Suggestions for Lectures

Vernon M Neppe MD, PhD

The following list is to assist in allowing as successful a meeting as possible. Like you, I want the lecture to be worthwhile and to run smoothly. These guidelines have developed out of lengthy travel and lecture experience and reflect what works for me.

Please obtain the following information from your visiting faculty:

1. a list of all my lectures
2. this also includes suggestions for different groups; please note I talk to groups of any size (one on one to enormous conferences or symposia) and to psychiatrists, family practitioners, pediatricians, internists, neurologists and others.
3. CME accreditation: goals of lecture, abstract. Please do not distribute all the abstracts to physicians. Give them the titles of lectures and if required specific abstracts.
4. a curriculum vitae of more than 20 pages
5. an abbreviated 3-4 page biosketch - usually most suitable
6. a half page introduction

SETTING UP OF LECTURES

1. Please note that with rare exceptions, at least three talks per day should be arranged - beginning at breakfast, then lunch and dinner (Fridays generally two ending at lunch time). Please confirm with visiting faculty. I have done on occasion up to five talks in a day.
2. It is seldom practical to fly through the night to a city that cannot be reached nonstop. Often, a breakfast lecture can be set up in a city I need to fly through and not in your city.
3. Lectures should be paired (e.g. lunch and dinner) in the same broad geographic locality - (e.g. not more than forty minutes apart and not requiring a plane: otherwise the travel is too exhausting and time demanding). Plane connections may make exact timing critical.
4. Sometimes a hotel day room is valuable in this regard: shopping around in the area for hotels which offer this is sometimes difficult.
5. Please note that I speak to very varied audiences ranging from high level academics (and lecturing at a medical school is always an added pleasure to me) to primary care physicians and pharmacists, and even physicians assistants and nurses. The same topic may be entirely different for each group. Sometimes, my audience consists of specialized medical groups like psychiatrists, pediatricians, neurologists, cardiologists, internists, gynecologists. It is critical that I know who my audience is. It is equally critical to know the length of the talk.
6. Please note that I can generally only confirm lectures once the required number (e.g. three in a day) have been set up. Once I have confirmed I am coming, my patients for that day are canceled and, in addition, I run very significant expenses at my institute (without salary). Please do not cancel without substituting a new lecture in a convenient locale - not a hundred miles away: in any event, I still require payment for canceled lectures as I am allocating that time. (Visiting faculty rules relate to cancellation within a week of the lecture or coming to the place as a consequence of lectures promised).

LECTURE PROGRAMS / NOTIFICATIONS TO PHYSICIANS:

I suggest this format for cards / invitations to lectures (do not use an old resume!).

"Vernon M . Neppe MD, PhD, FRCPC, FFPsych, MMed
Director, Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute, Seattle, WA
Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, St. Louis
University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO and
formerly Director, Division of Neuropsychiatry,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA"

(sometimes programs are abbreviated; please be very careful not to distort the above information if you modify it; please note my St Louis appointment is more relevant than the University of Washington one).

Some programs mention specifics: e.g. Dr Neppeâs books include Innovative Psychopharmacotherapy and listings include editions of WhoâsWho in the World, Best Doctors in America, Two Thousand Notable American Men, Five Thousand personalities of the World and Five Hundred Leaders of Influence.

THE ACTUAL LECTURE

APPARATUS FOR THE ACTUAL LECTURE:

For all lectures please ensure the following basic apparatus:

1. One standard (i.e. Kodak / Ectographic) slide projector (non-standard ones such as Vivitar should not be used - check with restaurants or hospitals if they are supplying the projector). A screenis obviously necessary: however, one can frequently use the wall.
2. Remote control with remote control extension. (If renting, ask for one; this is a twenty food cord that attaches to the remote control and is commonly forgotten)
3. Extension cord with plug for sockets of 3 or 2 holes
4. Microphone unless room is very small. (I cannot overemphasize this enough; please obtain if you have any doubt; I deliberately modulate my voice down to a whisper at times). Please preserve my voice for my other lectures. As a guide, any room accommodating more than 30 people or any room where my voice projects more than 20 feet would qualify).
5. Spare light bulb.
6. Laser pointer. I often have one with me. However, they break quickly and are liable to get lost.
7. I generally have spare remotes and extension cords. However, the rate of attrition is very high.

The most common pieces of apparatus forgotten are remote extension for the remote control, microphone, laser pointer, using a Vivitar projector not a Kodak, no extension cord or 3 to 2 point plug.

Time of arrival for the lecture:

I do not generally need to arrive a half-hour before a lecture. Fifteen minutes is invariably sufficient. My slides will be ready to go. The only limitation is ensuring that there is a slide projector available which is in working order. Similarly, it would be appreciated not to have to be part of collecting the food prior to the lecture or stopping over to visit with doctors whom representatives call on (which is not acceptable).

Introducing me:

If the representative introduces me, it may be perceived as a compromise to the presentationâs objectivity: this is not preferred. Depending on formality, I prefer to be introduced by one of the physicians or by the director of CME. If this is unsuitable, I can introduce myself.

