Complete Story
 

03/11/2020

OPPA cancels 2020 Annual Psychiatric Update to avoid any potential spread of the Coronavirus

In a letter to registrants, speakers, exhibitors/sponsors and others, OPPA President, Victoria Kelly, MD stated:

As you are aware, there are growing concerns by the hour about the Coronavirus outbreak, with increased warnings by public health officials and Ohio’s Governor, especially now that there are over 1,000 cases of the virus in our country and three positive cases in the Cleveland area. For that reason, the OPPA held an emergency meeting of its board (Council) late last evening to discuss the upcoming Annual Psychiatric Update, scheduled for this coming weekend, March 14-15, in Columbus.

Governor Mike DeWine stated in a press conference yesterday, “We are now at a critical time here in Ohio in regards to the coronavirus. The decisions that we make as individuals in the next few days, the next several weeks, will really determine how many lives are going to be lost in Ohio.”

In an effort to minimize the potential for the spread of the Coronavirus, the OPPA Council voted to cancel the meeting for the safety and well-being of its participants, speakers, exhibitors, hotel staff and all involved. The OPPA Council members agreed unanimously that “there is no meeting or other public gathering worth the risk of spreading the new Coronavirus, especially in these times of utmost uncertainty.”

This event, held annually, is intended to gather and educate Ohio physicians, who specialize in psychiatry, and other mental health professionals for the purpose of improving their ability to treat some of Ohio’s most vulnerable medically challenged individuals with mental illness and/or addiction disorders. Physicians are trained to do no harm and Ohio Psychiatrists are committed to doing everything in their power to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus.

Printer-Friendly Version