Candidates for Early Career Psychiatrist Trustee-at-large: Richard Granese M.D., M.B.A.

Private Practice of Psychiatry, Orange, Calif., 2005-

General Member (Member Since 1999)

Early Career Psychiatrist Deputy Representative, Area 5, APA Assembly, 2004-05

Associate Residency Training Director, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston Division, 2003-05

Director, Mental Health Services, West Virginia Health Right, 2003-05

Secretary, West Virginia Psychiatric Association, 2003-05 Area 5 Member-in-Training Representative, APA Assembly, 2002-03 Now is a very exciting time to be active in APA as we face many challenging issues that affect our patients and the field of psychiatry. It is essential to have the most effective leadership for our organization. My interest in leadership in APA began during residency as I realized the importance of organized psychiatry as a medium to enhance treatment for our patients. At the local level I enjoyed serving as the member-in-training (MIT) representative for the West Virginia district branch and then as secretary for two years. At the national level, I have served as the MIT representative for Area 5 and then as the early career psychiatrist (ECP) deputy representative for Area 5 this past year. Since graduating from residency, I have had the opportunity to practice inpatient and outpatient psychiatry in several settings. I volunteered as the medical director of behavioral health services at a free clinic providing psychiatric services to indigent patients. I was a member of the faculty at West Virginia University (WVU) for two years, where I taught residents and medical students. During this time I served as the associate residency training director, which permitted me to directly help guide and mentor some of our future psychiatrists. The energy and creativity that we find in our younger colleagues bring excitement to medicine. We must continue to encourage their ideas and enthusiasm. After leaving WVU this year, I have recently started private practice.

At the grass-roots level, I have worked tirelessly with the West Virginia district branch to improve access to medications for our patients. Through testifying on multiple occasions before the state Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, I was influential in adding important medications to the increasingly popular restricted formularies. I have also worked with the legislators to try to pass a bill that would create open access for medications for psychiatrists. I organized district branch meetings and encouraged MIT participation.

There are many issues facing the field of psychiatry and APA. We must tackle these issues without deterrence. We need to channel precious resources into the most critical areas. As the ECP trustee-at-large, I would represent the voice of both the membership of APA and our patients who are unable to express their concerns. I will address all matters brought before me and the Board with the utmost respect and urgency. Some of the matters I plan to address are as follows:

Serving on the Board of Trustees for APA is a tremendous responsibility. My years on faculty and my private practice have given me excellent clinical experience. My graduate training and administrative experiences through various committees and director positions have given me the leadership fundamentals to optimally serve the Board as I will be able to help make vital decisions regarding financial and administrative issues. I would be honored to serve you as the next ECP trustee-at-large on the Board of Trustees. I appreciate your support as I continue to work diligently to advocate for our patients and our profession.