The CME Advisory Board guides and directs all of NEI's educational activities and CME policies. Our illustrious panel consists of experts in the fields of continuing education, psychiatry, and psychopharmacology.

Chair
Ronnie G. Swift, MD
Scarsdale, NY

Dr. Ronnie Gorman Swift is Professor and Associate Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at New York Medical College. In addition, she is the Chief of Psychiatry and Associate Medical Director for Metropolitan Hospital Center, one of the 11 acute care hospitals that are a part of the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation which is the public health system for New York City.

She is a 1969 graduate of the City College of New York, where she majored in Chemistry, and graduated with honors in Chemistry. She attended the University of North Carolina School of Medicine where she was elected to AOA, the Medical Honor Society, and received the George C. Thrasher, Jr. Award “given annually to that member of the graduating class who during his/her medical school experience has shown most outstanding performance and ability in Psychiatry.” During her residency at the University of North Carolina Hospital, she was selected by the American Psychiatric Association as one of 15 psychiatry residents nationally to receive a Falk Fellowship. The Falk Fellowship program recognized “a unique leadership group of physicians in psychiatric residency training.” As part of this fellowship, Dr. Swift served on the APA Program Committee for two years.

In March of 2009 Dr. Swift was honored by Metropolitan Hospital during women’s history week for her outstanding contributions to the hospital. Dr. Swift is included in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World and received America’s Top Psychiatric Award given by Consumers’ Research Council of America.

In September 2005, Dr. Swift was awarded Honorary Membership in the World Psychiatric Association for her “contributions to Psychiatry.” In May 2005, New York Medical College selected Dr. Swift as the first recipient of the Sidney E. Frank Visiting Professor Award. This program establishes a visiting professor exchange program between New York Medical College and Hadassah University in Israel. In June 2005, Dr. Swift has received the Teacher of the Year Award and in June 2004, she received an award for her Teaching and Leadership in the Psychiatry Residency at Metropolitan Hospital Center. In April 2004, Dr. Swift co-chaired the Scientific Program Committee for the World Psychiatric Association Meeting held at Metropolitan Hospital Center titled “Psychiatry in its Contemporary Context, Comprehensive Health and Integration of Services.” She also presented a paper titled “Integration of Mental Health Services: A New York Perspective” at the meeting.

Dr. Swift chairs and serves on numerous clinical committees and task forces for New York Medical College, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, New York City Department of Health and Metropolitan Hospital Center to improve patient care, patient safety and to establish best practices. She has helped develop guidelines for best practice on topics including Psychiatric Assessment in the Emergency Room, Suicide Risk Assessment, Methadone Treatment, Detoxification Treatment, Integrating Depression Screening in Primary Care, and Developing a Culture of Patient Safety to name a few. Dr. Swift is a frequent invited speaker on topics as varied as Diagnosing and Treating Depression in Primary Care, Treating Tobacco Addiction in Psychiatric Patients, Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychiatric Illness in Different Ethnic and Racial Groups, Comprehensive Health and Integration of Services, Current Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder, the Use of Atypical Antipsychotics, Treating Depression During Pregnancy and Using Genetic History in the Diagnosis of Psychiatric Illness.

Dr. Swift has done research on the Wolfram Syndrome since 1980 and is considered an expert on the clinical manifestations of this disorder.

Patrick Finley, PharmD, BCPP
San Francisco, CA

Dr. Patrick R. Finley is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy (in psychopharmacology and behavioral health) at the University of California at San Francisco within the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. At UCSF, Dr. Finley’s teaching, clinical, and research interests continue to focus upon the safe and efficacious use of psychotropic medications in a wide range of health care settings.

Dr. Finley’s research interests in psychopharmacology span clinical, epidemiological, pharmacokinetic and health policy domains. Dr. Finley’s recent contributions to the medical literature include publications in Biological Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Archives of Internal Medicine, Psychosomatics, Psychopharmacology Bulletin, Drug Safety, Formulary, Clinical Therapeutics, Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacotherapy, Annals of Pharmacotherapy, and the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. He has written chapters in 12 different medical textbooks and currently serves as a referee and/or editorial board member for approximately 30 medical journals.

Dr. Finley has spent much of the past decade developing collaborative care treatment models for depression which emphasize the role of clinical pharmacists as providers. His current practice is located in the UCSF Women’s Health Center Primary Care Clinic. In addition, he has been involved with several epidemiological studies analyzing the safety of antidepressants in children and adolescents, and recently embarked on a prospective investigation of risk factors associated with the development of postpartum depression. He is currently serving on the Parental Depression Committee of the National Academies.

