Candidates for Trustee-at-large: Joseph E.V. Rubin, M.D.

My APA life began a long time ago; 1980 in fact, when I became the Assembly representative from Maine after serving on our Executive Council for several years. I had wonderful encouragement and mentoring from a Maine colleague who had served as an Area Council officer. Joining the Assembly changed my life. I did not know it at the time, but I had found a home and a mission.

In my years of Assembly service, rising eventually to speaker in 2005-2006, I had the opportunity to help lead APA in new directions that broadened and deepened our abilities to help our patients and our profession. I participated in the debate that led to minority group representation in our governance, as well as representation of members-in-training, early career psychiatrists, and allied organizations. I introduced the motion of endorsement that led to the creation of “added qualifications in geriatric psychiatry, the first such subspecialty recognition” at the time. And in 2006 as speaker, I managed the Assembly debate that led to the adoption by APA of a position statement opposing psychiatrists' participation in interrogation of detainees, coordinating that effort with APA President Steve Sharfstein.

I am now seeking election to the Board of Trustees. I previously served on the Board in my capacity as speaker-elect and speaker. I feel strongly that our organization is best served by lively interaction and cooperation between our governing bodies. Many past speakers have served on the Board, and relations between it and the Assembly are better now than they have been for many years. We do not always agree with one another, but we do debate and find our way to decisions and actions that address our members' and patients' needs. Right now our membership is growing, and our finances are strong.

This is a time when we must look outwards; to advance and strengthen our advocacy and public education programs, and to help our members, district branches, and state associations who are struggling with declining payments, burdensome utilization review practices, and dangerous scope-of-practice intrusions by professionals who are not medically trained. As a private practitioner for all of my professional life, as well as a part-time practitioner in a public psychiatry setting, I know firsthand the challenges we face in our offices and communities and our patients face in trying to access affordable and compassionate care. I know that without APA acting for us and for them, the prospects for achieving what we and they most need would be diminished.

I ask you for your vote for trustee-at-large.