Advances in mental, brain health to be discussed March 22

The Western Alumni Association will present two leading University of Washington School of Medicine researchers who will discuss “Precision Medicine for Dementia” and “Frightening and Promising: A Sobering View of Cambodia’s Mental Health,” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, at Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant in Bellevue.

Dr. Tom Montine will describe a roadmap for treating dementia, developing the right treatment for each patient.

Dr. Richard Veith will discuss the rising importance of mental illness as a major contributor to the global burden of disease and will highlight locally developed models for increasing access to behavioral health care in the primary care setting that are being disseminated regionally, nationally, and globally.

Veith, a Seattle native, graduated from Western in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry. He earned his M.D. from the University of Washington, followed by an Internal Medicine Internship and Psychiatry Residency. He was chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UW from 1998-2014 and is currently chief of Psychiatric Services at University of Washington Medical Center, the Richard D. and Bernice E. Tutt Professor in the Neurosciences, and adjunct professor of Global Health at the UW School of Public Health.

Montine is the Alvord Endowed Chair in Neuropathology and chair of the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington, where he is professor of Pathology and adjunct professor of Neurological Surgery; he also is adjunct professor of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University.

Ticket prices are $17 for Alumni Association members and $22 for non-members. Appetizers, desserts and one glass of wine are included in the cost of admission. Tickets are available online at http://www.igniteyourintellect.com or by calling the Alumni Office at 360-650-3353.