
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians
The MMA-CQI Learning Lab
MMA-CQI is delighted to have you join us. The site offers dynamic and engaging content and online courses related to our programs, which you can easily access via the main menu options, described below in greater detail. To access our online courses, you need to sign up and login. Follow these instructions.
Programs
In the fall of 2016, we launched the first online program in the Learning Lab. In the spring of 2017, we launched several others, including Caring for ME, our program addressing Maine’s opioid epidemic.
When you click Programs, you’ll see the program tabs and then under each tab, the menu options for each program. You can get to any page associated with a program by using this menu system.
Event Calendar
april, 2021
jul1:00 am12:00 pmGeneral Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder

Event Details
This course is provided for FREE for the first 6,000 learners (a fee of $25.00 will apply to subsequent registrants) from the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute, McLean Hospital, thanks to
more
Event Details
This course is provided for FREE for the first 6,000 learners (a fee of $25.00 will apply to subsequent registrants) from the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute, McLean Hospital, thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. This course is accredited by Harvard Medical School.
GENERAL PSYCHIATRIC MANAGEMENT FOR BPD
July 13, 2020 – July 13, 2022
This 8-hour self-paced course offers training in an empirically validated treatment approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) known as Good or General Psychiatric Management (GPM). This generalist approach to managing this prevalent, disabling and sometimes fatal but treatable diagnosis is good enough for most clinicians and most patients, and provides mental health professionals with guidelines they need to become skilled providers who can derive satisfaction from treating patients with BPD.
Management strategies using practicality, good sense, and flexibility are emphasized. Listening, validation, judicious self-disclosures, and advisement to build a life rather than focus on being a patient create a positive relationship in which both the concerns and limitations of a mental health professional are explicit. Techniques and interventions that facilitate the patient’s trust and willingness to become a proactive collaborator will be described. Guidelines for managing the common and usually most burdensome issues of managing suicidality and self-harm (e.g. intersession crises, threats as a call-for-help, excessive use of ER’s or hospitals) will be reviewed. Principles for the management of co-morbidities and medications from a evidence-based point of view are presented pragmatically. How and when psychiatrists can usefully integrate group, family, or other psychotherapies will be described.
The course utilizes group discussion, video clips and clinical vignettes to promote interactive learning and a comprehensive understanding of the treatment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Explain the diagnosis to patients and families and establish reasonable expectations for change (psychoeducation).
- Discuss the problem of recurrent suicidality and self-harm while limiting personal burden and liability.
- Describe alliance-building via use of medications and homework.
- Identify when to prioritize BPD’s treatment and when to defer until a comorbid disorder is resolved.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is targeted to Primary Care and Specialty Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Psychologists, and Social Workers. This course is also of interest to physicians who practice in Psychiatry and Psychology and Mental Health.

Dr. John G. Gunderson in 2010. His research helped establish borderline personality disorder as a stand-alone diagnosis.Credit…McLean Hospital
COURSE DIRECTORS
Lois Choi-Kain, MEd, MD
Director, Gunderson Personality Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
John G Gunderson, MD
(deceased) Former Director, Adult Borderline Center and Training Institute at McLean Hospital
Renamed the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute in his honor
Download and View the event flyer HERE
To View Course Details and Registration , Click HERE
Time
Month Long Event (july)
Lessons Learned Virtual ZOOM Presentations for ECPs and RFMs

Event Details
Senior Psychiatrists, Inc. and PRMS have teamed up to create Lessons Learned. This is a series of virtual Zoom presentations for Early Career Psychiatrists {ECPs} and Resident/Fellow Members {RFMs} that
more
Event Details
Senior Psychiatrists, Inc. and PRMS have teamed up to create Lessons Learned. This is a series of virtual Zoom presentations for Early Career Psychiatrists {ECPs} and Resident/Fellow Members {RFMs} that have nationally noted psychiatrists providing a variety of career topics of interest to the younger psychiatrist.
The link to access each of these presentations is
https://www.horizonvirtualvenue.com/1-splessons/ Password: lessons
Lessons Learned: Community Mental Health and Covid-19 in the USA
First Aired-Date: December 15, 2020
Time: 8:00 pm
Featured Speakers: Brian R. Sims, MD and Brian Hepburn, MD
Hoarders: Buried Alive
First Aired-Date: October 27, 2020
Time: 8:00 p.m – 9:15 p.m.
Featured Speaker: Dr. William Lawson, MD, PhD, DLFAPA
Senior Psychiatrists: Lessons Learned
First Aired – Date: August 31, 2020
Time: 8 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. EDT
Featured Speaker: Jack McIntyre, MD
Time
Year Around Event (2021)

