My APA Assembly Origin Story

I have always just been trying to help, and liked making a difference in people’s lives. For many years, I have also desired to improve the world I live in, to use my time to move the needle a little for humanity—and maybe along the way inspire others to do the same. So here I give you the story of how I became a representative for Illinois in the APA Assembly.

How did I get here? How did I get this opportunity? And why would I even want something like this? I guess it all started with realizing that, although I have never had many talents, it felt good to use the ones I had. I have long recognized my ability to help people by actively listening and understanding the emotions they communicated. In addition, even before college, I appreciated emotions as a normal human brain function, and easily empathized with and accepted people’s emotions. It always felt good helping people that way, leading naturally to psychiatry as a career, treating people’s emotional and other mental conditions, one person at a time.

Early in my career, I also found satisfaction in teaching—paying forward lessons from my own mentors and teachers, seeing students respond positively, and knowing I would vicariously expand my therapeutic reach through my students’ patients. And for a time, I thought my career would be just treating patients and teaching. Then I learned more ways to make a difference.

About 10 years ago, Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS) Executive Director Meryl Sosa—whose enthusiastic support for me personally and for all psychiatric practice in Illinois was infectious—convinced me to join the IPS Government Affairs Committee (GAC). Around the same time, administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where I was on the clinical psychiatry faculty, invited me to take on leadership roles. Through UIC and IPS, I began to make a difference in other ways. I began to focus on creating the supportive environment my physician and health professional colleagues needed, thereby helping all their patients. Through IPS and GAC, I worked on improving mental health care for patients statutorily, thereby helping all people in Illinois who need mental health care.

Even better, I was doing those things while still treating patients and teaching. Since then, I have used my psychiatry knowledge and skills to reduce suffering and make a difference in lives directly, and used my voice to work on improving our world and maybe moving the needle just a bit. And, during the term I was privileged to serve as president of IPS, I learned about the APA Assembly and yet another way to make a difference.

After spending a couple years recovering from my IPS presidency, it was time to get involved again. Fortunately, IPS had an opening for a representative to the Assembly, and I was encouraged to consider the role. I accepted the nomination and was elected, joining our three other representatives.

Leading up to my term, I observed some Assembly activity. I witnessed discussion, debate, and advocacy at a whole new level. Assembly members represented their branches, our profession, and our field in exciting ways. They proposed action papers, position and policy proposals, and notions about federal laws impacting mental health and our profession.

I had found a new home and a grander scale for making a difference. Since observing my first Assembly, when I listen to my colleagues’ concerns, I consider how I can work with the Assembly to make a difference. I have been thrilled and feel fortunate to have this chance at positively impacting the world we live and work in. For my first meeting in May 2023, I submitted four action papers.

Practice, teaching, leadership, advocacy, and governance—through IPS, APA, and the Assembly, I am fully using my skills and knowledge. I help patients directly. I share my experience with the next generation. I support my colleagues as a leader. And I represent my colleagues and use my voice to make a difference. It has been exciting, joyful, rewarding, and humbling.

I am truly grateful to all who have allowed and encouraged me to make a difference in so many ways. And, pressing my luck a little bit, I hope I have inspired someone with my APA Assembly origin story. ■