PGY2-5 STACER Examiner List Update

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 Assessments of Clinical Evaluation Report) which include a 50 minute psychiatric assessment, presentation of the case, formulation, differential diagnosis and management plan, followed by examiners’ questions on the case. 

Some of you have been and are already involved in this PGY4/5 examination process and I wanted to thank you for your commitment to medical education.  Could you please complete the extremely short survey via the link below to indicate your interest in current and future involvement as we would like to ensure that our list is up to date.

The Royal College is now stipulating that a STACER also be completed for the PGY2 year (to determine if they have met competency to progress to PGY3).  For the PGY2 STACER, I would encourage those that are already PGY2 supervisors to sign up as you have the best understanding of when a PGY2 residents is ready for promotion.  The forms we are utilizing are the same Monthly Interview Evaluation forms that you are already familiar with.  

I am asking for those faculty that are interested in participating in either the PGY2 or the PGY4/5 exam process to fill out the same survey and indicate the year(s) you are willing to examine.  

Given that some tracks across the province are more short staffed, and given that we are now able to do these exams virtually, I am requesting that those who are interested in being on a provincial virtual STACER examiner list also please tick that box in the survey.

Survey Link: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9FV09svQFNAqbqe

Thank you all and best regards,

Irfan

Dr. Irfan Khanbhai MD, FRCPC
Clinical Associate Professor
Program Director
UBC Psychiatry Postgraduate Education Program

I humbly acknowledge, with gratitude, that I live, work, and play as an uninvited guest on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations. 

In the Spotlight | ISABEL BESTARD LORIGADOS

December 2023

Meet Ms. Isabel Bestard Lorigados, a PhD Candidate in the UBC Graduate Program in Neuroscience and a trainee in Alzheimer’s research in the Song Lab. She has been a member of the Department since 2019.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I started my scientific career while studying for my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Havana, Cuba. Working in labs and seeing the wonders of the brain on histological slides greatly spurred my interest in neuroscience. This experience ultimately encouraged me to look for new opportunities to get involved in research, which is why I decided to move to Canada to complete my undergraduate degree.

Continuing my studies in Canada also provided new opportunities for me to broaden my research experience as I was able to volunteer and complete my Undergraduate and Master of Science theses in a neurodevelopmental lab at York University. Over the past four years, I have dedicated my PhD to studying Alzheimer’s disease as part of Dr. Weihong Song’s lab at the Department of Psychiatry, hoping to provide a molecular foundation for developing more effective treatments.

What is one moment this past year that was truly memorable for you?

I successfully passed my Comprehensive Exam last September (2022), one of the most challenging times in my career that also helped me grow as a neuroscientist. I am very proud to have accomplished this milestone and received praise from my committee, which increased my confidence as a scientist and consolidated my worth and contributions to the neuroscience field and Alzheimer’s disease research.

What is the best piece of advice you can share with colleagues new to the Department or UBC?

For new trainees and colleagues, my advice is to get involved with events in our Department and UBC. For instance, volunteer with organizations that represent your values, attend colloquiums, seminars and conferences where you will learn novel and current research conducted in our field, and meet colleagues and network. Starting in a new place can be isolating, and meeting like-minded people going through similar professional experiences has been crucial for me.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy reading fiction books and volunteering in science communication and outreach activities. The new healthy habit I started last year and surprisingly enjoyed is running 5 kilometres on the beautiful UBC campus once a week.

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 Fellowship Program. In this role, he will spearhead the development and implementation of standard practices for the recruitment, admission, onboarding, supervision and evaluation of both Clinical Fellows and Clinical Postdoctoral Fellows in the Department, ensuring that the Program adheres to fellowship policies and procedures as set out by UBC. 

His other key duties will include supporting fellowship supervisors and site coordinators, and providing guidance for the creation of new fellowship opportunities in various clinical programs at our affiliated clinical sites. Further, Dr. Howard will be working closely with the Associate Head, Graduate and Undergraduate Medical Education, to support the development of a Master’s degree program for fellows, relevant to clinical or translational psychiatry. 

As a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry since 2006, Dr. Howard also holds an appointment as the Morning Academic Curriculum Director for our Postgraduate Education Program. Additionally, he serves as the Education Coordinator for the BC Neuropsychiatry Program, overseeing the development and improvement of education programs for neuropsychiatry fellows, psychiatry and neurology residents, and elective medical students. Meanwhile, he continues to be a dedicated teacher and supervisor to both psychiatry and neurology residents, has served on the UBC Psychiatry Clinical Faculty Appointment and Promotion Committee for a number of years, and has been involved in several recent studies in the areas of psychoactive therapies, mTBI and neurocognitive decline in schizophrenia.

