Waco Family Medicine Hosts Annual Behavioral Health Update for Primary Care 

April 3, 2025 

On Saturday, March 29, Waco Family Medicine hosted its Annual Behavioral Health Update for Primary Care, focusing on the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders in adolescents and young adults. The event, held at Waco Family Medicine’s Central location on Providence Drive, brought together healthcare professionals from across the U.S. for a day of learning and collaboration. 

This year’s conference featured expert-led discussions on the epidemiology, evaluation, and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in young patients. The program provided valuable insights into both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches, offering a comprehensive overview of best practices in primary care mental health management. These sessions featured the nationally recognized Waco Guide to Psychopharmacology in Primary Care. 

Conference attendee Dr. Kelley Reynolds shared the high value of the conference: “This was the best conference I’ve attended in quite some time. The topic was relevant to my day-to-day practice, the information was organized and presented in a way primary-care clinicians can understand and digest it, and the references to the Waco Guide tool throughout the lectures made me confident I would be able to use this information to help my patients going forward.” 

The agenda included sessions led by renowned experts, including Dr. Khadijah Watkins (Program Director for Mass General Brigham Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training; Associate Director of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds; and Associate Director, Psychiatry Clerkship, Harvard Medical School), Dr. Felicia Smith (Associate Chief of Psychiatry for MGH Division of Psychiatry & Medicine; Chief of Psychiatry Consultation Service; and Director, MGH ID Psychiatry), and Dr. Lauren Barron (Director of the Medical Humanities Program at Baylor University).  

Also on the agenda were primary care behavioral health leaders at Waco Family Medicine Dr. Lance Kelley (Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Waco Family Medicine; Associate Editor, Waco Guide), Dr. Ryan Laschober (Associate Program Directory, WFM-Residency; Editor in Chief, Waco Guide), and Dr. Zachary Sartor (Associate Program Director, WFM-Residency; Director for Primary Care Addiction Medicine, WFM; and Associate Editor- Waco Guide). Participants also attended a special ethics lecture, Behavioral Health & the Humanities, presented by Dr. Lauren Barron, offering an engaging exploration of the intersection between humanities and mental health. 

Attendees earned up to six hours of continuing education credits, including one hour of ethics credit, making the event a valuable professional development opportunity for physicians, social workers, and other healthcare providers. 

As part of Waco Family Medicine’s ongoing mission to provide high-quality, patient-centered care, this annual update continues to enhance the ability of primary care clinicians to recognize and treat mental health conditions effectively. By fostering education and collaboration, Waco Family Medicine aims to improve behavioral health outcomes for the community’s youth.