DPHB 50th Anniversary Academic Presentations

Providence, RI US
September 26, 2026

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior 50th Anniversary Academic Presentations

The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior is directly managing the sign-up for this 50th Anniversary event

Overview

As part of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior's 50th Anniversary celebration, these academic presentations bring together leading experts to discuss emerging research and innovative approaches shaping the future of mental health care.

Joshua Wortzel, MD, MPhil, MS(ED)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine; Attending Psychiatrist, Young Adults
Intensive Outpatient Program, Institute of Living, Hartford Healthcare
 
Too Hot to Handle: The Impacts of Ambient Heat on Mental Health
This presentation explores the growing evidence linking ambient heat to mental health outcomes, including depression and suicidality. Participants will examine the biological mechanisms involved, the impact of psychopharmacology on thermoregulation, and practical considerations for addressing heat-related risks in clinical practice.
 
Belinda Borrelli, PhD
Professor, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Department of Health Policy and Health Services
Research; Director, Center for Behavioral Science Research; Director, BU Mobile & Electronic Health ARC; Visiting Professor,
The University of Manchester, UK
 

Stealth Interventions: Using Creativity, Context, and Lived Experience to Motivate and Sustain Change—and What It All Means for Mental Health in the Age of AI
This session examines how behavioral science and artificial intelligence can enhance patient engagement and behavior change. Participants will explore innovative intervention strategies, AI-powered tools, and the ethical considerations of integrating these approaches into mental health care.

 

Target Audience

This conference is designed for physicians, psychologists, social workers, and residents.

Learning Objectives

For both speakers:

Joshua Wortzel, MD, MPhil, MS(ED)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine; Attending Psychiatrist, Young Adults
Intensive Outpatient Program, Institute of Living, Hartford Healthcare

Objectives at the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be better able to:

  • Describe the epidemiological findings regarding heat and mental health outcomes and how youth are particularly vulnerable
  • Explain the evidence for putative mechanisms driving the relationship between heat and depression/suicidality
  • Identify potential experimental models for the development of interventions and clinical applications to help patients with mental illness in the context of heat stress
Belinda Borrelli, PhD
Professor, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Department of Health Policy and Health Services
Research; Director, Center for Behavioral Science Research; Director, BU Mobile & Electronic Health ARC; Visiting Professor,
The University of Manchester, UK

Objectives at the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be better able to:

  • Describe how creativity, context, and lived experience can be leveraged to enhance motivation and engagement in behavior change interventions.
  • Apply principles of behavior change science to develop intervention strategies that reach individuals in nontraditional settingsand through novel delivery channels.
  • Assess the opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations associated with using artificial intelligence personalize, scale, and deliver behavior change interventions

 

 

 

 

 

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 2.00 Attendance
    Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance stating this program is designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. This credit is accepted by the AAPA and AANP.
  • 2.00 Social Work
    This activity has been approved by the NASW, Rhode Island Chapter.
Course opens: 
08/18/2026
Course expires: 
10/31/2026
Event starts: 
09/26/2026 - 9:00am EDT
Event ends: 
09/26/2026 - 11:30am EDT
Cost:
$0.00
Add to calendar: 

Schedule

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration &  Breakfast

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Too Hot to Handle: The Impacts of Ambient Heat on Mental Health
Joshua Wortzel, MD, MPhil, MS

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Stealth Interventions: Using Creativity, Context, and Lived Experience to Motivate and Sustain Change—and What It All Means for Mental Health in the Age of AI
Belinda Borrelli, PhD

 

 

 

The Warren Alpert Medical School
222 Richmond Street
Providence, RI 02903
United States

Travel

Please plan to park in the garage attached to the medical school, with entrance on Elm Street. Bring your ticket inside and the registration table for the conference will have a parking validation sticker for you. 

Course Director

Elizabeth McQuaid, PhD, ABPP
Vice Chair and Professor, Research Scholar Track
Director of Child Psychology
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Speakers

Belinda Borrelli, PhD
Director, Center for Behavioral Science Research
Professor, Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research
Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
 

Joshua Wortzel, MD, MPhil, MS
Assistant Professor Adjunct in Psychiatry
Yale University School of Medicine

Physicians
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity. 

Social Workers
The above program has been approved in accordance with the Regulations of the Rhode Island Social Work Board of Licensure.

Psychology Credit Pending 

Available Credit

  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 2.00 Attendance
    Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance stating this program is designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. This credit is accepted by the AAPA and AANP.
  • 2.00 Social Work
    This activity has been approved by the NASW, Rhode Island Chapter.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

The Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior is directly managing the sign-up for this event.

Please be sure to sign in upon arrival on 9/26/26 so your attendance may be verified for CME and CE credit-claiming purposes.