Event Details
Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Learning Series Suicide Risk Management Learning Objectives: Participants will identify risk factors for suicidal behavior in children and Participants will
more
Event Details
Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Learning Series
Suicide Risk Management
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will identify risk factors for suicidal behavior in children and
- Participants will be able to discuss the impact that exposure to media with content about youth suicide can have on vulnerable
- Participants will understand how to respond to a young patient who is acknowledging recent thoughts of
- Participants will gain confidence discussing risk and safety planning with families with guns in the
Webinar will be held on:
April 14, 2021 7:30-8:15 am
Register in advance for this webinar: https://mainestate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y1aue4sqQsWXfik5gq-2og
Presenter:
Jesse Higgins, RN, MSN, PMHNP, is the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine. Jesse has practiced consultative psychiatry in a family medicine practice at Eastern Maine Medical Center since 2011. She developed and directs a program of integration that leverages licensed clinical social workers and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners on-site and via telehealth in outpatient medical practices throughout the state of Maine. The mission of this program is to improve access to behavioral health expertise for outpatient medical practice patients, families, providers, and staff. Jesse is a national speaker on topics that include integrated behavioral health, shared decision making, and strengthening medical practices as a trauma-informed access point for patients presenting with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Maine Pediatric and Behavioral Health Partnership (MPBHP) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,851,222.00 with zero percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
MPBHP is a partnership between Maine CDC, Northern Light Acadia Hospital and MaineHealth
Time
(Wednesday) 7:30 am - 8:15 am

MAPP Consultation Project
Maine is a predominantly rural state, with a population of 1.2 million. The majority of the state’s 300 psychiatrists are geographically concentrated in the lower quarter of the…

Postpartum Depression Project
The Postpartum Depression (PPD) Project was developed with the support of a grant from the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of…
Looking to become a member?
MAPP welcomes psychiatrists from across the state or otherwise licensed and practicing in Maine, and is actively seeking to expand our membership. Email us to get started.
Check Out The Latest News & Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
april, 2021
jul1:00 am12:00 pmGeneral Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder

Event Details
This course is provided for FREE for the first 6,000 learners (a fee of $25.00 will apply to subsequent registrants) from the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute, McLean Hospital, thanks to
more
Event Details
This course is provided for FREE for the first 6,000 learners (a fee of $25.00 will apply to subsequent registrants) from the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute, McLean Hospital, thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. This course is accredited by Harvard Medical School.
GENERAL PSYCHIATRIC MANAGEMENT FOR BPD
July 13, 2020 – July 13, 2022
This 8-hour self-paced course offers training in an empirically validated treatment approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD) known as Good or General Psychiatric Management (GPM). This generalist approach to managing this prevalent, disabling and sometimes fatal but treatable diagnosis is good enough for most clinicians and most patients, and provides mental health professionals with guidelines they need to become skilled providers who can derive satisfaction from treating patients with BPD.
Management strategies using practicality, good sense, and flexibility are emphasized. Listening, validation, judicious self-disclosures, and advisement to build a life rather than focus on being a patient create a positive relationship in which both the concerns and limitations of a mental health professional are explicit. Techniques and interventions that facilitate the patient’s trust and willingness to become a proactive collaborator will be described. Guidelines for managing the common and usually most burdensome issues of managing suicidality and self-harm (e.g. intersession crises, threats as a call-for-help, excessive use of ER’s or hospitals) will be reviewed. Principles for the management of co-morbidities and medications from a evidence-based point of view are presented pragmatically. How and when psychiatrists can usefully integrate group, family, or other psychotherapies will be described.
The course utilizes group discussion, video clips and clinical vignettes to promote interactive learning and a comprehensive understanding of the treatment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Explain the diagnosis to patients and families and establish reasonable expectations for change (psychoeducation).
- Discuss the problem of recurrent suicidality and self-harm while limiting personal burden and liability.
- Describe alliance-building via use of medications and homework.
- Identify when to prioritize BPD’s treatment and when to defer until a comorbid disorder is resolved.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is targeted to Primary Care and Specialty Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Psychologists, and Social Workers. This course is also of interest to physicians who practice in Psychiatry and Psychology and Mental Health.

