2025 Connecticut Psychiatric Society Annual MeetingThe Connecticut Psychiatric Society (CPS) held its highly anticipated Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, at the historic New Haven Lawn Club. The event, running from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM, drew members and esteemed guests from across the state for an evening of reflection, celebration, and forward-thinking discussion. Meeting ResourcesView Meeting PhotosDr. Paul Bryant, outgoing CPS President, opened the meeting by welcoming both new and returning members, creating a great opportunity for networking and reconnecting with colleagues.
During the program, CPS proudly recognized several outstanding individuals for their contributions and impact. Dr. Caren Teitelbaum and Dr. Tichianaa Armah received the Service to CPS Award in honor of their exceptional service and commitment to the organization’s mission. The Service to Patients Award was presented to Dr. Dale Sebastian for his compassionate and exemplary psychiatric care. Christian Damiana was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award for his outstanding advocacy and civic engagement in support of mental health and community well-being. Dr. Yasmin Rawlins received the Rising Leader Award in recognition of her early leadership and dedication to organized psychiatry.   The Annual Meeting also marked the installation of new leadership for the 2025–2026 term. Dr. Jessica Abellard assumed the role of President, succeeding Dr. Paul Bryant, who now serves as Immediate Past President. Dr. Bryant was presented with an engraved award and gift recognizing his service. Dr. Abellard shared her vision to enhance support for psychiatrists, collaborate with organizations committed to helping individuals with mental illness, and address the challenges facing the field.
The meeting concluded with the voting in of the new executive council, setting the stage for the future direction of the CPS.
President: Jessica Abellard, M.D. President-Elect: Andrew J. Gerber, M.D., Ph.D. Treasurer: Marco Christian Michael, M.D. Secretary: Sadiq Naveed, M.D. Immediate Past President, APA Representative: Paul Bryant, M.D. Early Career Representatives: Zachary Lenane, M.D., and Ignacio Cerdeña, M.D. Councilors-At-Large: Olalekan Olaolu, M.D., and Kaosoluchi Enendu, M.D.
Resident Representatives: Yasmin Rawlins, M.D., Shreyas Deshmukh, M.D., and Maurice Morgan, M.D. Continuing their terms on the executive council are Representatives to the APA Assembly, Tichianaa Armah, M.D. and Tobias Wasser, M.D. Thank you to our 2025 Meeting Sponsors!
We hope to see you all again for the 2026 annual meeting!
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The keynote address was delivered by Meiram Bendat, J.D., Ph.D., a leading expert in mental health law. Dr. Bendat’s presentation focused on the critical issue of mental health parity, offering an in-depth look at legal and systemic barriers that continue to prevent equitable access to mental health treatment. His remarks empowered attendees to advocate more effectively for enforcement of parity laws and to support policy solutions that ensure patients receive the care they are entitled to under the law. 
