Descriptions of Activities of the Association > Leadership Development in Psychiatry

Leadership Development in Psychiatry

General Project Description

The objective of this project is to identify future leaders of psychiatry and facilitate their professional development. This is being done through (1) the provision of training in professional skills; (2) supporting the establishment of a national and international networks of young psychiatrists involving, in particular, those in developing countries; and (3) support to projects for work that young psychiatrists undertake together.

Young psychiatrists – regardless of whether they are primarily engaged in research or clinical work – often lack the skills which would make it easier for them to obtain support for their work, to present the results of their research and communicate with others engaged in similar work elsewhere. They often feel isolated and frequently lose motivation for further learning and for scientific work.

The courses developed by AIMHP have a standard curriculum focusing on the acquisition of specific skills that can be useful for psychiatrists at the beginning and in the course of their career. The skills that are being developed include skills of presentations of scientific and other material, communication skills, negotiating skills,  skills of chairmanship and leading groups, elementary research skills, skills of fund searching, and other skills selected in the light of information about the students and the countries in which they live and work.  A brief description of the courses has been published.

Sartorius N (2013) Acquiring Leadership Skills: Description of an International Programme for Early Career Psychiatrists In: Bhugra D, Ruis P, Gupta S, editors. Leadership in Psychiatry, Wiley Blackwell, p. 226-232 (ISBN 978-1-119-95291-6).

Among the main features of the courses are their emphasis on practical issues, opportunities to interact with teachers (and other participants), active participation in training activities and the provision of specific advice about problems that the participants may bring forward.

The workshops last seven half days.  Thy include topics such as “How to prepare a poster”, “How to review a paper”, “How to teach clinical skills”, “How to organize a symposium”, “How to write a curriculum vitae”, How to write a scientific paper”, “How to give a lecture, “How to write a letter to a collaborator abroad”, How to serve on a committee, “How to chair a meeting”, “How to select a topic for one’s research”, “How to research with little or no resources”, “How to participate in a multicentric research”, “How to present a proposal for funding”, “How to behave in an employment interview”, How to select instruments for the assessment of mental state”.  A part of the workshops are left flexible so that they can be adapted to the specific needs of the participants.

The faculty of the workshops is usually composed of two or three teachers in addition to the Director of the program who also participates in the teaching.  At least one of the teachers is usually from the country where the meeting is organized.  As a rule, the teachers have an excellent international reputation.  All teachers participate in the workshop throughout

In advance of the workshops all candidates receive a brief description of the program and an indication of what is expected from them during the workshop and in preparation for it.  They may be sent some papers or books selected by the teaching faculty.  The participants are expected to prepare a poster and a presentation on a topic of their choice.  They are also invited to list topics that are of particular interest to them.  These lists are used in fine-tuning the program of the course.

The participants are psychiatrists and sometimes other specialists who have completed their postgraduate training less than five years before the workshop’s date.  Residents in psychiatry in the last year of their training are also admitted.  They must have a good knowledge of English and be in the opinion of their peers and professional elders in their country of particular professional or scientific promise.  Current or previous participation in research is seen as an advantage but is not a condition for acceptance.

In addition to a clearly demonstrable improvement of leadership and professional skills of the participants the courses have also led to continuing and collaborative contacts among the participants and to the development and implementation of joint projects. On occasion the participants in courses develop joint projects some of which resulted in publication, for example:

