64M over 5 years (2023-2028) by CIHR’s Team Grant – GACD 2021 NCD risk prevention across the life course program to support the development of an app to promote and support mental well-being among youth in Vietnam. The Youth Promotion of Resilience…


  • PLEASE RSVP | UBC Psychiatry Clinical Faculty Annual Dinner | Thursday June 8 @ 5:00pm | The Arbutus Club

    Dear Clinical Faculty Members, On behalf of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, I am delighted to invite you to the Annual Clinical Faculty Dinner, to be held on Thursday June 8, 2023 at 5:00pm (after the Research Day event) at The Arbutus Club (2001 Nanton Ave, Vancouver BC). The dinner will be an opportunity to…


  • FRAMES OF MIND Mental Health Film Series | Wednesday May 17 @ 7:00pm | The Cinematheque

    Selvportrett (Self Portrait) Norway 2020Directors: Margreth Olin, Katja Hogset, Espen Wallin77min DCPWednesday May 17th @ 7:00pm, The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St) Vancouver Premiere! Share Tweet Forward Film Description Lene Marie Fossen’s self portraits will break your heart. Beautifully composed and artfully presented, they are nevertheless photographs of a young woman in the throes of a…


  • 2023 PGE Psychiatry Grad Gala on Friday June 23, 2023 | RSVP by May 16!

    ** Sent on behalf of the UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Team ** Dear Faculty, We welcome you to join the celebration with the Class of 2023 Psychiatry graduates. Please see details below and RSVP via the link below by Tuesday, May 16, 2023. RSVP Link: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3I4Qk8kST3UTYd8 EVENT DETAILS Date: Friday, June 23, 2023Time: 5:30 PMVenue: Shaughnessy Restaurant, 5251…


  • Important PGME Updates: CBD Workshop for PGY4 Supervisors | Second Iteration CaRMS Results | Clinical Teaching Payments

    CBD Psychiatry Workshop for PGY4 Supervisors | PGY4s in Core Stage This is reminder to join us for an online webinar titled “CBD Psychiatry Workshop for PGY4 Supervisors – PGY4’s in the Core Stage”. The webinar’s goal is to help you prepare for and describe what you need to know for the Core Stage of…


  • In Memoriam: Dr. Juhn Wada, Professor Emeritus

    Dear Colleagues, It is with profound sadness that I share the news that Professor Emeritus Dr. Juhn Wada passed away at his home on Saturday April 22, 2023 at the age of 99. To his many colleagues at UBC and beyond, Dr. Wada was a visionary in the neurological sciences whose decades of seminal research…


  • Renewal of MOU between UBC Psychiatry and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)

    Dear Colleagues, I am very pleased to share that, on my recent visit to India, I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, in order to renew the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIMHANS and the UBC Department of…


  • Congratulations to Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, Recipient of a Health Professional-Investigator Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC!

    Congratulations to Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, who has received a Health Professional-Investigator (HP-I) Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC! Dr. Keramatian is an adolescent and adult psychiatrist who currently serves as the co-medical manager of the UBC Mood Disorders Center and the physician lead for the Coastal Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program.…


  • Memo from Psychiatry IT: UBC ARC REDCap Vulnerabilities

    REDCap has issued an urgent security update yesterday to address several critical vulnerabilities. If you are running an instance of REDCap, please upgrade to the latest release of REDCap (version 13.1.25) as soon as possible.  If you are leveraging Digital Solutions or UBC ARC’s service offering of REDCap, then there is no action needed on…


  • Self-Nominations Now OPEN: Necia Elvin Memorial Prize for Schizophrenia Research | Deadline May 1st, 2023

    *** Sent on behalf of Dr. Sophia Frangou, Professor and Associate Head, Research, UBC Department of Psychiatry *** Self nominations are now open for the Necia Elvin Memorial Prize for Schizophrenia Research. This prize of $1,600 has been made available through an endowment established by Dr. Memory Elvin-Lewis, family and friends in honor of her sister…


  • Dr. Roberto Sassi Recognized as an Outstanding Reviewer by CIHR and College of Reviewers

    The Department commends Associate Professor (Partner) and CAP Division Head Dr. Roberto Sassi on his recognition by CIHR and the College of Reviewers as an Outstanding Reviewer who has made exemplary contributions to the peer review process. This recognition is based on observations and feedback from Committee Chairs, Scientific Officers and CIHR staff during the…


  • Announcement of 2022/2023 Stimulus Grant Awardees

    Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Residents, We are pleased to announce the recipients of the inaugural Stimulus Grants. The Stimulus Grants Initiative was launched by the UBC Department of Psychiatry, in partnership with the UBC Institute of Mental Health (UBC IMH) and BC Children’s Hospital, with the aim to increase research capacity and support for…