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ForwardFebruary 13, 2025: 14th Jack Green, M.D., Lecture in Psychiatry - In the Room Where it Happens: Clinical Experience and Research Impact on State Legislative Advocacy
Overview
In the Room Where It Happens: Clinical Experience and Research Impact on State Legislative Advocacy
Description:
Psychiatry has a critical role in addressing the growing mental health crisis; and yet, legislative advocacy is not a core component of most psychiatric training programs. While psychiatrists and allied mental health professionals are uniquely positioned to provide evidence-based insights on issues such as access to care, funding, and treatment innovation, psychiatrists may not feel they can effectively influence mental health policy. This lecture highlights that taking on advocacy experiences can empower psychiatrists to engage with policymakers, educate stakeholders in research and clinically based knowledge, and ensure better outcomes for underserved populations (Piel, 2018; Sagot & Flugrad, 2024) Locally organized medicine, including professional associations and medical societies, serves as a vital avenue for engaging mental health professionals in legislative advocacy. These organizations provide resources, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with policymakers, helping psychiatrists understand the legislative process and how to effectively communicate clinical and research insights to shape policy (Soklaridis, 2018).
Target Audience
This program is intended for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, General and Family Practice Physicians, Psychiatric Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify actionable channels in which to get involved that improve mental health care access and parity policy.
- Explain the need to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis in the seriously mentally ill to the community.
- Describe legislative advocacy measures being advocated for to help reduce periods of time for patients with psychotic disorders and histories of violence and incarceration.
- Assess the values of organized medicine to enhance the psychiatric physician and other allied mental health professional voices.
SPEAKER(S)
Jhilam Biswas, MD
Faculty
Jhilam Biswas, MD
Dr. Biswas is a board-certified Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist and is the Director of the Psychiatry, Law and Society Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Co-Director of the Harvard Mass General Brigham Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. She is also the Forensic Lead on the Psychiatry Consult-Liaison Service at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Before her time at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Biswas worked at Bridgewater State Hospital, a strict-security forensic hospital and prison, as a forensic psychiatrist and at Simmons University in college mental health.
After graduating from Dartmouth College as a Sociology major, she worked and went to the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her Residency at Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Program and her Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She was a SAMHSA Minority Fellowship recipient.
Dr. Biswas is the President-Elect of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society (MPS) and was Secretary, Councilor, and Chair of the Psychiatry and Law Committee before her current role. Her clinical work and research have focused on serious mental illness, cultural competency, the criminalization of mental illness, violence and suicide risk, and physician well-being. Dr. Biswas’ research in untreated serious mental illness has supported and led legislative bills on timely treatment and assisted outpatient treatment and other efforts at the Massachusetts State House that are sponsored by MPS. Dr. Biswas was awarded the MPS Award for Outstanding Psychiatrist in Early Career in 2023 for her contributions in this area.
Disclosures:
CE Information
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of McLean Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. McLean Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
McLean Hospital designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- 1.00 Nursing Contact Hours
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 13, sections 13, 14, 14A, 15 and 15D and Chapter 112, sections 74 through 81C authorize the Board of Registration in Nursing to regulate nursing practice and education.
This program meets the requirements of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR 5.00) for 1.00 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit. Advance practice nurses, please note: Educational activities which meet the requirements of the ACCME (such as this activity) count towards 50% of the nursing requirement for ANCC accreditation.
- 1.00 Social Workers
The Collaborative of NASW, Boston College, and Simmons College Schools of Social Work authorizes social work continuing education credits for courses, workshops, and educational programs that meet the criteria outlined in 258 CMR of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers
This program has been approved for 1.00 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. Collaborative of NASW and the Boston College and Simmons Schools of Social Work Authorization Number
- 1.00 Participation
This course allows other providers to claim a Participation Certificate upon successful completion of this course.
Participation Certificates will specify the title, location, type of activity, date of activity, and number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ associated with the activity. Providers should check with their regulatory agencies to determine ways in which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may or may not fulfill continuing education requirements. Providers should also consider saving copies of brochures, agenda, and other supporting documents.
- 1.00 Psychologists CE Credit
The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This offering meets the criteria for 1.00 Continuing Education (CE) credits per presentation for psychologists.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, MGH Institute of Health Professions is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
1.0 Physicians
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
1.0 Physician Associates/Assistants
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Live
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials
MGH Institute of Health Professions has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until {Expiration Date). PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
1.0 Nursing
MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 contact hours for nurses. The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
1.0 Pharmacists
This activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing education credit.
NOTE FOR PHARMACISTS: Upon closing of the electronic evaluation, IHP will upload the pharmacy-related continuing education information to the CPE Monitor within 60 days. Per ACPE rules, IHP does not have access nor the ability to upload credits requested after the evaluation closes. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician to provide the correct information [NABP ePID and DOB (in MMDD format)] in order to receive credit for participating in a CE activity.
1.0 Psychologists:
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. MGH Institute of Health Professions designates this activity for 1.0 CE credit.
1.0 Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, MGH Institute of Health Professions is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. MGH Institute of Health Professions maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 clock hours for continuing education credits.
1.0 IPCE Credit
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.