LUNCH and BREAKFAST PRESENTATIONS:

Generally, a significant time crunch occurs - a set starting time is important for the 50-60 minutes long lecture. If fixed meals or pre-ordering can be done, this will facilitate greatly.

EVENING LECTURES:

The length of talks in the evening varies but generally runs about 1.5 hours or longer with questions. Please ensure therefore that dinner is served during the lecture. If there is a dessert or coffee this should be during the lecture. Frequently, salads or appetizers should be served before the start of the lecture which should begin generally either at 7 PM (most common: this usually requires seating at 6.50 PM and if waiters are taking the orders at 6.45 PM ) or at 6.30 PM. Whereas a lecture can be advertised as 6.30 PM for drinks, the starting time should be clearly indicated. Please do not indicate an end time.

PERMIT ME SOME OBSERVATIONS WITH REGARD TO LECTURES:

1. Some physicians do not eat meat (including poultry). I suggest you consider a non-exotic alternative e.g. regular fish like salmon or trout (not oysters or shark) or vegetarian.
2. Many physicians prefer juices or diet plus decaffeinated drinks to regular drinks.
3. More physicians will attend if their spouses are invited.
4. Most representatives feel that they themselves benefited greatly from the lecture. I strongly encourage attendance by representatives. (Sometimes, the most valuable single aspect to the lecture is the confidence a representative obtains by attending speakers lectures. Please do not ignore this. It is far more important than seeing that one extra physician).

BASIC ARRANGEMENTS TO FACILITATE MEETING AND LECTURE

PRIOR TO MY DEPARTURE OR IF ON THE ROAD, THE PREVIOUS DAY:

Please ensure that I know which hotel I am staying in. I must also know where and when I am speaking.

OUT OF HOURS ARRIVALS:

I do not expect to be picked up at airports late at night or early in the morning. I will take a cab or limo as needed. However, please ensure that taxis are available in little towns. Limos between cities are generally cheaper than taxis and they should preferably originate from the city of origin not the city of destination (otherwise they can arrive very late).

HOTEL ROOMS:

Please ensure that you have reserved a hotel room for me so there will be no ambiguity as to where I am staying. If you have guaranteed the booking on your credit card, I will change it to my credit card once I arrive.

It is often best to aim at a hotel near the following dayâs breakfast meeting rather than at the venue of the evening before. This facilitates avoiding traffic congestion in the morning.

If a meeting is organized at a particular hotel that hotel is obviously preferable. Otherwise, most commonly, I stay at Hiltons or Sheratons.

You may book the cheapest rates in single occupancy, non-smoking: corporate rates often require booking at the time of reservation.

Hotel accommodation is not necessarily best in one place for a whole trip. Please discuss these options with me.

TIME BETWEEN LECTURES AND DAY ROOMS:

The success of any venture is partly dependent on my utilizing time appropriately. Invariably, there are several urgent medical matters that I need deal with between talks and work to be done between lectures. Please ensure that there is as little dead time as possible between talks. For example, if there is a lunch at 12-1 pm and a dinner at 6.30 pm in the same town, I will generally need a hotel room for that afternoon: the choice therefore is getting a day room at a hotel for the 5 hours dead time or even better to stay over in that city and check into a new hotel. This requires packing anyway. Decisions are muddied if the lecture the next morning is in a different city where usually it is logical to stay over in that new city. Often, such choices are close calls and it would be worth discussing with me prior to my travels.

MEETING AT THE AIRPORT

1. If you are picking me up at the airport please let me know.
2. For recognition purposes, you may want to wear an identification.
3. I am of medium height, bespectacled, clean shaven with brown hair and will probably be wheeling two small cases e.g. 1 gray and 1 green.
4. The best place to meet is at the gate at which my flight arrives.
5. If you cannot locate me (very rare) please:
1. overhead page me.
2. page me on my pager by 1(800) 946-4646 and enter the pin #547 4814 and your phone number. (Usually this will not work until my 800 number is connected to the new city)
3. phone me at my home number 1(206) 526-5012 and leave a message.

Meanwhile, I may overhead page or phone your home or car phone if available.

Finally, please let me know where the lecture is taking place and how far away it is, so that as a last resort, I could take a cab to the lecture.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MORNING LECTURE:

Please leave a message at the hotel about:

1. what time you are picking me up
2. the title of the talk and
3. the broad audience e.g. psychiatrists OR internists OR mixed OR family practice plus spouses OR non-medical (nurses, social workers) and psychiatrists. Please do this even if you have spoken to me the day before as notes will be on my computer but at 2 am in the morning it may not be optimal to plug in a computer to check such data. Please note that I may give a very different lecture on the same title to different audiences.
4. Please leave me a contact phone number. Car phone numbers are very useful though seldom used.

AT TIME OF PICK UP AT THE HOTEL

When I am picked up at a hotel for the lecture:

Please call up to my room: if I am not there check in the lobby or check at the breakfast restaurant and let the reception know you are waiting for me. (Occasionally, I am in the lobby and so is the representative and we do not see each other.)

