Become an APA Fellow. You’ve Earned it.

When APA fellow David Safani, M.D., M.B.A., was completing his residency, he had several mentors who guided him in taking on leadership positions and developing his career. He recalled that many of them had some strange lettering behind their names. “What’s deefapa?” he would ask, referring to the DFAPA in their signature lines. Dr. Safani explained, “Their responses varied but there was a commonality among them. It signaled a sense of honor and accomplishment. Knowing all the hard work and sacrifice they had put into their careers, it was clear that this was deserved.”

Being a fellow or international fellow of APA is an honorary designation recognizing members who have demonstrated commitment to their profession and is often a first step in achieving distinguished fellow of APA (DFAPA) status.

“I knew then that I also wanted to be as accomplished as they were and to provide to patients and the field of psychiatry as abundantly as they had,” said Dr. Safani, who became an APA fellow in 2016. For him, it’s “a stepping stone to let myself know I’m on track to one day accomplish enough to be considered a DFAPA.”

New fellows are also recognized at the Convocation of Fellows and Distinguished Fellows each year.

Interested in learning more? Stop by APA Central in the Exhibit Hall to pick up an application or visit psychiatry.org/becomeafellow. ■