What is Project ECHO?

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an outreach and educational program designed to address healthcare disparities in under-served and remote areas. First developed at the University of New Mexico, ECHO has revolutionized collaborative medical education across the globe by using a regional hub-and-spoke model for the purpose of knowledge-sharing among clinicians and healthcare professionals. The result is minimized wait lists, improved healthcare outcomes, and improved regional access for patients.

Project ECHO Depression

The UAB Depression and Suicide Center in partnership with the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology is planning a collaborative and engaging monthly ECHO clinic. They are a team of experts that will provide education and case discussion for primary care clinicians across the state on diagnosis and treatment of depression. 

The majority of patients with Major Depressive Disorder in Alabama remain underserved, in part due to the shortage of psychiatrists on both a national and statewide scale.  Many primary care physicians on the front lines of serving patients with depression are under-equipped to manage treatment-resistant depression. The goal of these ECHO clinics will be to increase the number of patients with depression who can be treated successfully in their primary care physician's office by providing Alabama physicians with didactic instruction and live, de-identified and HIPAA-compliant case discussion on a monthly basis.

ECHO Depression Spring Series 2024

February 20: "A Refresher Course"  |  Richard Shelton, M.D.

March 19: "Treating Anxiety"  |  Matthew Macaluso, D.O.

April 16: "Motivational Interviewing" |  Heather Austin, Ph.D.

May 21: "Substance Abuse Treatment Options"  |  Aniket Malhotra, M.D.

June 18: "Mood Disorders vs ADHD"  |  Ashley Reno, Ph.D.

Visit go.uab.edu/apbrnecho to register.