Springer’s articlesAim of the course
The course aims to foster an international network of early career clinicians and researchers in the field, as well as to build and promote interpersonal interactions. An essential ingredient to this is represented by the moments of informal exchange, outside the framework of the formal lectures and sessions, within the suggestive and unique location of the course, just in front of the wonderful Sicilian sea.
Synopsis of the contents
Daily lectures will be planned as well as working groups with a focus on the clinical aspects and the development history in relation to the main neurodevelopmental and core psychiatry disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, early-onset psychosis, OCD, and mood disorders. The course material will be prepared and supported by academics in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry and technical staff.
Teaching will include frontal presentations and additional resources including simulated academic interviews, live tutorials, quizzes, and discussion of case studies. Each participant will be requested to prepare one clinical case observed in their clinical practice, that will be discussed in groups with tutors and other students. Cases will need to be submitted to the scientific organization 2 weeks before the first day of the course
Attendees
1) residents (trainees) in child and adolescent psychiatry/neuropsychiatry, psychiatry, neurology, pediatric neurology, clinical psychology (any year) or
2) early career consultants in the field of mental health within the first 3 year of substantive position or
3) PhD students in topics related to child and adolescent psychiatry
What are the prerequisites for attendance?
(e.g. physicians and/or psychologists, other disciplines, training background, specialization, research topic and/or level, etc):
Specialists and residents in child psychiatry, psychiatry, pediatric neurology, psychology. The course is limited to a maximum of 35 applicants, selected on the basis of the candidate’s curriculum vitae and expertise in child and adolescent mental health.
For this purpose, applicants should submit CV and the application form, including a short abstract with a case report or a research project to be discussed during the course. Furthermore, a recommendation letter by the head of department would be auspicable.
In case of more than 35 applicants, other criteria such age and Eastern Europe countries provenance will be taken into account.
Aita fellowship applications
Association “Aita Project” offers a fellowship for selected applicants in order to attend the residential course.
At least one fellows will be awarded with free registration for the residential course.
Criteria for the year 2026:
- Doctors-in-training for child and adolescent psychiatry or in PhD program
- Age below 40 yrs.
- Resident of the following countries:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belorussia, Poland, Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic
Applicants should apply with a short letter of interest stating in which hospital/university they are currently in training and submit that via an email with the subject “Aita fellowship application” to info@residentialcourse.com
Scientific Organizing Committee
Marco Armando (University of Lausanne)
Samuele Cortese (University of Southampton, UK)
Luigi Mazzone (University of Tor Vergata, Rome)
Marco Armando MD, PhD is currently Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and chief of the adolescent inpatient unit at the University Hospital of Vaud Canton (CHUV), were he also lead the local Early Psychosis Prevention for Adolescent Unit. Prof. Armando’s main research interest are around early psychosis prevention and intervention strategies.He has published more than 100 peer-review papers, including first or last author papers in prestigious journals. He is also senior advisor at the clinical academy of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. SCAP.Marco Armando conducted several clinical trials funded by institutions (Ministry of Health, Italy; National Institute of Mental Health, USA; Brain and Behaviour Foundation, USA; 7 Framework Program, EU). Author of more than 80 publications in international peer-reviewed journal and of several books chapters.
Samuele Cortese MD, PhD is currently Full Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and Honorary Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for Solent NHS Trust. He is also Adjunct Full Professor with the New York University (NYU). He has published more than 300 peer-review papers in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, including first author papers in prestigious journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet Psychiatry and the American Journal of Psychiatry. He is Consulting Editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Deputy Editor of BMJ Mental Health. He is the Chair of the European ADHD Guidelines Group, co-chair of the the British Association of Psychopharmacology-child and adolescent psychiatry module, and member of the child and adolescent psychiatry faculty of the European Collegium of Neuropsychopharmacology . In 2022, he ranked #1 worldwide in terms of expertise on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) according to Expertscape.
Luigi Mazzone, MD, PhD is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome and Director of the School of Specialization in Child Neuropsychiatry. He is also chief of the Clinical Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry at the Hospital of Tor Vergata and president of the graduate course of developmental neuropsychomotricists. He has published more than 120 peer-reviewed papers, including first and last author articles, in prestigious international journals, books and several books chapters. The aim of his research activity is to gain a better understanding of the neurobiological substrates underlying psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and early psychosis. He is member of the editorial board of important scientific journals including the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and member of the board of the Italian Society of Psychophysiology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Besides his medical activity, he has been the promoter of numerous social projects in Italy: “Aita Summer Camp”, which allows autistic children to play with their peers at the Italian University Sports Center for the entire summer season and the Fencing Academy “Lia”, a sport association in Rome where autistic and normotypical children practice fencing.
Local Organizing Committee
Assia Riccioni MD, PhD (Policlinico Tor Vergata, Italy)
Martina Siracusano MD, PhD (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy)
Chiara Davico MD (University of Turin, Italy)
Aita Fellowship winners 2019:
Aita Fellowship winners 2022:
Aita Fellowship winners 2023:
– Ingrid Georgiana Nicolau, Romania
– Csapo Marton, Ungheria
Total expected costs per participant excluding traveling costs: 920 euros.
It includes accommodation in twin rooms at Grand Hotel Baia Verde, daily breakfast, lunches and dinners, social events and access to all education activities. Only the flight is not included.
Payment Methods:
By Bank Transfer:
To: Aita project
Association:
Unicredit Bank, Via Giacinto Carini, 58/B, 00152 Roma RM, Italy
IBAN: IT 83 J 02008 05031 000300389963
BIC UNCRITM1015
Please ensure that the name of the meeting and of the participant is stated on the bank transfer.
Important: Proceed with the bank transfer only after receiving the confirmation of
acceptance by email.