Candidates for Area 6 Trustee: Marc David Graff, M.D.

Area 6 (California) has special concerns that are not the same as other Areas. We are a large state, we have a full-time legislature, and we are often at the cutting edge of social, cultural, and fiscal issues. Although APA funds and expertise have been quite helpful to CPA in a number of political issues, for many years, Area 6 has received the lowest Area block grants among all APA Areas. Finally, we are far away from Washington, and most members lose a full day from the office to travel to APA headquarters, making our representation more difficult. As Area 6 Assembly representative for the last two years, I have fought to educate our colleagues about Area 6 and to work with APA leadership to achieve our goals.

With health reform legislation, parity issues, Medicare issues, and numerous regulatory issues in play, APA has a great responsibility—and an unique opportunity—to help shape the future of health care in the United States. It is not enough to have a seat at the table—we need to be in front of the pack, leading our members, our patients, and other mental health groups to improve our current patchwork health care system. I have expertise in policy analysis and have followed the development of health care issues for 25 years. I have met with California Medicare intermediaries, federal officials in Washington (Office of Management and Budget, Medicare representatives, California senators and representatives), as well as many NAMI activists and officials from Mental Health America. I also have served on APA committees—Council on Advocacy and Public Policy, Committee on Public Affairs (past chair)—that interface with governmental, consumer, and media groups. I have lobbied in Washington repeatedly and have worked with APA's Department of Government Relations on many issues.

APA has fiscal problems that will continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future. Nondues income is down, and additional sources of revenue need to be found. Expense cutting continues to be necessary. As past treasurer of CPA (two terms), I am used to dealing with organizational budgets. As a member of the Southern California Permanente Compensation Committee for 10 years (with yearly responsibility for $1 billion of physician compensation), I am also used to hearing requests for money and have worked to be equitable and fair.

APA needs strength in other areas besides financial. We need to continue to have appropriate relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. We need to hone our internal governance to ensure that APA reflects our members and our mission. We need to help our individual members get support and expertise from APA. We need to have APA staffing reflect our priorities. We need to build pride in being an APA member and to be proud of being a psychiatrist.

I look forward to serving as your trustee from Area 6. Thank you for your support.