Description:
Individuals suffering from mental illness often suffer from multiple comorbidities, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality.  African 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.  African Americans suffering mental illness are at even greater risk of poor outcomes associated with these conditions.  This webinar will review common medical comorbidities seen in African Americans suffering from mental illness, review contributing factors, and discuss strategies to improve outcomes.

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Presenter:
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.

Host:
Annelle Primm, M.D., 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.

Learning Objectives:

• List common comorbidities seen in African American patients with mental illness
• Name risk factors associated with these chronic conditions    
• Discuss strategies to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality in the African American population suffering from mental illness and comorbid chronic conditions

Who Should Attend?
Mental health clinicians, case workers, peer recovery support staff, primary care staff, administrators, and others who work on behalf of adults with serious mental illnesses

Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event).