The NNDC is excited to announce 10 Student Clinician In-Person Travel Awards of $1,000 each, available to eligible conference attendees from NNDC member sites. For this award, “student clinician” includes third- and fourth-year medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows or other. Please fill out the application by 11:45pm EST on September 18, 2026 by using this link.

This award can be used to cover travel costs associated with attending the conference, including airfare, hotel, ground transportation, parking, and mileage, as appropriate plus 50% discounted registration.

Awardees still must register and pay for the conference registration at a reduced rate of $325 (50% off) per individual. If accepted, you will receive an email with a coupon code so you may register using a 50% discount to attend the meeting in-person.

Please note, a 1099 form will be issued to all awardees unless you prefer to submit an expense report after the conference.

Conference Overview

2026 Best Practices for Mood Disorders, presented by the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and supported by CU Anschutz, provides clinically relevant, lifespan focused updates on the management of mood disorders and associated comorbidities.

The course covers evidence-based strategies and clinical pearls related to treatment‑resistant depression and bipolar disorder, as well as emerging and novel therapies for depression. Key topics include optimizing treatment targets such as weight and cardiometabolic health, identifying when to transition from guideline‑driven algorithms to individualized care, and understanding referral considerations for ketamine, TMS, ECT, and psychedelic therapy.

The NNDC faculty includes nationally recognized leaders and active clinicians—psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and advanced practice providers (APRN, CNP, DNP, PA‑C)—who bring expertise informed by current research and front‑line clinical experience.

Aligned with the NNDC mission to transform lives through research and innovation in treatment and prevention of depression and bipolar disorders, this course equips clinicians with best practices to enhance patient outcomes across diverse clinical settings.

Target Audience
This course is designed for the many disciplines and providers including psychiatrists and primary care providers, psychologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, and social workers.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Analyze treatment strategies for major depressive disorder across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.
• Summarize evidence-based treatment approaches for bipolar disorder in adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations.
• Apply best practice strategies for the effective treatment of depression and bipolar disorder in clinical settings.
• Identify when to consider a diverse range of treatment options, including conventional antidepressants, augmentation strategies, psychotherapy, rapid acting antidepressants, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• Evaluate and target major factors contributing to illness persistence or treatment non-response—such as insomnia, BMI, and cardiometabolic conditions—to optimize patient outcomes.
• Recognize how treatment approaches for depression may differ based on co-occurring health concerns, including anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hormonal factors.

Attendance at any Mayo Clinic course does not indicate or guarantee competence or proficiency in the skills, knowledge or performance of any care or procedure(s) which may be discussed or taught in this course.

Location & Hotel:

The Westin Denver Downtown
1672 Lawrence Street
Denver, CO 80202
United States

Guest rooms have been reserved for attendees and their guests with special course rates starting at $209 per night at the Westin Denver Downtown. In order to receive the special rates, reservations must be made before the room block is filled or before the cut-off date of September 16, 2026, whichever comes first.  After September 16, 2026, reservations will be taken on space and rate availability.

Click here to make your reservation online. You may also call the Reservations Department at 888-236-2427. Please identify yourself as a participant of the Mayo Clinic 2026 NNDC Best Practices for Mood Disorders when making your reservation.

All travel and lodging expenses are the sole responsibility of the individual registrant.

Visit the Mayo Clinic 2026 Best Practices Conference website for complete information.