Medical Directors from around the state met at the UNC William and Ida Friday Center, May 21, for the Sixth Annual Medical Directors’ Network Symposium to learn about changes in North Carolina’s 
public mental health system and to hear from other experts about management and best practices for clinical topics. Approximately 60 medical directors from Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Community Care North Carolina (CCNC), former CABHAs and Comprehensive Community Clinics (CCCs) attended the one-day program. John Gilmore, MD, director of the Center, hosted the program.
Keynote speaker Randall Williams, MD, FACOG, the state’s new deputy secretary in North Carolina Health and Human Services and director of Public Health, opened the program with an update of changes he sees in the coming year that will impact psychiatrists and health care in North Carolina.
In the Symposium’s popular management session, Valarie Zeithaml, PhD, MBA, David S. Van Pelt Family Distinguished Professor, in marketing, at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, presented “A look at service excellence in health care.”
David Penn, PhD, Linda Wagner-Martin Distinguished Professor; director of Psychological Services at UNC OASIS, (Outreach and Support Intervention Services) presented research and clinical information on treatment for adolescents and young adults who are experiencing their first episode of mental illness in “Early intervention for psychosis.” He also shared information about a new technical service that OASIS is providing for clinicians around the state.
In the afternoon session, Matthew Holmes, MD, medical director, Meridian Behavioral Health Services in Western North Carolina and Fred Jarskog, MD, professor, UNC Department of Psychiatry; director, North Carolina Psychiatric Research Center, looked at the use of clozapine in North Carolina in their presentation; “Clozapine: Moving beyond the ivory towers.” Ureh “Nenna” Lekwauwa, MD, medical director, North Carolina Division of Mental Health, served as moderator.
“The annual meeting continues to provide medical directors across the state an opportunity to hear from our state health care leaders, to improve their leadership skills and get updates on clinical issues they encounter on the job,” says John Gilmore, MD, director of the Network and the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, Thad and Alice Eure Distinguished Professor and vice chair, Research and Scientific Affairs, in the Department of Psychiatry.
“It is also a nice opportunity to network and see how others are approaching issues common to all providers in the state’s mental health system.”
The Medical Directors’ Network is a collaboration with North Carolina AHEC.
Photo L-R John Gilmore MD, Randall Williams MD, and Ureh “Nenna” Lekwauwa, MD