  • Gater R, Jordanova V, Maric N, Alikaj V, Bajs M, Cavic T, Dimitrov H, Iosub D, Mihai A, Szalontay AS, Helmchen H and Sartorius N (2005). Pathways to psychiatric care in Eastern Europe. British Journal of Psychiatry, 186:529-535.
  • Mihai A, Ströhle A, Maric N, Heinz A, Helmchen H, Sartorius N. (2006) Postgraduate training for young psychiatrists - experience of the Berlin Summer School. European Psychiatry. 21(8):509-515.
  • Fujisawa D, Hashimoto N, Masamune-Koizumi Y, Otsuka K, Tateno M, Okugawa G, Nakagawa A, Sato R, Kikuchi T, Tonai E, Yoshida K, Mori T, Takahashi H, Sato S, Igimi H. Waseda Y, Ueno T, Morokuma I, Takahashi K, Sartorius N. (2008) Pathway to Psychiatric Care in Japan:  a multicentre observational study.  International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 2:14.
  • Jordanova V, Maric N.P, AlikajV, Bajs M, Cavic T, Iosub D, Mihai A, Szalonay A, Sartorius N (2010). Prescribing practices in psychiatric hospitals in Eastern Europe. European Psychiatry (j.eurpsych.2010.05.005).
  • Hashimoto N, Fujisawa D, Giasuddin N A, Kenchaiah B K, Narmandakh A, Dugerragchaa K, Tamrakar S M, Adhikari S R, & Sartorius N (2010). Pathways to Mental Health Care in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Mongolia and Nepal. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health (e-pub).
  • Hashimoto N, Fujisawa D, Giasuddin N A, Kenchaiah B K, Narmandakh A, Dugerragchaa K, Tamrakar S M, Sartiruzs N. (2010) Pathways to Mental Health Care in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Mongolia and Nepal.  Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health (e-pub)
  • Stuart H, Sartorius N, Liinamaa (2014): The images of psychiatry scale: development, factor structure, and reliability. BMC Psychiatry. (Dec 11); 14:337. doi 10.1186/s12888-014-0337-1.
  • Krupchanka D, Khalifeh H, Abdulmalik J, Ardila-Gómez S, Yusha’u Armiza’u A, Banjac V, Baranov A, Bezborodovs N, Brecic P, Cavijda Z, de Girolamo G, Denisenko M, Akena Dickens H, Dujmovic J, Ergovic Novotny D, Fedotov I, Fernández MA, Frankova I, Gasparovic M, Giurgi-Oncu C, Grahovac T, James BO, Jomli R, Kekin I, Knez R, Lanfredi M, Lassman F, Mehta N, Nacef F, Nawka A, Nemirovsky M, Adeyemi Ola B, Oshodi YO, Ouali U, Peherda T, Razic Pavcic A, Rojnic Kuzman, Roventa c, Shamenov R, Smirnova D, Smoljanic D, Spikina A, Thornicroft A, Tomicevic M, Vidoic D, Williams P, Yulia Yakovleva Y, Zhabenko O, Zhilyaea T, Zivkovic M, Thornicroft G, Sartorius N. (2017) Satisfaction with psychiatric in-patient care as rated by patients at discharge from hospitals in 11 countries. Soc. Psychiatry Pschiatr Epidemiol. Aug: 52(8):989-1003. DOI 10.1007/s00127-017.1366-0.

Over the years, some of the leadership courses were carried out in collaboration with other organizations, including the World Psychiatric Association and several of its national member societies, with the Brandenburg Academy of Science in Berlin and with a number of universities. In some instances, the courses have become a regular activity of the institutions in which they were first held.  Thus the University of Berlin Charité, carried out annual summer schools for 12 years, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, in Bengaluru (India) carries an annual course mainly involving students from South East Asian countries and the Japanese Young Psychiatrists has organization holds an annual courses on Academic Development of Young Psychiatrists: until now 20 of them.  Professor Sartorius directed these courses carried out in collaboration with other teachers. 

Support for the courses came from various sources, including universities, foundations and on occasion unrestricted educational grants by pharmaceutical companies. A brief description of the programme has been published in:

Sartorius N, (2013). Acquiring Leadership Skills: Description of an International Programme for Early Career Psychiatrists In: Bhugra D, Ruiz P, Gupta S. Leadership in Psychiatry. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., pp 226-232. Acquiring Leadership Skills

In all, AIMHP has until now organized more than 150 courses involving some two thousand psychiatrists early in their career and coming from over one hundred countries.

