2018 VHA Western New York Mental Health Summit Next Mission: Total Health

This conference will address clinical and professional competencies for front line staff. The variety of topics is geared to address the complexity of issues being seen in clinical settings for returning Veterans including: understanding of Whole Health/Total Health concepts, pain management, utility of CIH such as yoga, experiential experiences of active duty service persons, and understanding of current VA services. This conference speaks to the ICARE values we hold as providers of optimal health care to our Veterans, as well as the VA mission to care for Veterans with compassion and excellence, which also directly addresses issues of suicide prevention, in that, we will be better equipped to identify patients who are in distress (or have additional needs) through a greater sense of compassion and understanding through knowledge. The BIG change expected to occur includes providers being more aligned with patient goals of care, being patient-driven and understanding, as opposed to provider-driven care, which meets the greater goal of Whole Health. This is a knowledge based session.

8:00 Dr Drew Helmer MD, Complementary and Integrative Health Modalities for Veterans

9:00 Dr Wendy Guyker, PhD Trauma Informed  Yoga Practice

10:00 Dr Denise Mercurio-Riley, PhD Pain Management for Returning Veterans

11:00 James Becker and Delcey Pulvino, LMSW, CASAC Military Culture and Post Combat Re-Adjustment

12:00 Facility Tour and Lunch, various mental health staff

5 hours of Free CEU's provided upon completion of all 5 workshops and program evaluation.

Continental breakfast provided, lunch on your own. Food Trucks will be on site.

Registration required due to limited seating. Registration closes Friday 9/14, 2018.