Individuals suffering from mental illness often suffer from multiple medical comorbidities, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Black Americans have a disproportionately higher risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and hypertension than other ethnic or racial groups. Black Americans suffering mental illness are at even greater risk of poor outcomes associated with these conditions. An integrated care approach coordinates care provided from professionals of various specialties to address the overall health care needs of an individual. This holistic approach to health care can result in improvements in quality of care, patient satisfaction, access to treatment, and cost savings. This is particularly important in populations that have traditionally been underserved by the existing health care system. This webinar will introduce the concept of integrated health care and discuss how this approach may be particularly useful in the Black community.
Welton Craig Washington, Jr., MD is an adult psychiatrist in Ann Arbor, MI. He is a clinical adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and is an attending psychiatrist at Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. He has been awarded multiple teaching awards including the Nancy C.A. Roeske, M.D. award for Excellence in Medical Student Education, the Alpha Omega Alpha award for Clinical Faculty of the Year, and the Irma Bland, MD Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Psychiatry Residents. He currently serves on the executive board of the Black Psychiatrists of America. He completed his undergraduate training at Morehouse College and both his medical training and psychiatry residency at the University of Michigan. Dr. Washington has special interest in treating severe and persistent mental illness in minority communities.
Annelle Primm MD, MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders.
Clinicians, caseworkers, peer recovery support staff, administrators, and others who work on behalf of adults with mental illnesses.
