July 2015 / VOLUME 10/ ISSUE 4 HEADLINES News from the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University FEATURE COVER STORY A seat at the CPA Dr. Pamela Forsythe appointed Chair-elect of CPA Board The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) will welcome a new Chair of the Board during their Annual General Meeting in Vancouver this October. That Chair is none other than our own Dr. Pamela Forsythe, assistant professor and psychiatrist in Saint John, New Brunswick. A Distinguished Fellow of the CPA, she becomes the first woman to chair the CPA Board. In the fall of 2014, after some deliberation, Dr. Forsythe answered a call for candidates to fill the position of Chair of the Board. “I have always appreciated my involvement with the CPA and wanted to reconnect in a more meaningful way,” she says of her decision to put her name forward. The nominating committee issued an invitation for her to meet with the Board during their spring meetings in Ottawa in April, at which time she was voted into the position. Dr. Forsythe is no stranger to the CPA. She joined the CPA as a resident. Not long after she began practicing in Prince Edward Island she served on a standing committee and subsequently became the [Continued on page 3] www.psych.dal.ca Message from the Head in this issue This issue of Headlines calls for 1 congratulations to many members cpa board of the department, starting with Dr. Pamela Forsythe, who is the subject 2 of our cover story. Dr. Forsythe will message from the head be making history as the first female Chair of the Board of the Canadian 4 Psychiatric Association. In recent research report years, Maritime representation on the Board has been strong, and Dr. Dr. Nick Delva 7 Forsythe’s service in this new role will education report completing the Global Health provide continued excellent leadership Certificate), toDr. Joseph Sadek (for from our area of the country. 9 completing the Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Certificate), to child and adolescent report Congratulations are in order for the Dr. (who published his winners of a number of awards, and Allan Abbass first book), toDr. Phil Tibbo (for work 10 worthy of special mention is Dr. Marie included in the Mental Health Strategy report from the sun life chair Claire Bourque, who received the for Canada), and Clerks’ Choice award for the third year Drs. Tomas Hajek and (whose original work 11 in a row (i.e., from three separate sets Cindy Calkin on the relationship between diabetes news and announcements of clinical clerks)! This is exceptional. and bipolar disorder was mentioned in Congratulations also to Dr. Margaret the Psychiatric Times). 15 Rajda on receiving the Program photo feature Directors’ Award for Leadership; her You will be interested to read about accomplishments included bringing Dr. John Fisk, and learn about his our postgraduate program to the research. This includes a considerable current status of full Royal College focus on Multiple Sclerosis, and work accreditation, which it has now enjoyed done here by Dr. Fisk has helped to for several years. demonstrate an increasing prevalence of this disease in Canada, a very Congratulations to the three graduates important finding. It is clear that more of our general psychiatry residency research on this fairly common and program, Drs. Rachel Bell, Jacob serious illness is very much needed. Cookey, and Vanessa Thoo, all of One hopes that the cause of this whom were successful in passing their condition will soon be found, and This newsletter is published for Royal College examinations! Dr. Bell effective treatments developed. the Department of Psychiatry at will be practicing in British Columbia, Dalhousie University. Dr. Cookey will be staying with us, 5909 Veterans’ Memorial Lane, On July 2, we welcome our new PGY- 8th Floor, Abbie J. Lane Building working clinically at the Cole Harbour 1 residents: Drs. Laura Downing, Halifax, NS B3H 2E2 Clinic and doing research with the Nadia Hassanali, Matthew Havenga, Early Psychosis Program, and Dr. Melissa Lahti, Alexandra Manning, Editor: Dr. Aidan Stokes Thoo will be undertaking a subspecialty Katherine Radchuck, and Crystal residency in geriatric psychiatry in Compilation, Layout, and Design: Zhou; and PGY-2, Dr. Kerry Murray. Kate Rogers Ontario. We are sorry to lose Dr. Sanjay Rao Submissions should be sent to: Congratulations also to Ms. Sandra to Ontario, but happy that he will [email protected] Hennigar and Dr. Peter Adediran (for [Continued on page 3] 2 www.psych.dal.ca CPA Board continued from page 1 provincial representative on the they share with many voluntary years of her training part time to Board. She joined the executive professional organizations that are accommodate family responsibilities. when she started on the presidential largely supported by membership Now, as a working mother of four