UNMC and co-sponsors in 25 communities across Nebraska invite the public to participate in the UNMC Mini-Medical School, a free health education series titled, “Behavioral Health: Perception, Impact, Reality.”
The series, which will run April 12, 19 and 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (central time), will provide insight into mental health issues and what UNMC is doing to deal with them.
Topics of the series include adult and child issues in depression, addictions and issues of the aging mind.
The series will be broadcast live from the UNMC Durham Research Center Auditorium in Omaha via satellite to Atkinson, Broken Bow, Chadron, Columbus, Fremont, Grand Island, Harrison, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, Lincoln, Lynch, Neligh, Norfolk, North Platte, O’Neill, Osmond, Pender, Red Cloud, Rushville, Scottsbluff, Sidney, Wayne and West Point.
It also will be available in Omaha at Clarkson West Medical Center, 2727 S. 144th St., Suite 200, and Metro Community College North Omaha Campus, 30th & Fort, Building 7.
Mental illness touches almost everyone at some stage of life, yet remains one of the most misunderstood afflictions in today’s society.
Steven Wengel, M.D., professor and chairman, UNMC Department of Psychiatry, said in one survey, 90 of 93 Nebraska counties were considered to be psychiatric shortage areas.
“There are not enough psychiatrists to go around,” Dr. Wengel said. “There’s a shortage all away across the board.”
It’s estimated one out of every four Americans probably are affected by some sort of significant mental illness, he said.
“So virtually every family has been touched by it, but most people don’t really understand much about mental illness unless they really had personal experience with it or a family member,” he said.
Mini Medical School participants will learn about some of the new discoveries in diagnosing mental illness, as well as treatments, which have changed a lot in the last 10 years, Dr. Wengel said.
Participants also will learn about basic science and clinical studies being conducted by UNMC researchers and physicians to achieve better understanding and treatment to reduce the burden of mental illness.
Anyone with the satellite downlink capability can tune into the series on Nebraska Satellite System 2, Channel 106.
Here is a brief overview of each night’s presentations:
April 12: “Your Child’s Mind. What’s going on in there?” will focus on children’s mental health disorders. Dr. Wengel will present “Development of the brain CEO.” Cindy Ellis, M.D., UNMC associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, will give a talk titled “Typical child and adolescent behavior: When a kid is just being a kid.” Christopher Kratochvil, M.D., UNMC associate professor of psychiatry, will present “Current issues in ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and pediatric depression.”
April 19: “‘Mind’ Fields: Navigating Adulthood,” will focus on adult mental health issues. James Sorrell, M.D., UNMC assistant professor of psychiatry and director of University Psychiatry Division, will talk about depression in his presentation titled “Depression: The challenge of making life meaningful in contemporary society.” Todd Stull, M.D., UNMC assistant professor of psychiatry and medical director of the University Drug and Alcohol Program, will present “Addiction medicine: General Concepts and Features.” Martin Wetzel, M.D., UNMC assistant professor of psychiatry, will present “ADHD and Adulthood: New Awareness and New Opportunities.”
April 26: “Aging with Peace of Mind” will address how aging can affect mental functions and how to spot the symptoms. Carl Greiner, M.D., UNMC professor of psychiatry, will present “Where did I put my car keys? — Is it Alzheimer’s disease or normal aging?” and “I’m having trouble making decisions: A discussion about executive dysfunction.”
A panel discussion will be moderated by Prasad Padala, M.D., program director of the UNMC Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship and UNMC assistant professor of psychiatry. Panelists will include Joann Betts, medical social worker, UNMC Department of Psychiatry; Rosalee Yeaworth, Ph.D., dean emeritus and professor emeritus, UNMC College of Nursing; Carl Greiner, M.D., UNMC professor of psychiatry; and Dr. Wengel.
Seating for Mini-Medical School is limited. Registration is required. To get more information or to register, go to http://www.unmc.edu/minimed. While the program is free to the public, continuing education credits are available for $40 for nurses (6.0 contact hours), nurse practitioners, physicians and physician assistants (maximum 6 AMA Category 1 Credits).
Easy registration for all locations can be completed online at http://www.unmc.edu/minimed, by e-mail at minimed@unmc.edu or by calling (402) 559-2900 or toll free (877) 852-0013 for those outside the Omaha area.
Sites for UNMC Mini-Medical School are listed below.
- Atkinson, West Holt Memorial Hospital, 406 W. Neely St.
- Broken Bow, Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center, Telemedicine Rooms, 145 Memorial Drive (Limited space available)
- Chadron, Chadron State College, April 12 location: Burkhiser Building, Room 200; April 19 and 26 location: Student Center, Scottsbluff Room, 1000 Main St.
- Columbus, Central Community College, 4500 63 St., North Education Center, Room 904
- Fremont, Fremont Area Medical Center, Dunklau Conference Room, 450 E. 23rd St.
- Grand Island, Central Nebraska AHEC at College Park, Room 305, 3180 W. Highway 34
- Harrison, Sioux County Courthouse, Meeting Room, 325 Main St.
- Hastings, Central Community College, Platte Building/Room 132, E. Highway 6
- Holdrege, Central Community College — Holdrege Center, Phelps County Ag Center, 1308 2nd St.
- Kearney, UNK — Distance Education, Communications Building, CMCT 241, 1910 University Drive
- Lincoln, College of Dentistry Dixon Lecture Hall, 40th and Holdrege streets
- Lynch, Niobrara Valley Hospital, Telehealth Room, 401 S. 5th St.
- Neligh, Antelope Memorial Hospital, Occupational Therapy Room, 102 W. 9th St.
- Norfolk, Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center, Suite C for April 12 and 26 and Suite E on April 19, 801 E. Benjamin Ave.
- North Platte, McKinley Education Center, 301 W. F St., use south entrance
- Omaha, Durham Research Center, Durham Research Plaza and Emile Street
Free parking in Lot 2 and Patient Parking structure - Omaha, Clarkson West Medical Center, 144th and W. Center Road, Suite 200 (enter on building side facing Oakview Mall, 2nd floor)
- Omaha, Metro Community College — North Omaha Campus, 30th and Fort streets, Building 7
- O’Neill, North Central District Health Department, Conference Room, 422 E. Douglas St.
- Osmond, Osmond General Hospital, Telehealth Room, 402 N. Maple St.
- Pender, Pender Community Hospital, Basement Meeting Room, 603 Earl St.
- Red Cloud, Webster County Historical Museum, Exhibit Hall, 721 W 4 (W. Highway 136)
- Rushville, UNL Extension in Sheridan County, 105 Loofborrow
- Scottsbluff, UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division, University Complex Panhandle Station, Room 201, 4502 Ave. I
- Scottsbluff, Regional West Medical Center, Monument Room, 4021 Ave. B
- Sidney, Western Nebraska Community College, 371 College Drive
- Wayne, Wayne State College, Connell Room 131, 1111 Main St.
- West Point, St. Francis Memorial Hospital Telehealth Room, 430 N. Monitor St.