Psychology Education Day

On Monday, June 4, 2018 the Psychology Service at VA Boston Healthcare System held its annual Psychology Education Day, a day long continuing education conference. This year’s theme was “From Across the World to Your Office: Integration of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Research, Education, Clinical Practice, and Organizational Policy.”  Key speakers included our own, BU Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the VA National LGBT Health Program, Jillian Shipherd, PhD who spoke about Transgender Veteran Care and BU Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Lisa Fortuna, MD who discussed “A Socioecological Stress Model for Research and Clinical Effectiveness in Working with Refugee Immigrant Communities.”  Also featured were John Pachankis, PhD, speaking on, “The Epidemic of LGBT Depression and the Surprising Science of the Closet,” and Karen Suyemoto, PhD, “Fostering Mental Health by Promoting Social Justice and Resisting Racism.”  In addition, concurrent breakout sessions were offered by BU faculty and VA professional staff members including: Christina Borba, PhD, Scott Litwack, PhD, Rafael Ortega, MD, Colleen Sloan, PhD, Tejas Srinivas, MA, and Julie Weismoore, PhD.  Over one hundred VA Boston HCS psychology staff and trainees were in attendance for this extremely informative and successful day. A special thanks to our organizing committee, Scott Litwack, PhD, Colleen Sloan, PhD and Risa Weisberg, PhD, to Steve Lancey, PhD, Marie Foley, Marcquis Johnson, and Neysa Wright for technical and logistical arrangements, and to all our speakers and presenters.