Psychopharmacology: A Master Class

Sponsored by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. EST

This course is offered in-person only.

This seminar will begin with an updated review of modern neurobiology ranging from genomics, epigenetics and neurotransmitters systems to brain circuitry and imaging. The seminal role of child abuse and neglect in increased vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders will be explored with a focus on the long-term persistent effects of early life trauma on the brain and the body. An update on the pathophysiology of the major mood and anxiety disorders will be described including new data on inflammation. The latest data on suicide will be presented including risk factors and strategies for prevention.  

Treatment of depression, anxiety, and women’s psychiatric disorders will be described. The evidence-based effectiveness of antipsychotic medications will be emphasized  as augmenting agents in major depression. Newer agents such as brexanolone, bupropion-dextromethorphan combination and augmenting medications including pramipexole for the treatment of mood disorders will be discussed with an emphasis on treatment-resistant depression including bipolar depression. Medications in development will also be described The benefits and risks of ketamine and esketamine will be explored as well as the uses of ECT and TMS. A comprehensive review of depression comorbid with medical illnesses will be highlighted, particularly the role of depression in cancer and cardiovascular illness and the necessity for treatment.  

The neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders (including GAD, OCD, and panic disorders) as well as their treatment will be reviewed with special emphasis on management of treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Advances in personalized or precision medicine will be a major focus of the course including both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The controversy concerning the use of pharmacogenomic tests to predict antidepressant treatment response will be discussed in detail. Finally, the burgeoning area of psychedelic medicine in psychiatry will be comprehensively reviewed. 

The seminar will emphasize the establishment and importance of the therapeutic alliance when prescribing all psychotropic medications. 

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to: 

  • Apply the latest advances in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders and understand the potential role of pharmacogenomic testing in the selection of specific psychiatric medications;
  • Evaluate treatment options for treatment resistant bipolar and unipolar depression including psychotherapies; 
  • To assess the neurobiological mechanism and evidence-based treatment of depressive and anxiety spectrum disorders including PTSD; 
  • Determine when to implement switch versus augmentation strategies for treatment resistant depression; 
  • Analyze the use of ketamine with benefits and hazards in treatment resistant depression; 
  • Demonstrate when to use ECT and TMS for the treatment of depression; 
  • Recognize the role of psychiatric medications during a woman’s life cycle: pregnancy, delivery, post-partum, nursing and menopause; 
  • Analyze the role of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD;
  • Understand the current data base on the efficacy and side effect profile of psychedelic medications.
Monday,
February 24, 2025 
 
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Registration 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Basic Neuroscience: From Molecules to Symptoms: An updated and clinically relevant review of neurobiology as it applies to the etiology and pathophysiology of psychiatric illness, and psychotropic drug treatment effects. 
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Paradise Lost: The Neurobiology of Child Abuse and Neglect. A discussion of the long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on the brain and the body and their implications for disease vulnerability and treatment response. 
Tuesday,
February 25, 2025
 
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Advances in Suicide Research: Focus on Risk Factors and Genetics. A discussion on biological and genetic risk factors and their impact of suicide.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The Status of Laboratory Testing to Predict Antidepressant
Response: Problems and Promises. A discussion of the status of pharmacogenomic and other biomarkers for predicting antidepressant treatment response. 
Wednesday,
February 26, 2025 
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.  The Management of Treatment Resistant Depression: The Art and the Science: Management of treatment resistant depression with a focus on psychopharmacological treatments; review of STAR*D study and other evidence based clinical trials; ECT and TMS. 
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Coffee Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  Ketamine and Esketamine: The Amazing, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A discussion of the data on the safety and efficacy of ketamine and esketamine in the management of treatment resistant depression. 
Thursday,
February 27, 2025
 
 
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Worry, Worry, Worry: Treatment of Anxiety Disorders  
10:15 am – 10:30 a.m.
Coffee Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The Future of Psychedelics: Problems and Promises
 

Friday,
February 28, 2025
 

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.  Neurobiology and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – Biology, epidemiology, and treatment of PTSD. 
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Coffee Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  The Interface of Medical and Psychiatric Disorders: Focus on Cancer and Heart Disease. The high rates of comorbidity of depression and certain medical disorders and their treatment. 
12:15 p.m.
Course Adjourn 

 

SEMINAR FORMAT Meets Monday-Friday: 9:00 am- 12:15 pm. Please note coffee is available during registration and a continental breakfast will be served at 10:15 am daily. SPECIAL REQUESTS If special arrangements are required for an individual with a disability to attend this conference, contact Kim Miele at psychcme@med.miami.edu at least 15 days prior to the conference. TUITION Physician, Nurse Practitioner, and Other Health Professional fees: Early bird pricing is $995; after 12/16/24, registration fee is $1,095. Residents, Fellows in Training, and Full-time Student fees are $695. The fee for taking a second week is $750—and the processing fee (non-refundable) is $10. Registration by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) or check can be made through the University of Miami secure registration system. REFUND POLICY Refunds, less an administrative fee of $100, will be issued for all cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the course. Refund requests must be received by email. No refund will be issued should cancellation occur less than two weeks prior. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee, and no refunds will be issued once the conference has started. ONLINE INFORMATION To register or view activity information online, visit: https://secure.touchnet.net:443/C20708_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=970&SINGLESTORE=true ELECTRONIC SYLLABUS We provide all attendees with completely free access to all slide presentations in digital PDF format before the conference. This is an environmentally friendly alternative that helps lower costs for all attendees. The e-syllabus will be available for 30 days after the conference. You can purchase a printed copy at the time of online registration for $55. Please note we will not have hard copies of the syllabus available for purchase at the conference.

