2026 IPS Annual Meeting: The Elephant in the Waiting Room: Confronting Today's Psychiatric Challenges
Saturday, October 3, 2026
William Tell Hotel (formally known as Holiday Inn Countryside)
6201 Joliet Road, Countryside, IL 60525
ABOUT:
Psychiatry is changing faster than ever before. Are you keeping pace?
With medical knowledge estimated to double approximately every 73 days, staying current has never been more challenging—or more important. From groundbreaking advances in neuroscience and emerging AI technologies to the evolving role of psychedelic therapies, today's psychiatrists are navigating a rapidly changing landscape.
Join colleagues from across Illinois at the IPS Annual Meeting as we tackle The Elephant in the Waiting Room: Confronting Today's Psychiatric Challenges. This year's meeting will feature recognized experts, practical clinical insights, and meaningful discussions designed to help you translate the latest developments into better patient care.
You'll also have the opportunity to explore innovative research during our annual Poster Competition, where medical students, residents, and fellows will showcase the exciting work shaping the future of psychiatry.
The day concludes with the IPS Annual Awards Dinner, a special evening dedicated to celebrating the outstanding individuals whose leadership, service, advocacy, and clinical excellence continue to strengthen psychiatry throughout Illinois.
Whether you're seeking cutting-edge education, valuable networking opportunities, or inspiration from leaders and colleagues across the profession, the IPS Annual Meeting is the place to be.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of the conversations shaping the future of psychiatry. Register today and join us for one of the year's premier events for Illinois psychiatrists.
MEETING AGENDA: (subject to change)
1:00- 1:40 pm Check-In and Networking with Exhibitors
1:40 - 1:45 pm Opening Remarks and Welcome | Steven L. Weinstein, MD, IPS President
1:45 - 2:30 pm Session 1: Washington Update: Federal Policy Shaping Psychiatric Practice | Brooke Trainum, JD; Senior Director, Practice Policy, APA - Trip Stanford; Director, Federal Relations, APA
2:30 - 3:15 pm Session 2: ELIZA for the 21st Century: Promise and Perils of AI in Psychiatric Practice | Olu Ajilore, MD, PhD,; UI Center for Depression and Resilience Professor of Psychiatry, University of Illinois College of Medicine
3:15 - 4:00 pm Poster Session/Break/Networking with Exhibitors
4:00 - 4:45 pm Session 3: Integrating Neuroscience into Clinical Psychiatry | Joseph J. Cooper, MD, FANPA: Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Vice Chair for Education, Director of Residency Training and the Director of the Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry Fellowship in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago
4:45 - 5:45 pm Session 4: Session 4: The Evolving Therapeutic Role of Psychedelics in Psychiatric Conditions: Current Data, Mechanism of Action, Multi-disciplinary Model, and Role in Clinical Practice | John Zajecka, MD; Professor of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Director, Rush University Woman’s Board Depression Treatment Research Center, Co-founder and current Managing Member of Psychiatric Medicine Associates, LLC
5:45 - 7:00 pm Cocktail Hour/Networking with Exhibitors
7:00 - 9:00 pm Awards Dinner | Business Meeting with IPS President, Remarks from IPS Executive Director, Carl Bell Essay Competition Presentation, Poster Session Winners, Awards Ceremony
Thank you to our IPS 2026 Annual Meeting Sponsors/Exhibitors:
