Inova Children’s Hospital Sponsors Primary Pediatric Psychopharmacology Fellowship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2017

CONTACT: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org

FALLS CHURCH, VA – Inova Children’s Hospital is sponsoring the REACH Institute’s Primary Pediatric Psychopharmacology Mini-Fellowship program, October 20-22. The REACH program provides pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, psychiatrists and neurologists with up-to-date training in the use of psychiatric medications for children and adolescents.

The three-day course, which provides 28 hours of Continuing Medical Education, will be delivered by world-class faculty of pediatricians, developmental behavioral pediatricians, clinical nurse specialists and child and adolescent psychiatrists and is designed to train clinicians on how to transform their practices, increase productivity, and improve work satisfaction.

The REACH Institute mini-fellowship is interactive and focused on building skills in diagnosing and treating pediatric behavioral health problems including the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, PTSD, depressive disorders, ADHD, aggression and bipolar disorder.

All participants will receive custom-designed toolkits with guides, assessment instruments, dosing and side effect charts, medication comparison tables and handouts for patients and parents. The course registration is full, but there is a wait list for interested physicians.

According to a recent youth study by Fairfax County, more than 35 percent of students experience high levels of stress, and more than 25 percent reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row. More than 13 percent said they had considered suicide.

“Never has the need for access to mental health care been greater and never have the benefits of resources and quality care been more meaningful,” said David P. Ascher, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Inova Children’s Hospital. “The REACH Institute fellowship program teaches physicians the best practices and the tools to diagnose and effectively treat pediatric behavioral health problems.”

Fairfax County has launched Healthy Minds Fairfax, a new initiative to expand services to help children, youth, and families access mental health and substance abuse services through a coordinated network of county agencies, schools and providers, including Inova.

About Inova

Inova is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that serves more than 2 million people each year throughout the Washington, DC, metro area and beyond. Inova is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient services and facilities, primary and specialty care practices, and health and wellness initiatives.

Inova encompasses the full array of health services, including the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit. We are home to many nationally and internationally recognized programs, including Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI), Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI), Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute (ISCI).

Inova is a global leader in the science of genomics and the new era of personalized health, which uses a person’s genetic make-up, family and medical history, and lifestyle to determine the best prevention and treatment. We connect researchers, clinicians and empowered consumers to improve patient care, enhance prevention and encourage wellness.