Leadership and Professional Skills courses held so far

1994

Bangalore, India,  4-5 January 1994

Kondolfingen, BE, Switzerland, 30 October – 1 November 1994

1995

Bangalore, India, 2-4 January 1995

Warsaw, Poland, 7-10 October 1995

1997

Sinaia, Romania, 12-14 September 1997

Santiago de Chile, 23-26 October 1997

1998

Plitvice, Croatia, 6-8 June 1998

Beroun, Czech Republic, 17-21 June 1998

Budapest, Hungary, 6-8 December 1998

1999

Prague, Czech Republic, June 1999

Moscow, Russia, September 1999

Gerlachov, Slovakia, 11-14 December 1999

2000

Bangalore, India, 18-19 January 2000

Warsaw, Poland, 3-6 June 2000

Berlin, Germany, 26-31 August 2000

Bled, Slovenia, 8-12 December 2000

2001

Berlin, Germany, 26-31 August 2001

Versailles, France, 12-16 July 2001

2002

Kobe, Japan, 20-23 February 2002

Cracow, Poland, March 2002

Chantilly, France, 21-23 March 2002

Berlin, Germany, 13-17 November 2002

Moscow, Russia, October-November 2002

Paris, France, 6-9 December 2002

2003

Rojtokmuzsaj, Hungary, March 2003

Kobe, Japan, April 2003

Paris, France, 5-8 September 2003

2004

Seoul, Korea,  30 January-1 February 2004

Cesky Crumlov,  Czech Republic, April 2004

Tokyo, Japan, March 2004

Berlin, Germany, May 2004

Zlatibor, Serbia**,  7-10 June 2004

Belgrade**, Yugoslavia, December 2004

2006

Odawara, Japan, February 2006

Budapest,  Hungary, February 2006

Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 26-28 April 2006

Berlin, Germany, 31 October-4 November 2006

2005

Seoul,  Korea, February 2005

Kyoto,  Japan, February 2005

Budapest, Hungary, February 2005

Atlanta**, USA, 26 May 2005

Berlin,  Germany,  June 2005

Sydney, Australia,  22-24 July 2005

Beijing, China, 6-8 July 2005

2007

Mishima, Japan, 16-18 February 2007

Nairobi, Kenya, March 2007

Seoul, Korea, 18-21 April 2007

Hong Kong, China, 25-28 June 2007

Berlin, Germany, 31 August-5 September 2007

2008

Cairo, Egypt, 26-30 January 2008

Osaka, Japan, 15-17 February 2008

Mexico City,  Mexico, June 2008

Zagreb, Croatia, 7-10 July 2008

Berlin, Germany, 8-12 September 2008

2009

Singapore, 23-28 February 2009

Chiba, Japan, February 2009

Berlin, Germany, 23-28 August 2009

Moscow, Russia,  30 October 2009

Abuja, Nigeria, 23-26 October 2009

2010

Zagreb, Croatia, 31 January-3 February 2010

Kokura, Kitakyushu, 19-21 February 2010

Avigliano, Italy, 22-25 March 2010

St. Petersburg, Russia 2010, 12-15 June 2010

Berlin, Germany, 21-27 August 2010

Riccione, Italy, 13-16 October 2010

Istanbul, Turkey, 1-4 October 2010

Belgrade, Serbia, 8 December 2010

2011

Nagara, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 18-20 February 2011

Mexico City, 27 February – 2 March 2011

Singapore, 24-26 March 2011

Riga, Latvia, 5-9 April 2011

Prague,  Czech Republic, 23-24 June 2011

Nairobi, Kenya,  21-24 August 2011

Berlin, Germany,  28 August – 2 September 2011

2012

Osaka, Japan,  17-19 February 2012

Avila, Italy, 12-15 April 2012

Belgrade, Serbia, 17-18 April 2012

Berlin, Germany, 26-31 August 2012

Bali, Indonesia, 9-12 September 2012

Minsk 2012 Belarus,  22-25 September 2012

Bangalore, India, 20-21 December 2012

2013

Tokyo, Japan, 10-18 February 2013

Belgrade, Serbia, 10-11 May 2013

San Stefano, Italy 30 March-2 April 2013

