There is going to be a FREE conference on postpartum mood disorders at
Buffalo State College on March 14th. Due to the special bond you form
with pregnant women as doulas or childbirth educators, you might be
one of the first people a woman feels safe reaching out to if she
develops a postpartum mood disorder. Because of this, I would
encourage you to attend this event. Details below.

Jeanine Moyer
Education Leader
BuffaloBirth Network

You are cordially invited to the Postpartum Mood Disorders Conference
being held on March 14th at Buffalo State College, Science Building,
Rm 213. Registration starts at 8:30am. The conference concludes at
5:00pm. This FREE conference will showcase distinguished scholars and
experts in the postpartum mood disorders field. Informational tables
of local agencies who provide care to women during pregnancy and
postpartum will be present in the atrium throughout the conference
with experienced staff available to answer any questions. Lunch and
afternoon tea are tentatively planned dependent upon
donations/funding. Parking restrictions have been lifted on campus
for the event.

Who should attend: psychiatrist, social workers, pediatricians,
psychologists, OB/GYNs, counselors, lactation consultants, educators,
spiritual directors/counselors, nurses, childcare workers, doulas,
midwives, students, women interested in PMDs or who have experienced PMDs.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with your name, phone
number, and/or email address to sarahcercone@mac.com ;
zittelkm@buffalostate.edu or call 878-4767. Please RSVP quickly as
seats are limited. Please find a conference announcement and flyer
attached. Feel free to make copies, display and distribute to all who
may be interested. This conference is being sponsored by the
Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee, Buffalo State College.

Speakers include:

Dr. Linda Chaudron: is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry,
Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Chair Psychiatric
Clinical Services at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her
research and clinical interests are in women's mental health issues
across the lifespan with a specific focus on perinatal mood and
anxiety disorders. She has received funding from the National
Institutes of Mental Health as well as funding, in the past, from
the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, to study the epidemiology of and
interventions for perinatal depressive and obsessive compulsive
symptoms. She has numerous publications in the area of innovative
models of assessment and treatments for women experiencing postpartum
mood disorders.

Sonia Murdock: is an internationally recognized perinatal mood
disorders trainer, guest speaker and consultant. Sonia's experience
of supporting her sister through postpartum psychosis and postpartum
depression led her to co-found the Postpartum Resource Center of New
York, Inc. in 1998. She serves as the Executive Director of this
non-profit, self-help organization. In 2001, the Postpartum Resource
Center of New York, Inc. received Postpartum Support International's
highest honor: The Jane Honikman Award, in recognition as a model
support network. Sonia has been interviewed nationally and
internationally for radio, print, and TV. She is a past president of
Postpartum Support International (2000 - 2002), currently serves on
PSI's President's Advisory Council and is a Trainer for PSI. Sonia is
the recipient of many awards including being named one of Volvo for
Life's Top 100 Heroes of 2005.

Dr. Kim Griswold: is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Social
and Preventive Medicine, and Psychiatry at the University at Buffalo's
Medical School and Family Physician at the Niagara Family Health
Clinic. She has numerous publications focusing on family medicine and
psychiatric management, cultural sensitivity, and the health risks for
pregnant refugee women in Buffalo. She has been the principal
investigator on several studies that examine access to care for
impoverished populations, mental health concerns, cultural competency,
and working with refugee populations.

Dr. Lawanda Lamar-Bellamy: is an Academic Scholar, University at
Buffalo's Medical School and Pediatrician at Buffalo Women and
Children's Hospital

Jane Epstein, LCSW-R: is a clinical consultant to Horizon Health
Services/Horizon Village. She has been at the agency for 22 years
serving in a variety of counseling and management positions. She has
a private practice in Hamburg and Williamsville, New York. She
focuses on adult mental health with a specialty in women's issues,
couples treatment, mood disorders, and trauma utilizing a variety of
treatment approaches.

Dr. Kim Zittel-Palamara, MSW: is a medical social worker who received
her Ph.D. and MSW from the University at Buffalo, School of Social
Work. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Buffalo State
College where she has been researching PMD for four years. She has
published several articles and presented her work nationally and
internationally. She is the founder and director of the Postpartum
Mood Disorders Initiative.

Other presenters: members of the Postpartum Mood Disorders Initiative:
Sarah Cercone, BS: is the PMDI research manager. She has an honors
Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Toronto and is
currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Health and in Family
Medicine.
Jodi Hitchcock, BSW, MSW candidate: is a research assistant and MSW
intern with the PMDI. She has an honors Bachelor of Science degree in
social work from Buffalo State College.
Mary Colman, BS, MSW candidate: is a research assistant and MSW intern
with the PMDI. she has a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and
women's studies from SUNY Oneonta.



Dr. Kim Zittel-Palamara, Ph.D., LMSW, ACSW
Assistant Professor
Buffalo State College
Social Work Department
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 878-4767