2026 Virtual Series:
Navigating Your Career Path: Considerations for a Lifelong Career in Psychiatry
About this Series:
Psychiatry is a fulfilling career path with numerous avenues for practice. Psychiatrists can focus on certain settings, such as inpatient or outpatient, work in specialized systems, such as the VA or corrections, or create their own combination of numerous contracts and practice settings. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose a particular path or determine the best path forward when looking to change career paths or jobs. Join IPS for our next virtual series as we explore “Navigating Your Career Path: Considerations for a Lifelong Career in Psychiatry.” We’ll be joined by experienced panelists who will lead us in learning about considerations when transitioning between positions, all things private practice, best practices for testifying in commitment proceedings with a focus on outpatient commitment processes, and working in specific, specialized clinical systems. Whether you’re looking for advice for locating your first job, your fifth job, or information about opening your own practice, our panelists will be able to offer considerations and answer questions based on their personal experience. Please join us as we explore the many facets of psychiatric practice together!
This is a 4-part series with sessions falling on the third Thursday of the month between January and April 2026. (01/15, 02/19, 03/19, 04/16) Sessions will run from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Session 2: All Things Private Practice
February 19, 2026 | 6:30-8:00 PM (CST)
Panelists:
Flavio A. Arana, MD Co-Founder and CEO, Meridian Psychiatric Partners, PLLC
Charles D. Cash, JD, LLM Associate Director of Risk Manager, Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS)
Robert Channon, MD, Retired, Private Practitioner
Lisa Korman, MD Private Practitioner
Naomi Levy, MD Private Practitioner
Amber May, MD Co-Founder, Northshore Wellness Center
Denita Neal, JD Senior Risk Manager, Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS)
Panelists will discuss:
Considerations for opening, running, and closing a private practice
Strategies to help build a practice over time
Processes for obtaining DEA licenses in multiple states
And more..
About Our Panelists:
Dr. Arana is co-founder and chief executive office of Meridian Psychiatric Partners, PLLC, a multidisciplinary private practice group composed of 30 psychiatrists, 1 advanced practiced nurse, and 31 psychotherapists. Their offices are located in Chicago, Evanston, Lake Forest, Oak Park and Oakbrook Terrace. Dr. Arana completed his general psychiatry residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in reproductive psychiatry, the care of women and birthing individuals before, during and after pregnancy.
Charles D. Cash is a healthcare attorney and risk manager. He contributes to publications and speaks nationally on risk management in the practice of psychiatry. His professional interests lie at the intersection of the law and psychiatry. Prior to joining the Risk Management Department at PRMS, he served as an Assistant Public Defender for several years in the Mental Health Division of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Mr. Cash received his law degree from Quinnipiac College School of Law and his Master of Laws in Health Law from DePaul University School of Law. He is a member of the bar of Maryland.
Amber May, MD, is cofounder of the Illinois' premier private medical-psychiatry clinic, Northshore Wellness Center, and a double board-certified child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist. Northshore Wellness Center opened on April 1, 2024 with a vision to offer the most comprehensive, cohesive, and innovative medical and mental healthcare available. Services include psychiatric care, family and lifestyle medicine, and real-time collaborative teamwork. NSWC is dedicated to enhancing clients’ social, occupational, and academic success through accurate diagnosis and alleviation of inattention, impulsivity, anxiety, depression, and medical issues. The clinic supports individuals, sibships, parent-child dyads, and entire families for a one-stop medical home. The inspiration for Northshore Wellness Center came from our desire to bridge the gap in comprehensive medical workups for mental health. Prior to NSWC, she cultivated a wonderful private practice, at The Bloomberg Institute, and all of her patients joined her at her new location. She served as the Medical Director of UIC's Comprehensive ADHD Clinic (CAC) and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry until October 2020, when she transitioned to volunteer faculty to continue teaching and supervising at UIC. She graduated from the UIC Adult Psychiatry Residency and the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship during which she served as Chief Fellow. She earned her medical doctorate degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (2012) and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with a specialization in Neuroscience at the University of Chicago (2007). Dr. Amber May has been an active member of various professional medical organizations since medical school, most importantly ICCAP and IPS.
Denita Neal, JD, joined the PRMS risk management team as Senior Risk Manager in January 2025, returning to the company (2007-2011) after serving as Director of Risk Management at hospitals in Mississippi, Georgia, California, and Washington, DC. Denita earned her nursing licensure during her service in the U.S. Army Reserves and worked in direct patient care for several years before earning her B.A. in English from the University of Memphis, and later, her Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. She currently contributes to the PRMS risk management team through research and writing of risk management articles and phone consultations with insured psychiatrists.
Upcoming Sessions:
Session 3: Best Practices for Court Testimony on Involuntary Treatment and Admissions Case
March 19 | 6:30-7:30 PM (CST)
Session 4: Exploring Practice Settings
April 16, 2026 | 6:30-8:00 PM (CST)
Past Sessions:
Session 1: Transitions Between Positions - January 15.