Candidates for President-Elect: Donna M. Norris, M.D.

Psychiatry must continue to have a strong and educated voice regarding mental health services and treatment. Although parity passed in 2008, we must remain vigilant and proactive with our legislators to assure that any reform process will address these concerns, including confidentiality, the use of electronic medical records, and fair reimbursement in the private and public sectors. The states' roles are crucial to implementing any reform, and yet the economic crisis and rising unemployment undercut state budgets needed for reform. This places publicly supported clinics, academic centers, and hospitals at risk and jeopardizes the care of our patients. We must coordinate our patients' care with our primary care colleagues. Our district branches and state organizations will need greater support from APA to increase their grassroots advocacy in state legislatures to ensure that care of the most seriously and persistently mentally ill patients will not be abandoned.

APA's mission to educate its members demands that the best science is translated rapidly for clinical use. In addition to medical student and residency training, APA must expand opportunities for continuing medical education and lifelong learning. The changing field of print publishing requires that APA accelerate development of methods of publication and dissemination that utilize Web-based and other technologies to provide more timely access to information.

As a former APA treasurer, I advocated for fiscal stability and budgetary transparency as essential priorities. During these difficult financial times, my leadership experience in APA will support efforts to recruit and retain members, especially early career, subspecialist, women, IMG, and other underrepresented minority group psychiatrists who drop out of APA at higher rates. With greater membership engagement and commitment, I will lead APA in efforts at all levels to develop new revenue streams.