ABOUT THE TALK: Agonizing physical pain, known as vaso-occlusive pain, can afflict children who have sickle cell disease. How vaso-occulsion leads to pain, and its impact on future pain and opioid pain relief is currently unknown. Using a combination of clinical and basic science studies our laboratory has identified a potential biomarker that may identify children at highest risk for the development of severe and early on-set painful vaso-occlusive episodes.

ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr. Sarah Sweitzer is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, in the Physiology & Neuroscience Program at the USC School of Medicine.  Her research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of pain in order to identify novel targets for treatment.  Pre-clinical development of new therapies for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain: Neuropathic pain is often refractory to current therapies. Our laboratory is focused on pre-clinical development of a gene based strategy to over-express opioid receptors and their endogenous ligands as an alternative therapeutic approach to treat neuropathic pain. Additionally, biotechnology collaborations, we are testing novel new compounds for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

ABOUT THE TALK: Dr. Coffey will review a number of emerging methods of human brain stimulation, including modification of already known procedures as well as new and cutting-edge technologies. These methods include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), focal electrically administered seizure therapy (FEAST), magnetic seizure therapy (MST), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Each of these methods hold promise for improving human pain and suffering, and for expanding our knowledge of brain-behavior relations.

ABOUT THE GUEST:  Dr. Ed Coffey is a neuropsychiatrist, Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) Vice President and CEO of Behavioral Health Services, and the Kathleen and Earl Ward Chair of Psychiatry, all at the HFHS in Detroit.  Dr. Coffey is also Professor of Psychiatry and of Neurology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, HFHS Campus.  Dr. Coffey received his undergraduate degree in Psychology (BS) from Wofford College (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1974, and then spent two years at St John's College, Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar (BA in Psychology, Philosophy, and Physiology).  He earned his medical degree from Duke University (AOA) in 1979, where he also completed a medical internship and residencies in neurology and psychiatry.  In 1984, Dr. Coffey joined the Duke faculty, where he developed highly successful programs in neuropsychiatry, brain imaging, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and rose to the rank of Associate Professor.  In 1990, Dr. Coffey was recruited to the Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (Allegheny Campus), to serve as Director of the Allegheny Neuropsychiatric Institute, as well as Professor of Psychiatry (Neuropsychiatry) and of Medicine (Neurology).  Dr. Coffey was recruited to Henry Ford in 1996.

Dr. Coffey has also made important contributions to the fields of neuropsychiatry, mood disorders, and brain aging, and serves on the editorial board of several journals.  He is the author of over 130 scientific publications and book chapters, and he is the editor of several influential textbooks including Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry (2^nd Edition), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, and Guide to Neuropsychiatric Therapeutics.  Dr. Coffey is a Fellow and former president of the American Neuropsychiatric Association and of the Association for Convulsive Therapy, and remains on the Executive Board of both organizations.  He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.  Dr. Coffey is a noted educator, and has served as an Examiner in Psychiatry for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Prior to the talk, a luncheon will be provided for all attendees.

Video of Dr. Coffey's Presentation     ~     Handouts of the Slides in Dr. Coffey's Presentation