If your program is currently training Clinical Fellows or Clinical Postdoctoral Fellows, or is planning to recruit a Fellow in the near future, please reach out to Dr. Howard at andrew.howard@vch.ca for further details regarding the Department’s updated processes for these fellowships. 

Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Howard to this important new leadership role within the Department.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham
Professor and Head
UBC Department of Psychiatry

Dr. Raymond Lam,
Professor and Associate Head, Graduate and Undergraduate Medical Education,
UBC Department of Psychiatry

The UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office respectfully acknowledges the land on which we live, work and play is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh).

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 2022 (84min DCP)
Director: Simon Chambers
Wednesday December 13th @ 7:00pm
The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St)

Film Description

When filmmaker Simon Chambers puts his work on hold to tend to his aging uncle David, he believes he will be helping for a few months. But months turn into years as Simon takes on the Herculean task of caring for David, a former actor who came out late in life. Stubbornly refusing to leave his cluttered house, and consequently endangered by associated hazards, David nonetheless indefatigably bursts into spontaneous song, dance, and King Lear soliloquies in the nude. Though there are moments when Simon’s patience with David wears thin, it’s obvious there is a special kinship between the two. Intimately shot and cleverly edited, with Simon’s narration offering a droll sense of calm amidst chaos, Much Ado About Dying is a touching account of the complexities of aging and the burden of care experienced by family members who take on the responsibility.

Best Directing
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2022

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“A candid, close-to-the-bone doc … Piercingly personal … [An] achingly funny-sad film.” — Guy Lodge, Variety

“One of the biggest hits emerging at IDFA … Simultaneously touching, endearing, and often riotously funny.” — Matthew Carey, Deadline

Post-screening Discussion:

Post-screening discussion with Amanda Brown, RSW. Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia

About the Panel:

Amanda Brown is a social worker and the director of Vancouver Coastal Health’s Re:Act Adult Protection Program. Her background is in geriatric mental health, and she has spent the last 23 years integrating BC’s adult protection law, the Adult Guardianship Act, into practice in a health care setting. She provides education, consultation, and systemic support to designated responders who investigate and intervene in situations where vulnerable adults are experiencing abuse, neglect, and self-neglect.

Dr. Harry Karlinsky, the Series Director of Frames of Mind and a Clinical Professor in the UBC Department of Psychiatry, has a longstanding commitment to professional and public education. He has presented nationally and internationally on topics ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to information technology to narrative medicine to PTSD and to the use of films in health care education.

Want to be a regular at Frames of Mind screenings on the third Wednesday of every month? Subscribe to the email list and be the first in line for tickets!

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 page://psychiatry.ubc.ca/education/residency-and-subspecialty-training-in-psychiatry/residency-program-in-psychiatry/

Elective requests can be made to Dr. Erin Michalak via this form: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b47gBgCE2cfz7ZH  

Please note if you’re submitting a request for an elective that you also need to email Dr. Erin Michalak at erin.michalak@ubc.ca to let her know that you’ve done so.

Warm wishes,

Erin Michalak and the Research and Scholarly Activity Committee

I work on the beautiful, traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples – the səlílwətaʔɬ (TsleilWaututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations

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 decision-making and better patient outcomes, health professionals need enhanced data analytics skills and literacy.

The UBC Micro-certificate in Health Data Analytics: Opportunities and Applications is a part-time technical program combining foundational data analytics training with local health system context and data. Co-developed by the UBC Department of Medicine and the UBC Data Science Institute, the program covers a range of topics, including data cleansing, preprocessing, analysis, visualization, machine learning algorithms and natural language processing—resulting in relevant skills you can apply in your day-to-day work.

Consisting of three courses, this 100% online micro-credential is delivered through a mix of weekly, instructor-supported classes and independent study. It takes about six hours per week to complete course work and contribute to online discussions—about 75 hours total. Please see the following website Health Data Analytics: Opportunities and Applications: UBC Micro-certificate Program for more details. The next session starts on January 23, 2024, and registration is open now.

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.

  1. Double check the sender’s address: Fraudsters will use email addresses that appear similar. ie. @UBCedu.ca, @helpUBC.com, @UBCmail.ca
  2. Avoid clicking on links from emails that you’re not expecting. They want to redirect you to a compromised website
  3. Never send sensitive information over email or text.    

And it’s not limited to email based attacks. There has been a rise in SMS text based phishing as well. Many fraudsters are disguising as shipping couriers and banks in an attempt to trick you into clicking on the link in order to steal credit card info and other personal data.

If you believe you’ve fallen for a phishing email, and your password has been compromised, IMMEDIATELY change your password and notify UBC Information Security team at Security@ubc.ca and PSYCH IT at Psychiatry.IT@ubc.ca. 

