Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic to Host Several Regional Training Programs in April

The Office of Education and Regional Programming at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) will host several training programs throughout the region during the month of April.

Programs include:

Thursday, April 5:

“Essentials of Health Care Project Management” will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at NorthCo in RIDC Park, 104 Beta Drive, O’Hara Township. This program is presented by Melanie M. Connell, J.D., P.M.P., a business systems analyst from UPMC’s Information Services Division and e-Health Group. Designed for health care professionals with limited prior training, this course will teach key concepts of project management.

“Bottom Line Basics: Demystifying Financial Reports” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at NorthCo. Presented by Scott Leff, M.S., director of counseling from the Bayer Center for Non-Profit Management at Robert Morris University, this program will improve attendees’ financial management skills by examining a variety of financial reports.

Tuition for the above programs is $40 for one, $75 for both.

Friday, April 13:

“Practical Applications of Cognitive Behavior Therapy” will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UPMC Northwest, Seneca, Pa. Presenters include WPIC experts Frank A. Ghinassi, Ph.D., vice president of quality, performance and improvement; Jack F. Cahalane, Ph.D., M.P.H., chief of adult services; and Bradley Sanders, L.C.S.W., a psychiatric social worker. Designed for mental health and drug and alcohol professionals, this program will present an overview of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model with a focus on therapy for individuals who experience disorders such as panic disorders, eating disorders, addictions, anxiety and depression. Tuition for this program is $75.

Wednesday, April 25:

“Caregivers: Understanding Loss and Grief” will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room MOB A&B at the Weirton Medical Center, W.Va. Presenter Lillian L. Meyers, Ph.D., F.T., will discuss losses across the life cycle as well as the grieving process. This program is intended for mental health professionals, physicians, medical students, nursing staff, nursing students and hospice staff. Tuition is $40.

Wednesday, April 25, Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27:

“Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Training for Staff in Community Mental Health Settings,” a three-day program that will take place daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Regional Conference Center at the Mayview State Hospital in Bridgeville. This program will educate participants on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an approach for working with individuals with borderline personality disorder and other severely dysfunctional disorders. DBT has been shown to improve patients’ interpersonal relationships as well as reduce their suicidal behaviors, substance abuse, treatment dropout and psychiatric hospitalizations. Diane Johnson, R.N., B.S.N., a WPIC Neighborhood Living Project supervisor and DBT trainer will facilitate the training.

Registration for this training program is limited to 50 people and tuition is $250. A one-day consultation will take place approximately six months after training.

All of these programs provide continuing education credit for eligible professionals who attend, including psychologists, certified addiction counselors, certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners, counselors, social workers, educators and other health care professionals.

For questions or to register, contact Nancy Mundy at 412-802-6910 or e-mail mundynl@upmc.edu. For a complete listing of programs from the Office of Education and Regional Programming at WPIC, visit www.wpic.pitt.edu/oerp.