The Mind and Music of George Gershwin
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 7:00-9:00 PM
The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Hear from keynote speaker and performer Dr. Richard Kogan, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and Artistic Director of the Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Program. View a snippet of what this presentation will be like here.
Dr. Kogan has gained renown for his lecture/concerts that explore the role of music in healing and the influence of psychological forces and psychiatric illness on the creative output of great composers.
A master storyteller, he has captivated audiences worldwide at medical conferences, music festivals, universities, and scholarly symposia. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards in both psychiatry and the arts.
Dr. Kogan is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College, Harvard College, and Harvard Medical School. He has a private practice of psychiatry and lives in New York City.
Register to Attend
CONTACT: Kathleen Rast, krast@skylandtrail.org
About the Dorothy C. Fuqua Lecture Series
The goal of this annual event is to amplify the voices of mental health experts and individuals with lived experience to elevate mental health as an issue of importance here in Atlanta and across the country.
The lecture series honors the late Dorothy Chapman Fuqua, former board member and benefactor of Skyland Trail, and is made possible by Duvall and Rex Fuqua and Edwina and Tom Johnson in honor of Mrs. Fuqua.
Past Lectures
2024
Building Resilience: Strategies for Navigating Stress and Cultivating Strength
Keynote Presentation: Dr. Michael Ungar, Founder and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University
Panelists: Dr. Ben Hunter, Skyland Trail Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Linda Grabbe, Professor Emeritus, Emory School of Nursing, Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner; Tera Carter Certified Peer Specialist and Skyland Trail Alumni Program Coordinator
2023
"Beautiful Boy" One family's journey with mental illness and addiction
Keynote Conversation: David and Nic Sheff
Panelists: Carlyle Bruce, PhD, Director of Psychological Services and Family Therapist, Skyland Trail; Ben Hunter, MD, Interim Chief Medical Officer, Skyland Trail; Justine Welsh, MD, Medical Director of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia
Moderator: Jaye Watson, Host & Co-executive producer, “Your Fantastic Mind,” PBS
2022
"Addressing the Teen Mental Health Crisis"
Keynote: Debra Houry, MD, MPH, Acting Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Director, CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Panelists: Fred Assaf, M.Ed, Head of School, Pace Academy; Emily Anne Vall, PhD, Executive Director, Resilient Georgia; W. Edward Craighead, PhD, ABPP, Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University; (moderator) Ray Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA, Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer, Skyland Trail
2021
"The Weight of Gold"
Panelists: 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist and World Champion figure skater Sasha Cohen; film director-producer Brett Rapkin; sports psychologist Kensa Gunter, PPsy.D., CMPC; and Skyland Trail Charles B. West Chief Medical Officer Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA
2020
"Managing Anxiety in Anxious Times"
Panelists: Ben Hunter, MD; Raymond J. Kotwicki, MD, MPH, DFAPA; Barbara J. Coffey, MD, MS
2019
"From Tragedy to Treatment: The Path Forward for Suicide Prevention"
Featured Speaker: Former U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates
Panelists: Ben Hunter, MD; Dorian Lamis, PhD; Rev. Dr. D. Scott Weimer
2016
“In Our Shoes” at The Carter Center
Panelists: Virginia Senator Creigh Deeds, Ms. Julie Hirsch, Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy
2015
“Schumann: Music, Mood Swings & Madness”
Featured Speaker: Richard Kogan, MD, psychiatrist and Julliard-trained concert pianist
2014
“In Our Shoes”
Featured Speakers: comedian Kevin Breel, and author Melody Moezzi
2013
“Mental Illness in America: From Stigma to Strategy”
Moderator: Sanjay Gupta, MD
Panelists: authors Linea & Cinda Johnson and CDC epidemiologist Alex Crosby, MD