Announcing the National Network of Depression Centers 3rd National Conference

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – The National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) announces its 3rd National Conference, to be held September 29th and 30th in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center. This year’s conference, hosted by Harvard – Brigham & Women’s Hospital, features keynote speaker Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, Inc., and the launch of ‘Vital (A)(R)(T),’ a curated exhibition focused on mood disorders, hope and recovery. 

    The NNDC National Conference will include discussions and working group meetings about repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), NNDC research and clinical care initiatives, depression in children and adolescents, and bipolar disorder care management. The conference will also include topics such as establishing comprehensive depression centers, suicide prevention in special populations, fundraising strategies for depression centers, scientific collaboration forums, and utilizing the Center Assistance Program (CAP).
    The first day of the conference, September 29th, will culminate with an opening reception for Vital (A)(R)(T). The exhibition aims to inform the public discourse about depression, bipolar, and other mood disorders by utilizing art to reach across audiences. A number of the artists featured in this exhibition have either lived with depression or experienced mental illness through others. These contemporary works are put into context with graphic posters on mental health and health care, from the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, Los Angeles, and panels showcasing famous artists through history who suffered from mood disorders. Contemporary artists include: Anne Mondro, Maki Kaoru, and Matt McDonough.
    NNDC 3rd NATIONAL CONFERENCE
    Location:
      Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School
        77 Avenue Louis Pasteur
          Boston, MA 02115

        Day One: September 29, 2009
        • Opening &Welcome by Gary Gottlieb, M.D., M.B.A., President, Brigham & Women’s Hospital: 2:00 PM
        • Keynote Speaker Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, Inc.: 2:30 PM
        • NNDC Governing Board Meeting (for Governing Board Members): 4:00 PM - 7:00PM
        • Innovation at Depression Centers: 4:00 PM - 7:00PM
        • Welcome Reception Vital (A)(R)(T): 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

        Day Two: September 30, 2009
      • Welcome by Joseph B. Martin, M.D., Ph.D., and David Silbersweig, M.D.: 8:30 AM- 10:30 AM
      • Scientific Presentations and Discussions of Clinical Care, Research, Public Policy, Women and Mood Disorders, and Fundraising: 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM

          • Host:
            Harvard – Brigham & Women’s Hospital

            For more information contact:
              Gayle McAleenan
                734-998-8135 | gmcaleenan@nndc.org

                Introduction

                  Founded: October 24, 2008 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
                  President & CEO: Rabindar Subbian, M.B.A., M.S.W.
                  Elected Officers of the NNDC Governing Board
                  Founding Chair: John F. Greden, M.D.,
                  University of Michigan Depression Center
                  Vice Chair: David Silbersweig, M.D.,
                  Harvard – Brigham & Women’s Hospital
                  Secretary: Terrence Ketter, M.D.,
                  Stanford University
                  Treasurer: Frank V. deGruy III, M.D., M.S.F.M.,
                  University of Colorado Denver Depression Center
                  A national network analogous to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network is a key component to effecting a true transformation of care and someday a cure for people suffering from depression and bipolar disorder. The National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) is a network of the nation’s leading depression centers and academic medical centers in the field of mood disorders. The mission of the NNDC is “to improve the quality, effectiveness, and availability of depression and bipolar illness diagnosis, treatment and prevention so people can live better lives.” A multi-disciplinary approach is one of the key principles of the network.
                  On October 24, 2008, 16 university-based departments of psychiatry and associated multi-disciplinary colleagues adopted the NNDC Charter at a historic event in Ann Arbor, MI – home of the University of Michigan Depression Center, to become Charter “Center of Excellence” members of the network.
                  As “Center of Excellence” members, the institutions plan to take the steps to build and / or integrate the clinical expertise, organizational structure, partners, information technology, and funding to form new depression centers and expand existing ones. Four areas have been identified as domains of focus for the network – clinical care, research, education & teaching, and public policy. The near-term goals of the NNDC include:
                • Establishing Comprehensive Depression Centers: to expand existing depression centers and establish new centers at NNDC member sites.
                • Education & Outreach: expand education and outreach efforts of NNDC member institutions.
                • Collaborative, Multi-site, Translational Research: to encourage and fund large-scale collaborative research initiatives; develop protocols for cooperation; and strengthen capacity for the development of translational / “bench to bedside” / “Molecules to Main St.” treatments.
                • Informatics Infrastructure: establishing informatics infrastructure that will facilitate collaborative translational research.
                • Clinical and Care Management Guidelines: improving existing and developing new real-time clinical and care management guidelines in depression, bipolar and related illnesses.
                • Integration of depression and bipolar illness care in Primary Care: explore options for the network to integrate care for depression, bipolar and related illnesses in primary care.