Here are some links below for tips and info about phishing prevention.
(Don’t worry, these links are legitimate😀) 

https://privacymatters.ubc.ca/phishing-emails
https://privacymatters.ubc.ca/spear-phishing
https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/phishing

*ATTN* Please save and close any documents located in your mapped drives before the end of Friday Nov 17. Server update and reboot is planned for Friday evening.

Tip of the week: Manage Mail Box

Getting warnings that you’re running low on mailbox space? The more email you send and receive, the larger your Outlook mailbox can grow. Large mailboxes can take longer to open and search, and many email providers, including Microsoft 365, limit the maximum size of your mailbox. If you receive a message that your mailbox is over its size limit, deleting messages and folders can help. Mailbox Cleanup function in the Outlook app is a one-stop-clean-up tool you can use to trim the size of your mailbox. Follow the link here for information on how to reduce your mailbox size. 

*Reminder* Another round of patches is being pushed down over the weekend. Please ensure to REBOOT your PCs at the end of your workday.

Tip of the week: Beware of “Spoofed” Web Pages

A common phishing tactic is providing a link that “spoofs” or imitates a legitimate company’s web page. For example, a cybercriminal may claim to be from Google or Microsoft and ask you to enter information on a particular form. This form will look virtually identical to the real thing, but it could be a place to share sensitive information with the criminal. If you’re unsure, please reach out to Psych IT or UBC IT for further assistance.
For more information you may visit the UBC cybersecurity page. 

Learn How to Sign Out from Your Google Account on All Devices

If you have a Google account, this tip is for you. If you’re concerned about unauthorized access to your Gmail account, due to forgetting to log out from a shared computer or noticing suspicious activity, there’s an easy solution. There is a page that lets you see what devices have activity on the account and how to sign those devices out of the account.

Google support has the full instructions here. But here are the quick steps:

  1. Open Gmail.
  2. In the top right, click your photo.
  3. Click ‘Manage your Google Account’.
  4. Click ‘Security’ on the left panel.
  5. Under ‘Your devices’, click ‘Manage all devices’.
  6. Choose a device.
  7. Click Sign out.

*Reminder* Please reboot your computers before leaving for the weekend. Our monitors are still showing multiple devices that require a restart for patching to complete. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PSYT IT.

Tip of the week: How to manage your desktop using Windows snapping feature

The Snap feature is a great way to improve your productivity by sharing many app windows on a single screen. Different layouts are available with many sizes to choose from, so you can get the most from your favourite apps when you are working on specific tasks. Follow this link to learn more about this feature.

Sincerely,

Simon Chong

Computer Systems Manager
Medicine | Psychiatry | Psychiatry IT
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
2C1 – 2255 Wesbrook Mall | Vancouver British Columbia | V6T 2A1 Canada
psychiatry.it@ubc.ca 
http://psychiatry.ubc.ca

The UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office respectfully acknowledges the land on which we live, work and play is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh).

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 congratulating to Dr. Roberto Sassi and Dr. Vijay Seethapathy and wishing them the best in their CPA Board of Directors role!

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

Steven Taylor

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 Professor Dr. Steven Taylor, who has been selected as one of the 7,125 highly cited researchers! Each researcher selected has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers™ which rank in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science™ over the past decade. However, citation activity is not the sole selection indicator. A preliminary list based on citation activity is then refined using qualitative analysis and expert judgement.

Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000.

Congratulations once again to Dr. Taylor on this amazing and well-deserved recognition!

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 research capacity in mental health.

The IMH, in partnership with the Department of Psychiatry, is now inviting applications from qualified candidates for Fellowship awards, which will be supported by the Marshall Fellows Program in Mental Health. Please see the Application Guidelines for more detailed information regarding the requirements and criteria for this award. This year, in accordance with the original award funding plan, the program will fund stipends of $75,000 for up to six Fellows. Since the Fellowship Program was originally developed to support the training of clinician scientist psychiatrists, a minimum of three (3) awards will be allocated to MDs.  The duration of funding is for one year only, however, Fellows may have an opportunity to apply for a one-year extension of funding in the following year. Current Fellows in their first year of funding in 2023-2024 may apply for an extension in 2024-2025 for a second and final year of funding.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, and I would like to ask that this information be circulated widely.

Applicants must submit their applications online at:
https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ5NkJiuHVkGCd8 by Wednesday, January 31, 2024 (11:59 pm PST).

If you have questions or require further information regarding these awards, please contact Vicky Yau, Director, Administration, at vicky.yau@ubc.ca.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lakshmi N. Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, MRCPsych (UK), MBA (Exec)
Professor and Head, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Director, Institute of Mental Health, UBC
Regional Head and Program Medical Director, VCH/PHC

The UBC Department of Psychiatry Administration Office respectfully acknowledges the land on which we live, work and play is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh).