District Branch Executive Director Honored

Philip Workman, the executive director of the Ohio Psychiatric Association (right), was presented with NAMI Ohio’s 2002 Mental Health Champion Award by its executive director, Terry Russell, in June.

Workman was cited for his “commitment to the citizens of Ohio suffering with mental illness.” His selection was no surprise to his colleagues.

“He is well known and respected by many APA leaders, members, and staff,” said Brien W. Dyer, M.D., president of the OPA, “and has been a mentor to other district branch executives. In fact, he was the first district branch executive to receive the APA Assembly Warren Williams Award. Here in Ohio, his advocacy work for both the patients we serve and for our profession is most noteworthy.”

Terry Russell, executive director of NAMI Ohio, told Psychiatric News, “Phil is so deserving of this award. Phil Workman is a great friend to the consumer and family movement in Ohio. NAMI Ohio has always been able to count on Phil as an ally on issues that are important to advocates for the most severely mentally disabled. He is a true champion in the fight for access to services for Ohio’s mental health consumers and their families.”

Over the past 19 years, Workman has been extremely active within APA, said Dyer. Through his support and advocacy efforts with the OPA, he has contributed significantly to strengthening relationships between patients, families, and psychiatrists. One way he has done this is by creating a partnership between NAMI Ohio and OPA that has resulted in educational programs for each other’s membership. In addition, he was one of the founding members of a statewide coalition formed in 1984 to seek parity coverage for mental illnesses, alcoholism, and drug addiction.

At APA, he has been a member of the Task Force on APA/DB Partnership, Work Group to Study Dues, and Task Force to Develop Procedures for Revenue Sharing. He is currently a member of the APA Information Systems Task Force.