Schizophrenia Expert To Give Free Community Lecture At Peak Vista Location (Photo) - 12/03/25
December 3, 2025
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Rob Laitman, MD, a renowned educator and clinician, will deliver a lecture on schizophrenia treatment at Peak Vista Community Health Centers’ (Peak Vista) International Circle campus. The lecture is on December 10, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and it is free to the public. Community members interested in attending can register at bit.ly/Laitman-Lecture.
Clozapine Management and the EASE Protocol
Laitman specializes in the use of clozapine to treat treatment-resistant schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar I disorders. During his lecture, he will speak on the EASE protocol, which he developed to guide prescribers through effective and safe initiation and management of clozapine – including how to handle the side effects of the drug.
Clozapine is widely recognized as the gold standard for individuals who have not responded to other antipsychotic medications. According to a 2021 article in the World Journal of Psychiatry, up to 70% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia show improvement on clozapine. It is also the only medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce suicide risks in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Despite its proven benefits, the drug is underutilized. The FDA reported that while there are up to 1.2 million individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in the Unites States, only 148,000 were prescribed clozapine.
Education is key to increasing these numbers and improving the quality of life for patients across the country.
Bringing Laitman to Colorado Springs
Elisabeth Almond, a provider at Peak Vista, worked in tandem with the Colorado Mad Moms group to bring Laitman to the area for this lecture.
“We have a large community here of people who are struggling with a schizophrenia or bipolar diagnosis. It can be devastating when you feel liked you have tried everything and nothing has worked,” said Almond, who has seen the benefits of clozapine firsthand through loved ones in her life. “It doesn’t have to be that way. There is another option to explore.”
Schedule
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8:00 – 10:00 a.m. |
Lecture: “Clozapine Initiation and Management” |
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10:00 – 10:15 a.m. |
Break Light snacks provided. |
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10:15 – 11:30 a.m. |
Film Screening: “Into the Light – Meaningful Recovery from Psychosis” |
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11:30 a.m. – Noon |
Stand-Up Comedy Show By Daniel Laitman, a Manhattan-based comic and clozapine user who is recovering from schizophrenia. |
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About Peak Vista Community Health Centers
Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a nonprofit organization providing exceptional health care to people facing access barriers through clinical programs and education. Celebrating over 50 years of community health service, Peak Vista offers primary medical, integrated behavioral health and dental care services. We proudly serve over 70,000 patients annually through 20 outpatient centers in Colorado’s Pikes Peak and East Central regions. To learn more about Peak Vista, visit PeakVista.org.