Dr. John G. Gunderson in 2010. His research helped establish borderline personality disorder as a stand-alone diagnosis.Credit…McLean Hospital
COURSE DIRECTORS
Lois Choi-Kain, MEd, MD
Director, Gunderson Personality Disorder Institute, McLean Hospital
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
John G Gunderson, MD
(deceased) Former Director, Adult Borderline Center and Training Institute at McLean Hospital
Renamed the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute in his honor
Download and View the event flyer HERE
To View Course Details and Registration , Click HERE
Time
Month Long Event (july)
Lessons Learned Virtual ZOOM Presentations for ECPs and RFMs

Event Details
Senior Psychiatrists, Inc. and PRMS have teamed up to create Lessons Learned. This is a series of virtual Zoom presentations for Early Career Psychiatrists {ECPs} and Resident/Fellow Members {RFMs} that
more
Event Details
Senior Psychiatrists, Inc. and PRMS have teamed up to create Lessons Learned. This is a series of virtual Zoom presentations for Early Career Psychiatrists {ECPs} and Resident/Fellow Members {RFMs} that have nationally noted psychiatrists providing a variety of career topics of interest to the younger psychiatrist.
The link to access each of these presentations is
https://www.horizonvirtualvenue.com/1-splessons/ Password: lessons
Lessons Learned: Community Mental Health and Covid-19 in the USA
First Aired-Date: December 15, 2020
Time: 8:00 pm
Featured Speakers: Brian R. Sims, MD and Brian Hepburn, MD
Hoarders: Buried Alive
First Aired-Date: October 27, 2020
Time: 8:00 p.m – 9:15 p.m.
Featured Speaker: Dr. William Lawson, MD, PhD, DLFAPA
Senior Psychiatrists: Lessons Learned
First Aired – Date: August 31, 2020
Time: 8 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. EDT
Featured Speaker: Jack McIntyre, MD
Time
Year Around Event (2021)

Event Details
Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Learning Series Suicide Risk Management Learning Objectives: Participants will identify risk factors for suicidal behavior in children and Participants will
more
Event Details
Maine Pediatric & Behavioral Health Partnership Learning Series
Suicide Risk Management
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will identify risk factors for suicidal behavior in children and
- Participants will be able to discuss the impact that exposure to media with content about youth suicide can have on vulnerable
- Participants will understand how to respond to a young patient who is acknowledging recent thoughts of
- Participants will gain confidence discussing risk and safety planning with families with guns in the
Webinar will be held on:
April 14, 2021 7:30-8:15 am
Register in advance for this webinar: https://mainestate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y1aue4sqQsWXfik5gq-2og
Presenter:
Jesse Higgins, RN, MSN, PMHNP, is the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine. Jesse has practiced consultative psychiatry in a family medicine practice at Eastern Maine Medical Center since 2011. She developed and directs a program of integration that leverages licensed clinical social workers and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners on-site and via telehealth in outpatient medical practices throughout the state of Maine. The mission of this program is to improve access to behavioral health expertise for outpatient medical practice patients, families, providers, and staff. Jesse is a national speaker on topics that include integrated behavioral health, shared decision making, and strengthening medical practices as a trauma-informed access point for patients presenting with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Maine Pediatric and Behavioral Health Partnership (MPBHP) is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,851,222.00 with zero percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
MPBHP is a partnership between Maine CDC, Northern Light Acadia Hospital and MaineHealth
Time
(Wednesday) 7:30 am - 8:15 am
The Newsroom
What’s New at the APA
The MMA-CQI Learning Lab
MMA-CQI is delighted to have you join us. The site offers dynamic and engaging content and online courses related to our programs, which you can easily access via the main menu options, described below in greater detail. To access our online courses, you need to sign up and login. Follow these instructions.
Programs
In the fall of 2016, we launched the first online program in the Learning Lab. In the spring of 2017, we launched several others, including Caring for ME, our program addressing Maine’s opioid epidemic.
When you click Programs, you’ll see the program tabs and then under each tab, the menu options for each program. You can get to any page associated with a program by using this menu system.
MAPP Resources
The Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians Resources section contains a variety of information contributed by MAPP members and other individuals that we hope will be useful to MAPP members, other psychiatric practitioners, and the interested public.
Contact MAPP
Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians Membership
Participation is key, and MAPP and APA offer many activities geared to enrich your professional life as well as bring you educational opportunities.