Dr. Finley continues to enjoy his role as patient advocate, working with various consumer groups to ensure safe and equitable mental health care. In his spare time, Dr. Finley enjoys baseball, modern poetry, Native American history, and the incomparable joys of parenthood.

Owen Nichols, PsyD, MBA, NHA, CPM, ABPP, ABMP
Covington, KY

Dr. Owen Nichols is the President and CEO of NorthKey Community Care in Covington KY. He is a seasoned behavioral healthcare clinician and administrator with over 20 years of continuous community and public service in the behavioral healthcare field. His experience has been acquired in behavioral healthcare treatment organizations, governmental agencies, professional organizations, as well as independent private practice. He provides oversight and leadership to community clinics delivering mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental disability services; a free-standing child and adolescent psychiatric hospital; and numerous residential and day-treatment programs. He has previously served as the Associate Executive Director and Clinical Director of Western State Hospital, which consists of three distinct facilities, including a freestanding acute care psychiatric hospital, skilled nursing facility, and substance abuse treatment program.

He was a Merit Scholar of the Forest Health Care Foundation and he holds a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, as well as a Post-Doctoral Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology. He has the distinction of being Board Certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and Board Certified in Medical Psychology by the American Board of Medical Psychology.

During his career, along with his advanced clinical education, he has earned a Certificate of Management Fundamentals, Certification in Public Management, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in management. He has a blended background of clinical activities with administrative expertise, which enhances his understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted nature of behavioral healthcare. He is licensed as both a Nursing Home Administrator and Clinical Psychologist in several states.

In 2008, he was awarded the honorary title of Clinical Director Emeritus of Western State Hospital and received the organization’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2004, he was honored by being selected as the “Kentucky Psychologist of the Year” by the Kentucky Psychological Association. He was named the 2001 “Outstanding Mental Health Administrator” by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services.

Dr. Nichols is a Fellow in the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, Fellow in the Academy of Medical Psychology, and an active member of the American Psychological Association, Division of Psychologists in Public Service, Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice and Society of Clinical Psychology. He is the 2010 President of the American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy.

Jacqueline Parochka, EdD
Gurnee, IL

Dr. Jacqueline N. Parochka is currently President and CEO of Excellence in Continuing Education, Ltd. in Gurnee, Illinois and a partner in PTR Educational Consultants, LLC. She was previously Vice President, Director of Education, Division of Continuing Medical Education at Discovery International in Chicago, Illinois from 1992-2004. She served as Executive Director of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science in Chicago from 1986-1992. Prior to that, she was Director of Continuing Education for the University of Illinois, Office of Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs-Chicago and College of Medicine-Rockford from 1975 - 1986.

Dr. Parochka has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education and Illinois Alliance for Continuing Medical Education and is Past-President of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training and founding member and Past President of the North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Inc.

She has provided long time service to the editorial board of The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. In the past, she also served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Allied Health and the Almanac of the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education. Dr. Parochka has served as site surveyor for both the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and Illinois State Medical Society and as a reviewer for the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. She has authored numerous journal articles and conducted several workshops. Dr. Parochka is a board certified Medical Technologist and licensed teacher in the state of Illinois.

Cheryl Raleigh-DuRoff, MN, ARNP
Seattle, WA

Cheryl Raleigh-DuRoff is a clinical adviser at the University of Washington School of Nursing; a consultant at Valley Medical Center, Psychiatry and Counseling Center in Renton, WA; and a psychiatric ARNP and counselor in private practice at Lake City Professional Center in Seattle, WA.

Ms. Raleigh-DuRoff received her BSN and MN in Psychosocial Nursing, Psychiatric Clinical Specialist, at the University of Washington, Seattle. She is certified as a Clinical Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.

Ms. Raleigh-DuRoff is very involved with the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) and maintains memberships in the ARNPs United of Washington State, Sigma Theta Tau and the Seattle Counseling Association. Her special awards have included AAPPN Nurse of the Year State of Washington 2004, Opening Speaker at the 2006 Psychiatric Nursing Conference, and 2007 Governor’s Special Task Force—Registered Counselor Task Force.

Thomas L. Schwartz, MD
Syracuse, NY

Thomas L. Schwartz, MD, is an Associate Professor for the Department of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. In addition, he is the Director of Adult Outpatient Services, Assistant Director for Residency Training, and directs the Depression & Anxiety Disorders Research Program. He is a member of several academic and administrative committees as well. He has psychopharmacology clinical trial research experience in treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, and psychosomatic illness.

Dr. Schwartz provides direct resident supervision and lectures in several courses at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He directs and organizes CME events for the Psychiatry Department. Dr. Schwartz maintains a small private practice and consults for the Indian Health Service. He has published manuscripts and books regarding his work in several major clinical areas and is active in speaking in support of his research.