Panahon Honored for Work on IMG Issues

Norma C. Panahon, M.D., is presented with APA's George Tarjan Award by Prakash Desai, M.D., immediate past speaker of the APA Assembly. The presentation took place last month at APA's Institute on Psychiatric Services. The award, established in 1992 and named for George Tarjan, M.D., the first international medical graduate (IMG) elected president of APA, is given each year to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions to the enhancement of the integration of international medical graduates into American psychiatry.

Panahon, an APA distinguished fellow, is medical director of outpatient services at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center in Buffalo, N.Y., and a private practitioner. She has a long history of advocacy on behalf of IMGs, having served as chair of the APA Committee on IMGs and the APA Caucus of Asian-American Psychiatrists and as president of the Philippine Psychiatrists in America. She continues to bring IMG concerns and perspectives to APA through participation in the Council on Social Issues and Public Psychiatry.