I am a clinician, educator, administrator, and researcher working in psychiatry for nearly 30 years. As your trustee-at-large, I will continue to serve APA by strongly advocating for our patients and profession and making APA member friendly. I have extensive experience as a clinician treating adults, adolescents, geriatric, and forensic patients. I have knowledge of national and state health care policy developments. The bulk of my work has been at the public sector including VA, Navy, state, and county facilities.
In APA I have served on many components. My greatest strength has been in enhancing cooperation among groups with differing ideologies by facilitating communication and mutual respect. I have organized numerous workshops at our meetings, gathering such leaders and scholars. My initiatives in open and honest communication have paved the way for increased collaboration in educational endeavors and regional cooperation between groups that never talked to each other before. I have mentored many colleagues, early career psychiatrists, and trainees to achieve their first presentations. In collaboration with APA, my work to assist the survivors and caretakers of the Asian tsunami in Sri Lanka and India was one of my most rewarding experiences. At every opportunity, I have encouraged the involvement of APA leadership in global psychiatry. In the Illinois Psychiatric Society, I continue to serve in leadership positions, and testified before legislators for improved access to psychiatric care but opposing prescriptive privileges for psychologists. Further, I contributed to effecting change in public policy by collaborating with consumer groups and all the stakeholders. As your trustee-at-large, I will continue to serve APA by being your voice to strongly advance:
ADVOCACY FOR OUR PATIENTS
Access to psychiatric care for all patients
Eradication of stigma and elimination of disparities in health care
Heightened cultural sensitivity
ADVOCACY FOR OUR PROFESSION
Opposing prescriptive privileges for nonmedical professionals
Protecting our role in both biologic treatments as well as psychotherapy
Increased mental health funding for care, research, and education
Recruiting the bright and the promising candidates into psychiatry
Demanding fair and just reimbursement
MEMBER-FRIENDLY APA
Enhanced opportunities for member involvement on issues and leadership
Collaboration and alliances with American Medical Association, subspecialty orga-nizations, and consumer groups
Effective and timely communication
Transparency in accounting
I understand issues pertaining to all our members, having visited and networked with colleagues from every state and territory of the U.S. and most provinces in Canada. As your trustee-at-large, I will provide energetic and dynamic leadership to achieve outstanding psychiatric care for our patients, upholding and protecting the prestige of our profession and transform APA to be friendly to all its members. I will be honored to be your choice to serve you and APA.
PRIMARY PROFESSIONAl ACTIVITIES AND SOURCES OF INCOME
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
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90%—Administration, research, teaching, and patient care at Southern Illinois University and the affiliated Choate Mental Health Center, Anna, Ill.
INCOME
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90%—Southern Illinois University School of Medicine