Candidates for Member-in-Training Trustee-Elect: Sarah B. Johnson, M.D.
Publication: Psychiatric News
Energy. Experience. Excitement. These are the qualities I will bring to my work as your APA member-in-training trustee-elect (MITTE). I am honored to be nominated to both listen to your concerns and to be your voice for the future of APA. I am asking for your support and your vote. As the next generation of psychiatrists, we must play a central role in shaping the future of psychiatry in these exciting, but challenging times.
I am a third-year resident at the University of Louisville and have been active in my state psychiatric society (the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association district branch) and APA since my internship year. In the past year, APA has faced many challenges, including restructuring and finding ways to thrive without pharmaceutical-industry support. I have worked with resident colleagues and senior APA leadership to ensure that the voice of members in training continues to be heard and to ensure our ongoing formal representation in APA leadership. APA, the largest psychiatric society in the world, plays a critical role in supporting high-quality psychiatric training, excellence in patient care, and innovation in research. APA also serves as a national voice in advocacy for our patients and their families, and with our colleagues and other medical specialties to advance the quality of care. With national health care changes coming, never before have these issues been so important.
My first experience in organized psychiatry was as a member of the Board of the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association Foundation during my first year of training. I also participated in our state advocacy program and was asked to serve as the resident representative to our district branch Board of Directors. During my second year of residency, I was selected to be the Area 5 (Southeast United States—Virginia to Texas, Kentucky to Florida) member of the APA Committee of Residents and Fellows.
Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of attending many meetings and participating in numerous discussions with residents from across the nation. I know that many members-in-training are not aware of the resources that APA has to offer. Improving communication between APA leadership and members-in-training will be an essential part of my mission as APA member-in-training (MIT) trustee. This is important so that members-in-training have the opportunities to take advantage of all APA resources, but also more importantly, to ensure that our concerns are priorities for APA. Some of my priorities as APA member-in-training trustee will be:
Communication
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Increase communication between resident leaders in APA and the general resident body.
•.
Utilize technology to disseminate information to residency programs and promote communication.
Advocacy
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Encourage grassroots advocacy by increasing resident awareness of the governmental relations resources APA has to offer.
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Promote issues within APA that preserve quality of life for residents, such as ample maternity and paternity leave.
•.
Network with resident leaders from other specialty organizations to create an interface between psychiatry and other medical fields to improve patient care.
Growth and Diversity
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Identify ways APA can help MITs transition into early career jobs and implement these practices.
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Facilitate mentorship opportunities for current MIT members.
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Expand MIT membership and leadership opportunities in APA with emphasis on IMG, minority, and underrepresented groups' leadership positions.
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Work to address increased opportunities for minority and underrepresented groups in post-training career paths.
I am excited about the opportunity to serve you as the next MITTE and look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
Primary Professional Activities and Sources of Income
Professional Activities
85%—Resident in general psychiatry, University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry
10%—Staff psychiatrist, Central State Psychiatric Hospital, Louisville, Ky. (moonlighting position)
5%—Physician evaluator, Jefferson County Guardianship Court, Louisville, Ky. (moonlighting position)
Income
57%—University of Louisville
34%—Central State Hospital
9%—Jefferson County Metro Court
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Published online: 4 December 2009
Published in print: December 4, 2009
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