Ep 99: Improving Psychiatric Care for People with IDD | Dr. Mike Cummings on Polypharmacy, START & Empowerment

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters, host Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Mike Cummings, Vice Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Medical Director for several psychiatric programs across New York State. Dr. Cummings brings a wealth of experience from leading New York's busiest psychiatric ER to developing innovative programs like START and APEC that provide person-centered psychiatric support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they unpack the challenges of polypharmacy, the importance of understanding behavior as communication, and how to empower families and individuals through education and collaborative care. Dr. Cummings also shares insights into his YouTube series Coffee Talk with Mike and Janelle, which aims to demystify psychiatric care for families and caregivers in the IDD community. From crisis prevention to positive psychology, this episode is a must-listen for healthcare providers, support professionals, and anyone committed to improving the quality of mental health care for people with IDD. 🔗 Learn more about the work of Dr. Escudé and IntellectAbility at replacingrisk.com 🔗 Explore career opportunities with Friends for Life at friendsforliferc.com 🎥 Find Dr. Cummings' YouTube channel by searching Coffee Talk with Mike and Janelle on YouTube. #IDDHealthMatters #DisabilityHealth #MentalHealth #IDD #Psychiatry #Polypharmacy #PersonCenteredCare #DrMikeCummings #DrCraigEscude #STARTModel #CoffeeTalkWithMikeAndJanelle #FriendsForLife #IntellectAbility #HealthEquity