This seminar will begin with an updated review of modern neurobiology ranging from genomics, epigenetics and neurotransmitters systems to brain circuitry and imaging.
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Course Description
The seminal role of child abuse and neglect in increased vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders will be explored with a focus on the long-term persistent effects of early life trauma on the brain and the body. An update on the pathophysiology of the major mood and anxiety disorders will be described including new data on inflammation. The latest data on suicide will be presented including risk factors and strategies for prevention.
Treatment of depression, anxiety, and women’s psychiatric disorders will be described. The evidence-based effectiveness of antipsychotic medications will be emphasized as augmenting agents in major depression. Newer agents such as brexanolone, bupropion-dextromethorphan combination and augmenting medications including pramipexole for the treatment of mood disorders will be discussed with an emphasis on treatment-resistant depression including bipolar depression. Medications in development will also be described The benefits and risks of ketamine and esketamine will be explored as well as the uses of ECT and TMS. A comprehensive review of depression comorbid with medical illnesses will be highlighted, particularly the role of depression in cancer and cardiovascular illness and the necessity for treatment.
The neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders (including GAD, OCD, and panic disorders) as well as their treatment will be reviewed with special emphasis on management of treatment resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Advances in personalized or precision medicine will be a major focus of the course including both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The controversy concerning the use of pharmacogenomic tests to predict antidepressant treatment response will be discussed in detail. Finally, the burgeoning area of psychedelic medicine in psychiatry will be comprehensively reviewed.
The seminar will emphasize the establishment and importance of the therapeutic alliance when prescribing all psychotropic medications.
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Objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply the latest advances in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders and understand the potential role of pharmacogenomic testing in the selection of specific psychiatric medications.
- Evaluate treatment options for treatment-resistant bipolar and unipolar depression, including psychotherapies.
- Assess the neurobiological mechanism and evidence-based treatment of depressive and anxiety spectrum disorders, including PTSD.
- Determine when to implement switch versus augmentation strategies for treatment-resistant depression.
- Analyze the use of ketamine with benefits and hazards in treatment-resistant depression.
- Demonstrate when to use ECT and TMS for the treatment of depression.
- Understand novel treatments under development.
- Analyze the role of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD.
- Assess the current database on the efficacy and side effect profile of psychedelic medications.
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Agenda
Date Schedule Monday, Feb 23, 2026 8:30–9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00–10:15 a.m. Basic Neuroscience: From Molecules to Symptoms
10:15–10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Paradise Lost: The Neurobiology of Child Abuse and Neglect
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 9:00–10:15 a.m. Advances in Suicide Research: Focus on Risk Factors and Genetics
10:15–10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Status of Laboratory Testing to Predict Antidepressant Response
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026 9:00–10:15 a.m. The Management of Treatment Resistant Depression: The Art and the Science
10:15–10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Ketamine and Esketamine: The Amazing, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 9:00–10:15 a.m. Worry, Worry, Worry: Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
10:15–10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Future of Psychedelics: Problems and Problems
Friday, Feb 27, 2026 9:00–10:15 a.m. Neurobiology and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
10:15–10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. The Interface of Medical and Psychiatric Disorders
12:15 p.m. Adjourn
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Faculty
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Venue Information
The Sunny is an oceanfront boutique hotel in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, blending modern, thoughtful design with a legacy of warm, personalized hospitality. Family-owned for three generations, this vibrant beachfront retreat offers thoughtfully crafted spaces and exceptional service—welcoming anyone looking to relax and unwind under the sun.
Guests can enjoy our newly renovated oceanside pool with full-service dining, break a sweat in our state-of-the-art fitness center with dedicated studio spaces, and savor every meal at ¡VIVA!, our signature restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and craft cocktails. Just steps away, the historic Newport Fishing Pier offers Miami Beach’s only over-the-ocean dining experience—making every stay at The Sunny feel effortlessly special.
The Sunny Hotel
16701 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
Toll Free: 1-800-327-5476
Email: info@thesunnyhotel.com
Hotel website: https://www.thesunnyhotel.comA block of rooms has been reserved for the conference participants at a discounted rate. Use the booking link below to receive a discounted rate.
Rates start at just $309 and go up to $429. Please note the discounted room rate expires on January 14, 2026.
UM Department of Psychiatry 2026 – Winter Seminars
- Group Direct Booking Link - No login/Attendee Code needed
- Group General Booking Link - User will be required to enter Attendee Code (UMPSY)
You may call the hotel at 800-327-5476 and mention you are with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Continuing Education, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Please let them know if you are attending the Winter Seminars for a discounted hotel rate. You can also email James at james@lemonadehospitality.com.
