Rogers experts provide community awareness of eating disorders, suicide, more

04/20/22 05:27:pm

Rogers psychologists, psychiatrists, and other team members regularly share their perspectives in the community by participating in media interviews, webinars, Facebook Lives, and other presentations. Here is what they spoke on over the last couple months:

Reflecting on the pandemic’s ongoing effects on mental health

Tyler Rickers, DO, medical director of Focus Depression Recovery adult care, was interviewed by WKOW-TV (ABC 27, Madison) about the long-term mental health implications from the pandemic.
Amanda Heins, PsyD, a psychologist in Oconomowoc, spoke with WDJT-TV (CBS 58, Milwaukee) and Spectrum News 1 in Milwaukee about the uptick in depression and anxiety within children and teens two years into the pandemic. She also presented on coping strategies for children and adolescents with anxiety, possibly due to COVID, for Children’s Wisconsin social workers.
With a significant increase in suicide rates since the pandemic, local news outlets sought insight from Rogers experts. Jerry Halverson, MD, chief medical officer, appeared on WDJT-TV (CBS 58, Milwaukee) and WITI-TV (FOX 6, Milwaukee), while Nancy Goranson, PsyD, a psychologist in West Allis, was interviewed for Spectrum News 1 in Milwaukee.
Dr. Halverson also participated in a Milwaukee Business Journal roundtable with other area healthcare leaders on “Lessons Learned: What COVID-19 exposed, what it changed, and what it will do to the way healthcare is delivered.”
Stephanie Eken, MD, medical director, Outpatient Services, spoke on “What the past can tell us about the future: Impact of telehealth on access during COVID-19” at the 2022 Anxiety and Depression Association of America conference.
Josh Nadeau, PhD, senior clinical director in Tampa, presented at the Pacific Northwest Chapter of EAPA’s two-part series on the pandemic’s effects on anxiety.
Ajeng Puspitasari, PhD, clinical director in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Maria Trenda, lead therapist in Minneapolis, delivered a grand round lecture for a university in Indonesia on the topic of behavioral activation implementation during COVID.

Bringing awareness to eating disorders

During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Brad Smith, MD, medical director of the Oconomowoc campus and Eating Disorder Recovery, and Dr. Eken did several media interviews, discussing the increase in cases, symptoms, and how Rogers can help. Dr. Smith appeared on WITI-TV (FOX 6, Milwaukee) and WDJT-TV (CBS 58, Milwaukee), and Dr. Eken was a guest on a Tampa radio show.
Dr. Smith, was also interviewed about eating disorders for a new medical series on WBAY-TV (ABC 2, Green Bay). A former Rogers patient, who competed in the Beijing Olympics, was also part of the story.
Kaitlin Hill, PhD, a clinical supervisor in Oconomowoc, and Claire Bowar, a registered dietitian in Oconomowoc, conducted a presentation for Carroll University on “Disordered eating: Real talk about pressures we all face, myths about eating disorders, and when to get help.”

Sharing insight on the impact of substance use

Following the announcement that Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services would distribute 1,600 fentanyl testing strips to help prevent opioid-related deaths, Nathan Valentine, MD, medical director, Herrington Center for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, talked to WTMJ-TV (NBC 4, Milwaukee), calling the move a game changer when it comes to life or death.
Sue McKenzie Dicks, vice president, healthy culture, presented at Lyra’s Breakthrough conference on breaking down stigma and barriers to support employees and loved ones impacted by addiction. (Lyra is an employee assistance program offered to Rogers employees.) Sue also gave an overview of the Compassion Resilience Toolkit for Tempo, a professional association for women leaders in Milwaukee.
Laura John, clinical supervisor in Appleton, was interviewed for the Appleton Post-Crescent about the rise in methamphetamine possession in Outagamie County.
After a crime in Green Bay, Wisconsin, involving methamphetamine, Gene Yang, MD, a telehealth psychiatrist, spoke with multiple outlets, including WLUK-TV (FOX 11, Green Bay), about the drug’s dangerous effects.

More speaking opportunities included:

Derrick Jordan, vice president of operations, Brown Deer, was featured as one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “People to Know.” He shared his insights on why he chose a career in healthcare, his advice for someone trying to advance their career in the field, and how the pandemic has changed healthcare.
John Boyd, PsyD, Hospital Division CEO, participated in a story on WUWM-Radio (89.7 FM, Milwaukee) with therapist Beth Anstandig about her new book The Human Herd.
Christopher Lowden, MD, associate medical director, Central Service Area, and Dr. Goranson presented a CE webinar on the topic of sleep awareness and mental health.
Lauren Ehret, PhD, clinical supervisor in Oconomowoc, and Peggy Scallon, MD, medical director, Focus Depression Recovery adolescent residential care, also conducted a recent CE webinar. Theirs was on the topic of “Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder in adolescence: When, why, and how to integrate into treatment.”
Program manager Emily Jonesberg and training specialist Hanna Maechtle, both from Community Learning and Engagement, spoke at NAMI Southeast Wisconsin’s Finding Your Strength Conference, which was sponsored by WISE and Rogers. Hanna also held a self-care workshop for sixth graders at Asa Clark Middle School in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

In addition, Emily presented on tips for building compassion resilience at Clintonville School District in Clintonville, Wisconsin, conducted an overview of the Parent and Caregiver Compassion Resilience Toolkit for interested partners through NAMI Southeast Wisconsin, and spoke on building inclusion, hope, and resilience at NAMI’s Crisis Intervention Partner Training.
Emily, Hanna, and training specialist Sharon Dossett held an Up to Me participant group for the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health Lived Experience Academy. Sharon also presented on building compassion resilience for Children’s Wisconsin social workers.
Kelly Piacsek, PhD, vice president, Research, and Sheldon Garrison, PhD, a research scientist, participated in a Facebook Live on Rogers Research Center. For more details, read a recap in the March issue of Insight.
Dr. Smith offered insight on the components of competency exams for court hearings with WLUK-TV (FOX 11, Green Bay).
David Jacobi, PhD, clinical director in Sheboygan, presented on OCD and anxiety in adolescents at the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Winter Refresher Course.
Chad Wetterneck, PhD, clinical director, Trauma Recovery, provided a trauma overview for a mental health clinic in West Allis.

Please contact Hilary.Dickinson@rogersbh.org if you have an upcoming speaking opportunity you would like included in Insight, and please share photos when available.