WEEK-LONG SEMINARS
Meets Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.
Please note coffee is available during registration, and a continental breakfast will be served at 10:15 a.m. daily.

PHYSICIAN CREDIT
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine designates these live activities for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Through an agreement between the American Medical Association and the European Union of Medical Specialists, physicians may convert AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to an equivalent number of European CME Credits® (ECMECs®). Information on the process of converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to ECMECs® can be found at: www.eaccme.eu.

PSYCHOLOGISTS
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 15.00 CE credits will be awarded to psychologists for attendance at these seminars.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND REGISTERED NURSES

These activities have been submitted to ANA Massachusetts for approval to award contact hours. ANA Massachusetts is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. For more information regarding contact hours, please email psychcme@med.miami.edu

  • Psychopharmacology: A Master Class, Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD
  • The Aging Brain: Navigation Cognition, Mental Health and Psychopharmacological Treatment
    Elizabeth Crocco MD, Rosie Curiel, PsyD, Philip Harvey, PhD and David Lowenstein, PhD
  • Clinical Psychopharmacology: Beyond Conventional Wisdom, Nassir Ghaemi, MD, MPH, and Luca Pani, MD
  • Effective Strategies for the Management of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders, David Martinez, MD, Dhruti Patel, MD, and Roger Weiss, MD

All other winter seminars meet the specifications of the Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR).

Social Workers
Application for social work continuing education credit has been submitted. Please contact Kim Miele at psychcme@med.miami.edu with any questions.

National Board of Certified Counselors
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7482. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

INQUIRIES
By phone at 941-932-2671, Monday-Friday, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. (EST), or by email at psychcme@med.miami.edu

DISCLOSURE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST MITIGATION
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine has assessed conflict of interest with its faculty, authors, editors, and any individuals who were in a position to control the content of this CME activity. Any identified relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated.

The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine planners, content reviewers, and editorial staff disclose no relationships with ineligible entities. All the relevant financial relationships for these individuals have been mitigated.

ABMS/ACGME COMPETENCIES

All seminars are designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)/ Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

    • Patient Care and Procedural Skills
    • Medical Knowledge
    • Practice-based Learning and Improvement
    • Interpersonal and Communication Skills

TARGET AUDIENCE
The winter seminars are a series of seminars for health professionals in psychiatry, psychology, neurology, medicine, surgery, geriatrics, pediatrics, nursing, social work, and counseling.

Avatar

Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD

Matthew P. Nemeroff Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences; Director, Institute for Early Life Adversity Research and Co-Director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. He is a past Leonard M. Miller Professor and Chairman in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is the President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and past President of the American College of Psychiatrists, the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology, and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Nemeroff is a National Academy of Medicine member and author of over 1,200 scientific articles and book chapters. He is the co-editor of the Textbook of Psychopharmacology and co-editor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

LOCATION

The Grand Beach Hotel Miami Beach, Florida, is in an amazing location overlooking more than 200 feet of beautiful white sandy tropical beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Built-in 2009 and completely renovated in 2018, our modern Miami Hotel offers the highest levels of luxury and comfort. Our leisure facilities include two hot tubs, a state-of-the-art gym with unbeatable panoramic sunset views, as well as three different swimming pools, including two beach-level family pools and our top-floor tranquility pool (adults only), offering something for every guest.

Miami Grand Beach Hotel, 4835 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140

To reserve your hotel room, click: https://tinyurl.com/3a5ca6wh

Group Code: 2402DPBS

Or call 305.534.8666 EXT: 4520 and mention you are with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Winter Seminars. You can also email Alessandra Cammarata at acammarata@grandbeachhotel.com.

INQUIRIES
Please email Kim Miele at psychcme@med.miami.edu or call 941.932.2671, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday.

THINGS TO DO IN MIAMI

Everglades

Miami Double Decker City Tour

Miami Zoo

Miami Aquarium

Miami Heat Game

Miami Dolphins Game

Miami Boat Show

South Beach Food and Wine Festival

Golf Courses

PGA National Resort

Trump National Doral Miami

Normany Shores Golf Club

Miami Shores Country Club

JW Marriot Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa – Soffer Course

Miami Beach Golf Course

Tennis Courts

Flamingo Park

Margaret Pace Park

Crandon Park Tennis Center

Fisher Island Club

Morningside Tennis Center

Restaurants

Nobu Miami

Cecconi’s Miami

Ocean Social by Chef Tristan Epps

Prime 54

Donna Mare Trattoria

Santorini – Best Happy Hour in Town

Misc Fun Things to Do

Little Havana Food Tour

Perez Art Museum

Sailing Adventure

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Frost Science Museum and Aquarium

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden

Bayside Marketplace