UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Faculty and Trainee Participation at AACAP 2025
January 9, 2026
Faculty and trainees from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, and the University of Pittsburgh contributed widely to the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) through invited educational sessions, symposia, leadership roles, and the presentation of original research abstracts and posters. Below is a summary of our faculty and trainee contributions. Additional information is available on the AACAP conference website.
Scientific Sessions, Symposia, and Workshops
Do International Medical Graduates Hustle Enough? Unpacking Bicultural Identities Through an Eriksonian Lens
Session
Rameshwari V. Tumuluru, MD — presenter
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Collaborative and Integrative Care Committee
Committee session
Abigail B. Schlesinger, MD — committee chair
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Authenticity in Mentorship: Cultivating a Brave Space Utilizing Vulnerability and Self-Compassion
Session
Sansea L. Jacobson, MD — presenter
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 12: Risk and Resilience in Infancy and Toddlerhood: Identifying Early Signals of Increased Likelihood for Child Mental Health Disorders
Symposium
Heather Marie Joseph, DO — symposium chair
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Workshop 19: Making Sense of Individual Education Program Reports and Neuropsychological Assessments
Workshop
Dara J. Sakolsky, MD, PhD — workshop presenter
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
Member Services Forum 15: How Collaborative Care Enhances Your Practice and Increases Child Mental Health Access
Member services forum
Abigail B. Schlesinger, MD — presenter
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 7: Psychosis and Autism: Flexibility in Conceptualization and Fluidity in Adaptation of Treatment
Clinical Perspectives session
Tushita Myanil, MD – discussant
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 12: Do Healthy Boundaries Exist in This Digital Age? Balancing Healthy Relationships and Confidentiality in High-Intensity Group-Based Treatment Settings
Clinical Perspectives session
Alexis G. McGathern, MD – chair
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 21: Bridging Potential and Peril: Integrating AI and Large Language Models in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Symposium
Neal D. Ryan, MD – discussant
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
AACAP’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Caucus
Caucus session
Rameshwari V. Tumuluru, MD — presenter
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
CALOCUS-CASII and ECSII Advisory Group
Advisory group session
Neal D. Ryan, MD — advisory group member
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Member Services Forum 17: Straight to Specialization: A 4-Year Pathway to Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist-Only Board Certification
Member services forum
Sansea L. Jacobson, MD — presenter
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 84: Blunt Truth: Exploring the Links Between Cannabis and Psychosis
Clinical Perspectives session
Tushita Mayanil, MD — Discussant
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Plenary Session 5: James C. Harris, MD, Developmental Neuropsychiatry Forum
Plenary session
Kristin A. Dalope, MD — chair
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Diversity and Culture Roundtable: AACAP Comes Together to Build the Village Fostering Collaboration Across AACAP to Address Inequity in Services in Rural and Urban Communities
Roundtable session
Rameshwari V. Tumuluru, MD — chair; Shinnyl Chou, MD, PhD – presenter
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
The Early-Career Psychiatrist Life: Balancing Beginnings: Navigating Motherhood and the Early-Career Psychiatrist Journey
Session
Shinnyi Chou, MD, PhD — chair
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Symposium 50: Research Advances for Suicidality and Nonsuicidal Self-Harm: Perspectives From Early-Career Researchers
Symposium
David A. Brent, MD — discussant
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
AACAP’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Caucus
Caucus session
Rameshwari V. Tumuluru, MD — copresenter
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Workshop 34: “Am I Missing Pediatric Catatonia?”
Workshop
Kristin A. Dalope, MD — workshop faculty
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
Symposium 4: Mobile Sensing in Pediatric Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Symposium
Danella Hafeman, MD, PhD — chair
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 14: Navigating Identity and Adversity: Understanding and Responding to the Mental Health Needs of BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth in a Climate of Discrimination
Clinical Perspectives session
Mckenzee Chiam, MD — chair and presenter
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Media Theatre 4: Heartstopper: A Discussion of Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ Youth
Media Theatre session
Mckenzee Chiam, MD — chair
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Member Services Forum 6: Supercharge Your AACAP Membership: Getting Involved in AACAP to Advance Your Career, Make Meaningful Connections, and Learn High-Yield Member Benefits
Member services forum
Justin Schreiber, DO — presenter
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Symposium 49: New Developments in DBT for Youth and Families
Symposium
Tina R. Goldstein, PhD — chair and presenter
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Oral Research Abstract Presentations
(Names are for presenting author only. Coauthor names omitted.)
Clinical Perspectives 12.3: Just What the Partial Hospital Program Needed
Abstract presentation
Alexis G. McCathern, MD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 12.4: Infant Eye-Gaze and Social and Behavioral Problems in the Preschool Period
Abstract presentation
Alison E. Hipwell, PhD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 25.4: Pennsylvania’s Population-Based Approach to Child Psychiatry Access Program Funding Through Medicaid
Abstract presentation
Abigail B. Schlesinger, MD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 27.1: Primer on the Basics of AI
Abstract presentation
Raymond J. Pan, MD, MS
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 4.2: Prediction of Depression and Hypomania in Young People With Bipolar Disorder
Abstract presentation
Danella Hafeman, MD, PhD
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 14.1: Clinical Impacts of Policy Initiatives on LGBTQ+ Asian American Youth
Abstract presentation
Mckenzee Chiam, MD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 23.4: Anhedonia in Adolescent Depression
Abstract presentation
Erika E. Forbes, PhD
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Symposium 44.4: Services Claims Prior to First Episode of Schizophrenia
Abstract presentation
Tushita Mayanil, MD
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Symposium 49.3: DBT for Youth With Bipolar Disorder
Abstract presentation
David J. Kolko, PhD
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 12.4: Help! My Teens Are Always Online
Abstract presentation
Rameshwari V. Tumuluru, MD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Institute 2.2: Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Syndromes
Abstract presentation
Tushita Mayanil, MD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Institute 2.7: Redefining Recovery in Early Psychosis Care
Abstract presentation
Shannon R. Pagdon, BS
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Symposium 3.3: Implementation and Training Challenges
Abstract presentation
Teri Pentz, LPC
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Symposium 4.3: Evaluation of MoodRing Passive Mood Monitoring
Abstract presentation
Ana Radovic, MD, MSc
Monday, Oct. 20, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 19.2: Working With SAMHSA
Abstract presentation
Kimberly Blair, PhD
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Clinical Perspectives 66.3: The Music I Want to Hear
Abstract presentation
David A. Brent, MD
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
Research Poster Presentations
(Names are for presenting author only. Coauthor names omitted.)
New Research Poster 1.44: Community-Level Supports and Cognitive Flexibility in Depressed Youth
Poster presentation
Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum, PhD
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
New Research Poster 2.85: Longitudinal Predictors of New-Onset Substance Use Disorder
Poster presentation
Danella Hafeman, MD, PhD; Tina R. Goldstein, PhD; Boris Birmaher, MD
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
New Research Poster 4.39: Anhedonia Improvement With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Poster presentation
Kalyan Tripathy, MD, PhD; Neal D. Ryan, MD; Erika E. Forbes, PhD
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025
New Research Poster 2.63: Youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis
Poster presentation
Kalika Mahato, MD; Tushita Mayanil, MD
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
New Research Poster 1.89: PTSD Following Sport-Related Concussion
Poster presentation
Raymond J. Pan, MD, MS
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
New Research Poster 5.20: Early Identification of Postpartum Depression
Poster presentation
Maya Singh, ScM
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
