Dear Colleagues,

I am thrilled to share that the Northern California Psychiatric Society's Annual Meeting held from March 6-8, 2026 in Monterey was a resounding success! This year's event brought together a remarkable group of mental health professionals, thought leaders, and advocates who are deeply committed to advancing psychiatric care in our communities.

The meeting was kickstarted with an excellent talk on the state of advocacy by Paul Yoder, founding member of SYASL and the chief lobbyist for CSAP (California State Association of Psychiatrists), the advocacy psychiatry group comprising all five district branches of the American Psychiatric Association which NCPS belongs to. He shared updates on the gubernatorial race in California as well as  various pieces of legislation pertinent to psychiatrists. Over the next two days, we were honored to host speakers, who shared their insights on pharmacology, forensic psychiatry, the impact of AI in psychiatry, sleep medicine, women’s mental health, autism and climate psychiatry. These talks greatly enriched our understanding and sparked vital conversations around the challenges and opportunities in our field. 

The feedback we received from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the value of collaboration and the opportunity to connect with peers. Furthermore, the diversity of the talks and the vital nature of the content was helpful to psychiatrists from various subspecialties. The networking sessions were particularly vibrant, fostering relationships that will hopefully lead to future collaborations and initiatives to benefit our profession and the individuals we serve.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, from our organizers and speakers to each of you who attended. Your engagement and passion are what make our society strong.