Bangkok, Thailand, 16-19 August 2013

Berlin, Germany, 26-30 August 2013

2014

Bangalore, India, 9-11 January 2014

Kampala, Uganda, 3-5 February 2014

Casablanca, Morocco, 17-19 March 2014

Wroclaw, Poland, 30 March – 2 April 2014

Timisoara, Romania, 22-24 April 2014

Pescostanzo, Italy, 9-12 June 2014

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 27-29 June 2014

Berlin, Germany, 24-29 August 2014

Zagreb, Croatia, 26-28 September 2014

Cebu City,  Philippines, 11-12 November 2014

2015

Bangalore, India, 12-15 January 2015

Zagreb, Croatia, 26-29 January 2015

Fukuoka, Japan, 1-3 March, 2015

Beijing, China, 16-18 March 2015

Kiecany, Czech Republic, 23-26 April 2015

Chisinau, Moldova, 22-24 May 2015

Porto, Portugal, 19-22 June 2015

Baku, Azerbaijan, 2-5 November 2015

Berlin, Germany, 23-28 August 2015

Cape Town, South Africa, 4-6 September 2015

Athens, Greece, 28-30 September 2015

Baku, Azerbaijan, 2-5 November 2015

2016

Bangalore, India, 14-16 January, 2016

Basel, Switzerland, 24-27 January 2016

Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 2016

Berlin, Germany,  Summmerschool 2016

Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 12-14 June 2016

Semarang, Indonesia, 21-24 August 2016

2017

Basel, Switzerland, 16-18 January 2017

Bangalore, India, 2-4 February, 2017

Chiba, Japan, 17-19 February 2017

Abu-Ahabi, UAE, 24-26 March 2017

Tbilisi, Georgia, 10-12 April 2017

Vilnius, Lithuania, 30 April – 2 May 2017

Istanbul, Turkey, 27-29 June 2017

Berlin, Germany, 28 August – 1 September 2017

Banjarmasin, Indonesia, 4-6 September 2017

Prague, Czech Republic, 25-27 September 2017

Zagreb, Croatia, 16-18 December 2017

2018

Basel, Switzerland, 10-12 January 2018

Bangalore, India, 1-3 February 2018

Melbourne, Australia, 28 February-1 March 2018

Doha, Qatar, 27-29 March 2018

Vienna, Austria, 4 April 2018

Zagreb, Croatia, 22-28 April 2018

Casablanca, Morocco, 12-14 July 2018

Berlin Summerschool 26-31 August, 2018 rev

Athens, Greece, 12-14 October 2018

Yangon, Myanmar, 25 October 2018

Jakarta, Indonesia, 11-13 November 2018

Tbilisi, Georgia, Leadership and Professional Skills Course, 6-8 December 2018

Zagreb, Croatia, 15-18 December 2018

2019

Basel, Switzerland, 9-11 January 2019 Winter SchoolR

NIMHANS Bangalore India 31 January-2 February 2019

London, GB, 6-9 February 2019

Osaka, Japan, 12-17 February, 2019 18th CADP_R1

Sydney, Australia­ 19-21 February 2019

Zagreb, Croatia 10-13 April 2019

Moscow, Russia,  May 17-20 , 201

Vienna, Austria, 7-10 July 2019

Berlin summer school Participants 2019, 1-6 September 2019

Barcelona Leadership course 2019, 20-23 November 2019

2020

Bangalore India, 8th Leadership and Professional Skills Course for Early Career Psychiatrists, 30 January – 1 February 2020

2021

Virtual – Chiba, Japan, The 1st JYPO Online International Networking Meeting, 12-13 February 2021

Virtual – Sofia, Bulgaria, Leadership and Professional Skills Course, 4-6 June 2021

Virtual – Bangalore, India

2022

Malta, Leadership and Professional Skills course and EPFT Malta Forum, 3-6 July 2022

Vilnius Lithuania, Leadership and Professional Skills Course, 5-8 September 2022

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