It is a good idea to wear a name badge.

It is preferable to call my room so I may receive phone messages in emergencies.

Sometimes, to save time, I need to check out prior to your arrival: still call my room or check in the lobby; I have not left!

PAGING:

I may have access to an 800 pager and you may page me while traveling. If so, I will let you know. If you are in the hotel lobby you may enter 9999 and I will know you are there.

CONTENTS OF LECTURES

As indicated, please note that I have given the Visiting Faculty a listing of all the lectures I do. These are listed below under topic titles. Please obtain these from Visiting Faculty directly. Every lecture has a:

1. series of educational objectives for when continuing medical education is given.
2. one page abstract which may be given to physicians on request. Additionally, a summary page suggests topic titles for different audiences and a separate sheet lists the educational objectives of all the talks together so that directors of education may choose which lecture they want.
3. Representatives will benefit from discussing the exact topic for each group with me. Often this may lead to a suggested more suitable topic.

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA:

I have given your visiting faculty several different biosketches.

The first is a half page introduction to introduce me by the chairman of the meeting. The second is a four page biosketch which can be used effectively for CME accreditation. The third is a detailed curriculum vitae of 20-30 pages. Please obtain these from Visiting Faculty directly or the world wide web.

LECTURE ORGANIZATION SCHEDULE

(to be completed by the person co-ordinating the travel arrangements for Dr V Neppe)

spaces between dinner and breakfast for additional talks or those between times.

This table is made for abbreviations and planning.

*

audience type: use combinations of the following abbreviations:

n

nonmedical personnel

s

spouses

p

psychiatrists

f

family practice or primary care

c

child psychiatrists / pediatricians/ child neurologists

m

very mixed

**

topic titles refer to the titles in the list and choose the appropriate letter

^

you need only put the date and day of week not the month or year e.g. Tu. 21 for Tuesday 21st March 1995.

^^

use initials for representative name e.g. list in this space OR overpage: J.J = John Jones.

TRAVEL TABLE

ORIGIN refers to originating city, destination to end point city; these may be the same city but different areas e.g. North Seattle to South Seattle.

TIME refers to when Dr Neppe can depart; DURATION = travel time anticipated in minutes;

METHOD OF TRAVEL: abbreviations e.g.

R

representative will take by car

L

travel by limo

T

by taxi

A

to airport

C

by Car

F

Fly to nearest airport

Example: By car with 2 representatives meeting halfway taking thirty minutes = C2R 30 min.

Waiting time refers to down time at airport.

EXAMPLES OF TOPIC TITLES:

Click, for actual abstracts.

I commonly encounter the situation where the representative even at the time of the lecture is uncertain of the exact title or less commonly has the title frankly wrong. To facilitate that I travel with the correct sets of slides, I appeal to you to complete the enclosed sheet. Sometimes, the population is specialized e.g. in women, in the elderly, in children and adolescents, in the mental hospital context, in the medically ill, in cardiology etc. This is not usually a problem, provided I know about it, so please mention it.

Some topic titles

A

Clinical Implications of serotonin 1A neuromodulation.

B

Serotonin specificity, neuromodulation and combination serotonin therapy.

C

Pharmacologic management of aggression and irritability

D

Pharmacologic management of tardive dyskinesia

E

Innovations in the management of anxiety

F

Innovations in the management of anxiety and irritability

G

Geriatric psychiatry : serotonin specificity as a new approach in anxiety and depression

H

The pharmacotherapy of anxiety and irritability in the medically ill / geriatric patient.

I

Management of the refractory psychotic.

J

Attention deficit disorder, irritability and serotonin 1 A neuromodulation

K

Combination serotonin antidepressant therapy.

L

Antidepressants, serotonin specificity and neuromodulation.

M

Modern frameworks for the management of depression: the new antidepressants

N

Innovations in the management of anxiety and depression in the female patient.

O

Antidepressants choosing, resistance, switching, combinations : the rest of the picture

P

Insomnia, psychiatric disturbance and antidepressants

Q

Antidepressants and sexual problems

R

Hepatopsychiatry and antidepressants : P 450 and beyond.

S

Serotonin neurotransmission : Implications for depression, anxiety and irritability

T

The new antidepressants: a perspective

U

Pharmacologic management of anxiety with depression

V

Geropsychiatry : serotonin specificity in anxiety, depression, irritability and dyskinesia

W

Future of psychopharmacology and Innovative Psychopharmacotherapy

X

Perspectives to the depressed medically ill / geriatric patient with depression

Y

Cerebral cortical evaluation in the geriatric context

Z

New advances in the management of memory disorders and new instrumentation

AA

Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimerâs disease and evaluation perspectives

BB

Anxiety and biochemistry

CC

Vortex pluralism

DD

The mystery of déjà vu.

EE

Weight loss : achievement and maintenance in obesity

FF

Obesity and Depression : serotonergic links

Please use the letters listed (e.g. "L." For "antidepressants-") to complete the enclosed form. Please ensure this is filled in on the form so as not to create ambiguity.

© Copyright 1997 Pacific Neuropsychiatric Institute.