Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Highlights from the 2019 December Trip
This was another exciting and productive trip, especially since it coincided with the grand celebration of the 40th anniversary of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP). Drs. Gertler, Appell, Vesselle, and Veith were honored during the opening ceremonies of the 40th Anniversary International Scientific Conference as recipients of a Certificate of Merit for their contributions to CTUMP over the years.
Dr. Ian Bennett collaborated on mental health presentations as well as making his own contributions to Family Medicine sessions. Dr. Bennett was also able to spend several days focused on implementing his recently funded NIMH research project in concert with his co-investigators from the CTUMP Department of Public Health. The focus of the grant is to develop an implementation model for the management of perinatal depression and reduce the risk of perinatal suicide in several communes in the Can Tho region.
Drs. Veith and Bennett had been asked by Dr. Thai Thi Ngoc Thuy, CTUMP Chair of Family Medicine, to participate in a Family Medicine continuing education conference held the day before the 40th Anniversary International Scientific Conference convened. Dr. Bennett graciously gave presentation prepared by he and Dr. Veith, “Global Burden of Mental Health Illness: How to Integrate Mental Health Care in Primary Care Settings.” He delivered his own presentation, “Improving the Care of Common Perinatal Mental Disorders,” as well as Dr. Veith’s planned presentation, “Diagnosis and Management of Depression and Anxiety.”
Drs. Veith and Bennett had also been asked by Drs. Thuy and Dr. Pham Thi Tam, Dean of Public Health Department and former CTUMP Vice-Director, to give presentations and co-chair scientific sessions as part of the 40th Anniversary International Scientific Conference. Dr. Veith co-chaired the Family Medicine session and gave a presentation, “Research Update on Depression and Heart Disease: Relevance for Primary Care/Family Medicine.” He also co-chaired one of the Public Health Sessions and gave the presentation, “Global Burden of Mental Health Illness: Providing Mental Health Care in Under-Resourced Settings.” These sessions were well attended and enjoyed active discussion by the participants.
On Sunday, accompanied by Dr. Nguyen Van Thong and several of his psychiatric colleagues, Dr. Veith was invited to participate in a program involving the local psychiatric and medical community sponsored by the Kien Giang Psychiatric Hospital and to give a presentation on “Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Disorders.” There was also an opportunity to have an extensive discussion of the collaborative care psychiatric model involving another participant in the program, Dr. Nguyen Kim Viet, former Director of the Vietnam National Institute of Mental Health in Hanoi. This was a highly opportune meeting and productive discussion.
On Monday and Tuesday, Dr. Veith returned to the Can Tho Psychiatric Hospital with Dr. Thong and his colleagues to teach approximately 100 medical students each morning and interview patients and conduct case discussions in the afternoon. He gave the presentation on “Assessment and Treatment of Sleep Disorders,” and using the web-based platform, Socrative, engaged the students in a participant-interactive presentation on “Diagnosis and Management of Common Anxiety Disorders.” This was enjoyable and kept the students engaged. In the afternoon each day, Dr. Veith personally interviewed seriously depressed patients and used the interviews and other cases to review the mental status exam, differential diagnosis, and treatment options for several patients.
On Wednesday, Drs. Veith and Gertler had the pleasure of meeting again with Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Viet Nga, Deputy Director of Can Tho Children’s Hospital, and her leadership team. We discussed plans for the March 2020 visit by the MEET/UW Child Psychiatry team and agreed to have Dr. Kathleen Myers follow-up with Dr. Nga and the director for educational activities, Dr. Tran Nam Anh. We were joined by the hospital Director, Dr. Tran Van De, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the hospital and MEET, formalizing the ongoing partnership. We then toured the newly established mental health outpatient clinic and the clinical laboratories. Dr. Nga had asked for future assistance in updating the laboratory processing operations.
Dr. Veith along with Dr. Jim LoGerfo will continue to extend ongoing educational, research and program development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
