From Conception to Connection: Relational Health in the Perinatal Period and Infancy

The perinatal and infancy periods are times of increased biological, psychological and social risk for mental health challenges in families. At the same time, they are also sensitive periods for growth, resilience, and a prime window for early interventions that can have lasting positive impacts. This conference aims to support professionals who work with families during these critical stages by providing them with the latest evidence, tools, and resources to advance perinatal-infant mental health integrated care. By focusing on relational health during the perinatal period, this conference highlights not only the challenges but also the strengths and opportunities for growth and resilience in parents, infants and families. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, it seeks to bridge existing gaps, enhance clinical expertise and promote holistic, evidence-based approaches to care—advancing perinatal-infant mental health integrated care during this crucial window for intervention.

Program:

10:00 am - 10:15 am
Welcome & Orientation

Importance of Integration and Relationships in Perinatal Mental Health
Soudabeh Givrad, M.D., Amalia Londoño Tobón, M.D., Misty Richards, M.D.

10:15 am - 11:15 am
Keynote Presentation

Promoting Attachment and Mentalizing During the Transition to Parenthood: Minding the Baby
Arietta Slade, Ph.D.

11:15 am - 11:20 am
Bio Break

11:20 am - 12:05 pm
Patient Panel (Moderator: Misty Richards, M.D.)

Lived Experiences in Perinatal Mental Health
Limary Lorenzo, Xochitl Carlos Mendez, Milena Pastreich

12:05 pm - 12:20 pm
Lunch/Bio Break

12:20 pm - 1:05 pm
Clinician Reflective Discussion Panel (Moderator: Soudabeh Givrad, M.D.)

Lived Experiences of Doing Dyadic Psychotherapy
Talia Hatzor, Ph.D.; Gloria Castro, Ph.D.

1:05 pm - 1:10 pm
Bio Break

1:10 pm - 1:55 pm

Integrating Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry in Clinical Practice (Moderator: Amalia Londoño Tobón, M.D.)
Sheehan Fisher, Ph.D., Ruthie Arbit, LICSW, Julianna Finelli, M.D.

1:55 pm - 2:20 pm

Improving Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Internationally
Alexandra Harrison, M.D.

2:20 pm - 2:45 pm

Reducing the Impact of Toxic Stress on Premature Infants
Connie Lillas, RN, MFT, Ph.D.

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Bio Break

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Keynote Presentation

Healing Across Generations: Promoting an Infant Mental Health Perspective in the Context of Perinatal Care
Maria Muzik, M.D.

4:00 pm - 4:10 pm
Closing Remarks

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Perinatal-Infant Mental Health (PIM) Network Post-conference Get Together, hosted by Georgetown University Medical Center (different Zoom link)

Soudabeh Givrad, M.D. (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Amalia Londoño Tobón, M.D., IMH-E® Mentor (Georgetown University Medical Center)

Misty Richards, M.D., M.S., DFAACAP (UCLA Department of Psychiatry) 

By the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Demonstrate increased awareness and competence in understanding the parent-infant relationship as a unified health system.
2. Analyze the relational experiences and challenges parents and infants face during the perinatal period to enhance clinical understanding and intervention.
3. Explain the importance of integrating perinatal and infant mental health care to provide comprehensive, holistic support for parents and infants.
4. Apply a dyadic framework in assessment, case formulation and treatment planning for the perinatal population to improve clinical outcomes.

ACCREDITATION AND CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENTS

Weill Cornell Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Weill Cornell Medical College designates this live activity for a maximum of _5.5_ AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

View the Continuing Medical Education brochure.

5.5 CE credits are available for $100 and will be awarded to licensed psychologists, social workers and licensed mental health counselors who attend the conference live and have met the requirements below. Participants who do not meet the attendance requirements will not receive a CE certificate or refund. Payment for CE Credits must be received no later than Friday, June 6th by 9:00 am.

Please note that to receive your 5.5 CE certificate for the event, you must sign in with your full name, attend the entire conference and complete the evaluation in accordance with NYSED and APA requirements. 

Evaluation forms will be distributed via email following the workshop to those meeting the attendance requirements above. There will be one certificate awarding 5.5 CE hours for the event. No partial credit will be given to those attending only a portion of the conference.

Instructional Level: This event is appropriate for all audiences (introductory, intermediate and advanced).

CE Information Packet

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) Department of Psychiatry, 525 E 68th St. New York, NY 10065, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0192. Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) Department of Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0302. Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The New York Presbyterian Hospital Department of Social Work is recognized by New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0155. 

To be announced

• May 6, 2023 | Separation and Connection in an Everchanging World: Understanding the Experiences of Parents and Babies
• May 18, 2024 | Holding in Healing: An Examination of the Experiences of Parents, Infants, and Clinicians in High-Risk Perinatal Settings

1. Jester, J. M., Bengel, C., Issa, M., Duprey, M., Riggs, J. L., Hoffman, C. M., Harris, S. D., Muzik, M., & Rosenblum, K. L. (2025). Infant mental health integration into OB care leads to increased connection to services during the perinatal period. Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood, 46(1), 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22152
2. Lim, I., Newman-Morris, V., Hill, R., Hoehn, E., Kowalenko, N., Matacz, R., Paul, C., Powrie, R., Priddis, L., Raykar, V., Wright, T., Newman, L., & Sundram, S. (2022). You can't have one without the other: The case for integrated perinatal and infant mental health services. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 56(6), 586–588. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674221083874
3. Kundakovic, M., & Champagne, F. A. (2015). Early-life experience, epigenetics, and the developing brain. Neuropsychopharmacology: official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 40(1), 141–153. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2014.140

Ruthie Arbit, LICSW, MA has financial relationship(s) with Sage Therapeutics and Perigee Foundation perinatal funding for IOP. SHE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Gloria Castro, PsyD has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Julianna Finelli, MD has financial relationship(s) with HRSA. SHE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Sheehan Fisher, PhD has a financial relationship with Nurtur. HE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Soudabeh Givrad, MD has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Alexandra Murray Harrison has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Talia Hatzor, Ph.D - Psychologist has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Connie Lillas, RN, LMFT, PhD. is the owner of NRF and financial ties with this company. SHE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Limary Lorenzo, PhD has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Xochitl Carlos Mendez has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Maria Muzik, MD, MSc has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Milena Pastreich has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Misty C. Richards, MD, MS has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies and DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Arietta Slade, Ph.D. is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Minding the Baby™. SHE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.

Amalia Londoño Tobón has financial relationship(s) with Perigee Fund, Marriott Foundation, Sage Foundation, Latham Fund, MedStar Research Institute. SHE DOES NOT INTEND to discuss off-label or investigational use of product or services.