Candidate for Area 1 Trustee

APA must remain a strong advocate for the treatment of our patients. To achieve this goal, we must strengthen our alliances with medical societies, with patient advocacy groups, and with those who make public policy. From the halls of Congress and our state legislatures to our neighborhoods, there is greater awareness of the vulnerability of ordinary citizens and particularly our children to traumatic events and the value of mental health care. This has never been clearer than with the tragedy of 9/11. We and the American people have seen the vital importance of mental health professionals in the recovery process of the nation.

With significant challenges ahead of us—parity and access to care, new HIPAA regulations on privacy, scope of practice, fair and equal pay for psychiatry with the rest of medicine, and litigious attacks on psychiatry—our national APA must redefine its priorities and refocus resources on strengthening the local organizations. The district branches of Area 1 are distinguished by proactive parity initiatives and recognize that future actions needed to address these challenges to the delivery of quality medical care will focus in the state legislatures. Our patients are counting on us, and our members expect the leadership of APA to be prepared and responsive on their behalf. Many states anticipate that they will need APA support to mount the necessary legislative and/or legal fight ahead.

Over 10 years ago, the Assembly called for a litigation fund to challenge the systematic inequities and abuses of managed mental health. Greater coverage of these concerns in the media, awareness by the general public, and receptivity by the courts offer optimism that change is coming. As a member of APA’s Advocacy and Litigation Committee, I support initiatives to provide financial support to the district branches and state associations.

I began my work in the Massachusetts district branch as the chair of the Legislative Committee, which helped to enact a law defining the duty to protect. For over 25 years, I have been actively involved in my community and at the Area 1 and national levels of APA focused on advocacy for patients and the impact of the regulatory, legislative, and political process on the practice of medicine. As speaker of the Assembly, I demonstrated my willingness to listen, to foster consensus building, and to focus on achievable goals. I have also maintained a practice of child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and am very much aware of the pressures faced by private practitioners.

Our rich diversity of members includes young members-in-training and those early in their careers with their tremendous energies, members of various ethnic and underrepresented groups, subspecialty interests, and senior psychiatrists, all of whom can help fight for quality, cost-effective psychiatric care for patients. All are encouraged to contribute their voices and creative energy to the challenges facing APA and, in turn, to help APA become more responsive to their specific members’ needs.

It is an honor to be nominated to run for the office of Area 1 trustee. I appreciate this opportunity to represent you on the Board of Trustees and to continue to advocate for the mental health needs of our many patient groups.