rotation and completed her year as dues. “Both costs and expectations adult children, she has had lots of past president in 2001. She co- are on the rise and we have heard experience searching for that elusive chaired the CPA section on physician from members that effective advocacy work/life balance. She hopes to health for a few years and during her should be an important function use this experience and knowledge presidential rotation, served as the we continue to provide,” says Dr. to engage the next generation of CPA representative to The Canadian Forsythe. “Another challenge for us psychiatrists in the CPA. “For me Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental is to be seen as a vital organization personally,” she says, “as I come Health (CAMIMH). Later she returned for subspecialty psychiatry, closer to retirement, I would like to to CAMIMH because of her position complementary to the Academies’ feel that I have contributed to our as the president of the Schizophrenia activities. We want to be the voice of efforts to improve the system in Society of Canada. That resulted all Canadian Psychiatry.” which we work and to promote the in further involvement organizing expectation of Canadians that our Dr. Forsythe is currently the director Mental Illness Awareness Week for a society values mental health equally of student affairs at the Dalhousie couple of years when she had further with physical wellbeing.” Medical School in New Brunswick. interactions with the CPA. When she Both this position and her clinical Between now and October Dr. starts her three-year term as Chair of work have been part-time for the last Forsythe will be briefed on current the Board in October it will mark 36 few years. As a result, when she issues and the strengths and years of involvement with the CPA. takes on this new role and her time as challenges of the CPA. She will have In her new role as Chair, she will be director of student affairs ends, she numerous meetings with outgoing working with the CEO and staff of doesn’t expect any great changes in chair, Dr. Donald Addington, as well the CPA. She will chair the executive her commitment to the Department of as outgoing president, Dr. Michael committee and all board meetings. Psychiatry, though admits, “There will Teehan, our own deputy head of Because the other executive and be a few more scheduling changes the Department of Psychiatry. Both board members have staggered for my admin assistant to sort out!” have been assets to the CPA. “I have terms, Dr. Forsythe will provide some big shoes to fill,” says Dr. Forsythe, Dr. Forsythe’s inauguration will mark continuity and context and will act as “and unfortunately will not have Dr. a new era at the CPA. For the first the representative for the organization Teehan’s calm presence at the table time since it was founded in 1951, the with some of the other mental because his presidential rotation is Board will be chaired by a woman. “I health sector NGOs and national concluding as I come on.” Despite am honoured to be the first woman organizations that are not within the Dr. Teehan’s exit, Dr. Forsythe’s in this position,” says Dr. Forsythe. president’s portfolio. experience and drive make her a “Our profession’s gender mix has very capable Chair of the CPA Board. Dr. Forsythe becomes Chair during changed a lot since I started my Congratulations Dr. Forsythe, a well- a period where the CPA will be residency back in 1979.” At that time deserved accomplishment. completing a governance review she was the first Canadian resident and addressing the fiscal challenges in psychiatry to complete several Message from the Head continued from page 2 be retaining a connection with the for his latest photograph, a beautiful photographs in our recent issues of department and continuing to train study in green and white. We Headlines. therapists in Nova Scotia in CBT. have been fortunate to be able to In closing, I would like to wish include Dr. Amanullah’s excellent Thanks to Dr. Shabbir Amanullah everyone an enjoyable summer. www.psych.dal.ca 3 Research Report BY MS. JANET BARDON, ADMINISTRATOR, RESEARCH research day 2015 This year’s event is scheduled for training at Queen’s University. (MST) for refractory symptoms in Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Lord He entered residency training these disorders. He has been a Nelson Hotel. Now in its 25th year, in psychiatry at the University of NARSAD (Brain and Behaviour Psychiatry Research Day promotes Toronto. While still a resident Dr. Research Foundation) Lieber student involvement in research and Daskalakis began graduate studies at Young Investigator, a NARSAD showcases the department’s diverse the Institute of Medical Science at the Independent Investigator and holds expertise to our university and local University of Toronto, supervised by or has held CIHR, Ontario Mental communities.