Please note that the hotel is currently undergoing a name change from Newport Beach Hotel to The Sunny Hotel.
Inquiries
Please email Tonia Attard at psychcme@med.miami.edu or call 941.539.0500, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (EST) Monday–Friday.
Things to Do in Miami
- Everglades
- Miami Double Decker City Tour
- Miami Zoo
- Miami Aquarium
- Miami Heat Game
- Miami Dolphins Game
- Miami Boat Show
- South Beach Food and Wine Festival
Golf Courses
- PGA National Resort
- Trump National Doral Miami
- Normandy Shores Golf Club
- Miami Shores Country Club
- JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort – Soffer Course
- Miami Beach Golf Course
Tennis Courts
- Flamingo Park
- Margaret Pace Park
- Crandon Park Tennis Center
- Fisher Island Club
- Morningside Tennis Center
Restaurants
- Nobu Miami
- Cecconi’s Miami
- Ocean Social by Chef Tristan Epps
- Prime 54
- Donna Mare Trattoria
- Santorini – Best Happy Hour in Town
Misc Fun Things to Do
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Registration
Seminar Format
Meets Monday–Friday: 9:00 am–12:15 pm. Offered in-person only.
Special Requests
If special arrangements are required for an individual with a disability to attend this conference, contact Kim Miele at psychcme@med.miami.edu at least 15 days prior to the conference.
Tuition
Winter Seminars – Registration Information
Early Bird Rates (Available through December 19, 2025)
- Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Other Health Professionals: $995
- Residents, Fellows-in-Training, and Full-time Students: $795
Standard Rates (Effective December 20, 2025)
- All Registrants: $1,095
- Residents, Fellows-in-Training, and Full-time Students: $795
Additional Fees
- Second Week Registration: $750
- Non-refundable Administrative Processing Fee: $20 (applies to all registrations)
Payment Method
- Registration must be completed by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express).
Refund Policy
Refunds, less an administrative fee of $100, will be issued for all cancellations received two weeks prior to the start of the course. Refund requests must be received by email. Please email psychcme@miami.edu. No refund will be issued should cancellation occur less than two weeks prior. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee, and no refunds will be issued once the conference has started.
Registration Information Link
To register, click the link below
Electronic Syllabus
We provide all attendees with complimentary access to all slide presentations in digital PDF format prior to the conference. This is an environmentally friendly alternative that helps lower costs for all attendees. The e-syllabus will be available for 30 days after the conference. You can purchase a printed copy at the time of online registration for $75.
Please note that we will not have hard copies of the syllabus available for purchase at the conference.
Be sure to include an email address that you check frequently. Your email address is used for critical information, including registration confirmation, evaluation, and certificate.
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Accreditation
Week-Long Seminars
Meets Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Offered in-person only.
Physician Credit
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine designates these live activities for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.
Through an agreement between the American Medical Association and the European Union of Medical Specialists, physicians may convert AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to an equivalent number of European CME Credits® (ECMECs®). Information on the process of converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to ECMECs® can be found at: www.eaccme.eu.
Psychologists
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 15.00 CE credits will be awarded to psychologists for attendance at these seminars.
Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses
These activities have been submitted to ANA Massachusetts for approval to award contact hours. ANA Massachusetts is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. For more information regarding contact hours, please email psychcme@med.miami.edu.
- Clinical Psychopharmacology: Beyond Conventional Wisdom
- Thinking Through Alzheimer’s: Exploring Cognition, Psychopharmacology, and Geriatric Psychiatry
- Advanced Psychopharmacology: From Neurobiology to Personalized Treatment with Charles Nemeroff
The Holding and the Provocation: Navigating the Edge Between Support and Challenge in Contemporary Psychodynamic Therapy meets the specifications of the Board of Registration in Nursing (244 CMR).
Social Workers
Application for social work continuing education credit has been submitted. Please contact Kim Miele at psychcme@med.miami.edu with any questions.
National Board of Certified Counselors
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7482. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Inquiries
By phone at 941-539-0500, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET), or by email at psychcme@med.miami.edu.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Mitigation
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine has assessed conflict of interest with its faculty, authors, editors, and any individuals who were in a position to control the content of this CME activity. Any identified relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated.
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine planners, content reviewers, and editorial staff disclose no relationships with ineligible entities. All the relevant financial relationships for these individuals have been mitigated.
ABMS/ACGME Competencies
All seminars are designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)/ Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:
- Patient Care and Procedural Skills
- Medical Knowledge
- Practice-based Learning and Improvement
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Target Audience
The winter seminars are a series of seminars for health professionals in psychiatry, psychology, neurology, medicine, surgery, geriatrics, pediatrics, nursing, social work, and counseling.
