Student doctor Katayun Fethat delivers a poster presentation at the annual American Psychiatric Association conference

The annual American Psychiatric Association national meeting is the premier gathering for psychiatric professionals. This year’s event was held in New York City from May 4^th to 8^th and featured a robust agenda of lectures, workshops, and networking opportunities, showcasing the latest innovations and research in psychiatry.

Several student doctors from California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) attended the event, with some presenting their research. CHSU-COM third-year student doctor, Katayun Fethat, delivered a poster presentation on her team’s study titled, “Impact of COVID-19 on mental health related emergency department visits in the Central Valley.”

Her study found that mental health related ED visits increased during the pandemic and remained elevated compared to the pre-pandemic time period. Anxiety was the most common mental health disorder and males were more likely to present than females across all three time periods.

Study findings highlight the need to increase the number of providers and resources available to those with mental health disorders in California’s Central Valley.

“I LOVED attending the annual meeting! Not only did I get to learn from top experts in a field I am passionate about, but I also had the chance to meet residency program representatives, network, and forge new friendships and memories. Attending these annual meetings will be a cornerstone of my career as a future psychiatrist.”

Katayun Fethat, CHSU-COM Third-Year Student Doctor

Katayun is currently in the process of submitting her manuscript for publication.