2012 Annual Meeting in Tampa, FL, April 29-May 2
Personalized Medicine in Depression
Though depression is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses that psychiatric practitioners will face, response to treatment is variable and largely unpredictable. During this session, Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, MD will identify characteristics which may predict treatment response. He will also highlight ways to “personalize” the treatment of depression to an individual. Lastly, Dr. Trivedi will highlight current and future research that focuses on identifying specific predictors of treatment response, such as biomarkers, genes or neuroimaging.
The Alamo and Mission Trail
“Remember the Alamo!” This is phrase you often hear when a heroic but impossible task is presented before the protagonist of a story or film. “Remember the Alamo” has its roots in San Antonio, Texas where the famous battle between Mexico’s General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and Texas’ Colonel William B. Travis occurred during the Texas Revolution. The Alamo, originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, was home to missionaries and their Indian converts seventy years before it became a military station in the early 1800’s. In late February of 1835, General Santa Ana’s army arrived at the Alamo prepared to overturn Colonel William’s defenses. Colonel William’s army defended the Alamo for 13 days, even giving his men the opportunity to walk away, but they all knew how important the Alamo was to the Texan Revolution. By sunrise on the 13th day of battle, General Santa Ana entered the Alamo to see his victory. The phrase “Remember the Alamo” continues to symbolize those that gave their life for Texas in a futile but heroic effort.
The Alamo continues to be a landmark in Texan history. Not only was it the first mission established in San Antonio, but David Crockett, former governor of Tennessee and famous frontiersman, and Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter were among the nearly 200 that died in the defense of the Alamo. This famous mission can be found along one of Texas’ famous historical attractions, The Mission Trail. This eight mile long trail along the San Antonio River, houses four of the Catholic missions established by the Spanish church in the 18th century: San José, Concepción, San Juan and Espada. The fifth mission, the Alamo, can be found in the heart of the city.
If you plan on visiting the Alamo, it is located downtown, and the hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm and Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm. Because the other missions are spread out along the eight mile long Mission Trail, it may be wise to choose one or two to view if traveling by foot. Admissions and water are free at all the missions. Take a moment to enjoy and learn about Texan history as you visit San Antonio.