Minnesota District Branch Honored

Michael Koch, M.D., Assembly deputy representative for the Minnesota Psychiatric Society (MPS), and Judith Kashtan, M.D., MPS Assembly representative, accept the Assembly's District Branch Best Practices Award on behalf of the MPS.

The MPS was honored for holding a series of meetings with providers, policymakers, pharmaceutical companies, advocacy groups, and others about ways to repair a seriously fragmented state mental health system. The meetings led to development of a “data-driven” resource document titled“ The Minnesota Mental Health System: Demand, Capacity, and Cost,” which stakeholders hope will serve as the basis for major improvements in Minnesota's mental health care system, especially in fostering more effective partnerships between the public and private sectors. In accepting the award, Kashtan praised the work of MPS Executive Director Linda Vukelich, who spearheaded the project.

Awards Committee Chair Nada Stotland, M.D. (right), presented the award at last month's Assembly meeting in New York City.