'The Best Staff' Deserves Praise for Commitment to APA Goals

As the end of my tenure as APA president approaches, I wish to dedicate this column to the APA staff. During this past year, I would not have been able to accomplish so much without the dedication and support of so many members of the staff. No matter with whom I worked or to whom I turned for assistance, I always received the support and guidance needed, whether it be 9 a.m., 5 p.m., or after hours via e-mail or telephone calls.

In four decades as an APA member, I have worked on more than 50 components, and during the last six years, I have worked intensively on the Board of Trustees. Serving as APA president for the last year has required my involvement in almost all divisions and sections of APA. In all these years, but particularly during the last year, my experience has been that individually and collectively APA staff were eager to help, knowledgeable, committed to their tasks, loyal, pleasant, and most helpful.

What impressed me most in my relationship with the staff is that over the years, whether I was “only” an APA member or a member of an APA component or an APA officer, the attitude and demeanor of the staff have been outstanding. While there may have been a couple of disappointing encounters over my 40 years as an APA member, the positive interactions were so many, and the quality of the interactions were so good, that the overall experience will always be memorable for me.

This past year, I was very demanding when it came to achieving my objectives and goals, and the staff with whom I worked showed they were as committed to my objectives and goals as I was. How pleasant and enjoyable it is when you see officers and staff in an organization joining together, rolling up their sleeves, and working as one for the overall aims of the organization!

What is also unique about APA is that the entire household, from the staff who work behind the scenes to keep APA running smoothly to the medical director, all share and pursue the same goal; that is to have an effective and productive institution. During my life, I have also worked in different job levels, from the bottom up to the top; thus, I sincerely appreciate what every APA employee does for the organization. Without this dedicated and hard-working staff, APA would not have functioned so well and accomplished so much in its 163 years.

During my tenure as an APA member, I have interacted, especially this past year, with APA offices and divisions that work on the following critical issues and initiatives (in alphabetical order): accreditation, addiction, administration, advertising, advocacy, AIDS/HIV, American Journal of Psychiatry, AMA delegation, American Psychiatric Foundation, American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education, American Psychiatric Publishing Inc., annual meetings, Answer Center, APA fellowships, APA/PAC, APA Lifers, appointments, Area Councils, Assembly, association governance, awards, business initiative, bylaws, career development, special-interest caucuses, child and adolescent issues, circulation, communications and public affairs, CME, copyright, CPT coding, disparities in mental health care, district branches, DSM-IV, early career psychiatrists, education and career development, elections, ethics, meeting exhibits, finance, FOCUS journal, government relations, graduate education, health care systems and financing, human resources, Institute on Psychiatric Services, international psychiatry, membership, Joint Reference Committee, library and archives, managed care and practice management, medical director's office, practice guidelines, Psychiatric News, Psychiatric Services, quality improvement and psychiatric services, research, women's programs, and many others.

Without question, APA can boast of the best staff that an organization can hope to have. It is not my intention to leave anyone out, and I apologize if I have.

I am sure that in recognizing all of the people who work so hard on these important issues and functions and paying my respects to them, I can also speak on behalf of both the Board and the Assembly. If during my tenure as an APA member or APA officer, particularly during this past year, I have been too demanding and difficult, this is the ideal time to apologize to you.

Very soon, my tenure as APA president will end, but I look forward to collaborating and interacting with all of you in different capacities. You have always been great with me. My best wishes to all of you and your entire families as well. ▪