Dear Residents, Faculty, and Staff,
Please save the date on your calendar and join us on celebrating the Postgraduate Psychiatry Grad Gala 2025.
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Venue: Sage Restaurant
Address: University Centre, 526331 Crescent Rd
Please stay tuned for more details and a forthcoming invite.
Sincerely,
Raquel Portillo Henriquez
Senior Program Assistant, PGE
UBC Department of Psychiatry
All Department members across the province are invited to attend the UBC Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds. The next session will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 8:30 am on Zoom. The session, An update from the Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs, and Concurrent Disorders: the transformation of BC system of care for MHSU, is presented by Dr. Daniel Vigo, Associate Professor with the Department and Chief Scientific Advisor for Psychiatry, Toxic Drugs, and Concurrent Disorders with the province of BC.
A single registration link is available for all 2025 Grand Rounds:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For additional information regarding the monthly UBC Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds please contact Kevin Elsaputra at kevin.elsaputra@vch.ca.
Add the 2025 Grand Rounds events to your calendar: Download calendar
The VCH/PHC Regional Psychiatry Grand Rounds are now the UBC Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds and are accessible via Zoom to all Department members across the province. Grand Rounds are held the first Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise stated), from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.
The Grand Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
UBC Department of Psychiatry Associate Professor Dr. Daniel Vigo has been named to Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 list 2025, for taking action against an epidemic.
“In June, Premier David Eby announced the appointment of Dr. Vigo as B.C.’s chief scientific advisor for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, and since then, Eby has regularly referred to him as the guide for his institutionalization policy.”
Read the full article here…
Join us in congratulating Dr. Vigo on this well-deserved recognition!
Congratulations to UBC Department of Psychiatry Professor and Associate Head, Dr. Sophia Frangou, who has been awarded the European Psychiatric Association’s (EPA) Constance Pascal – Helen Boyle Prize for 2025. The €10,000 prize recognizes the Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in Working to Improve Mental Health Care in Europe.
Dr. Frangou’s research uses advanced neuroimaging and bioinformatics methods to study brain-behaviour relationships and how they are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Her work has greatly advanced the understanding of the pathophysiology of mood and psychotic disorders and made groundbreaking contributions to the characterization of brain mechanisms of “resilience”.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Frangou on this well-deserved award, which recognizes her exceptional contribution towards better mental health care in Europe.
**Shared on behalf of Dr. Jehannine (J9) Austin, Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Head, UBC Department of Medical Genetics**
If you are a psychiatrist practicing or in training in British Columbia, we want your insight on how genetic testing for antidepressant prescription could be delivered to patients.
Fill out this brief questionnaire to express your interest in participating in the study, Healthcare professional focus groups to develop implementation strategies for pharmacogenomic testing for depression.
This study is funded by Genome British Columbia (BC) and will help us understand how pharmacogenomic testing (i.e., genetic testing that can provide information on how an individual may respond to certain medications) for depression can be effectively implemented in BC.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jehannine (J9) Austin
Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Head, UBC Department of Medical Genetics
We respectfully acknowledge 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).
** Shared on behalf of Dr. Janel Casey & Dr. Trisha Chakrabarty, Co-Heads, Mood and Anxiety Program, UBC Department of Psychiatry**
Dear Department Members,
As part of the re-inaugurated Mood and Anxiety Program, we invite all interested faculty and trainees to participate in our Mood Disorders Challenging Case Rounds.
These rounds offer a collaborative space for clinicians and trainees to seek guidance on complex and challenging mood disorder cases. Participants may present a full case or a focused clinical query, receiving feedback from the core specialists of the UBC Mood Disorders Centre and attending departmental members.
For those unable to attend, there is an option to submit a written case summary or query for discussion, with a written summary of recommendations provided afterward. Department members are also welcome to join the rounds as observers.
📅 When: Every 4th Wednesday of the month, 12:00 – 1:00 pm (via Zoom)
📅 Upcoming dates: February 26, March 26, & April 23, 2025
If you’re interested in attending, presenting, or submitting a written query for any of the above dates, please email trisha.chakrabarty@ubc.ca.
We hope these rounds provide a valuable opportunity to leverage the department’s expertise in mood disorders to enhance patient care. We look forward to the discussions!
Sincerely,
Dr. Janel Casey & Dr. Trisha Chakrabarty
Co-Heads, Mood and Anxiety Program
UBC Department of Psychiatry
We respectfully acknowledge 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).
Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
** Shared on Behalf of Dr. Andrea Tuka, Chair, EDIA Committee, UBC Department of Psychiatry **
Dear Colleagues,
First, we would like to congratulate Dr. Jehannine (J9) Austin, who has recently been appointed Head, UBC Department of Medical Genetics. With this appointment, they will be stepping down from their role as Academic Faculty Representative with the UBC Department of Psychiatry EDIA Committee, and we thank them for their enthusiastic work and meaningful contributions on the committee. With their departure, we are now seeking expressions of interest and nominations for a new Academic Faculty Representative.
The Department of Psychiatry’s Strategic Plan identifies the advancement of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDIA) as a strategic priority. Our EDIA Committee unifies the previous faculty-level and resident REDI Committees, and includes representation from the graduate student and staff groups. The Committee’s mandate is to advise the Department Head on the specific opportunities and challenges facing the Department with regard to EDIA, and to develop an action plan which will promote a culture that values and supports the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism amongst Department faculty, staff and learners.
Eligibility:
Selection Process:
Individuals on the Committee are selected through a nomination/self-nomination process, and the Academic Faculty representative will be chosen in consideration of their personal experience, principles of EDIA, and relevant areas of expertise. Their willingness to serve on this critically important committee and their guidance and commitment to supporting the Department will further enhance our role in the advancement of EDIA.
How to Nominate:
Please send your name (or the name of the proposed nominee), along with a brief statement of interest (not to exceed 200 words), to Dr. Andrea Tuka (andrea.tuka@ubc.ca) by February 28th.
Thank you and we look forward to receiving your nominations.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andrea Tuka, CD, MD, FRCPC
Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Chair, EDIA Committee, UBC Department of Psychiatry
We respectfully acknowledge 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).
Dear Department Members,
On behalf of Dr. Lakshmi Yatham, Head, UBC Department of Psychiatry, you are invited to a Retirement Tea Reception to be held in honour of Professor Dr. Kerry Jang. Please join us on Monday, March 31st in the DHCBH Lobby for light refreshments.
Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Venue: Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH, 2215 Wesbrook Mall) Ground Floor Lobby, UBC Vancouver Campus
We would also like to acknowledge the retirements of Dr. Elton Ngan, Associate Professor, and Dr. Peter Reiner, Professor, who send their regrets.
Please ensure you RSVP by Monday, March 24, 2025 to be added to the guest list.