Issues

The profession of psychiatry has been evolving rapidly. I have been fortunate to participate in the process as an APA Board member. The APA Treasurer must be fiscally responsible while advocating for psychiatrists, patients and the profession. My election platform has three key points.

Member Engagement:

The Board of Trustees should be cognizant of members’ concerns during deliberations.  Transparency and bidirectional communication between the Board and APA members is essential to maintain credibility and foster trust.   Mentoring is needed for residents and early-career psychiatrists so that they will appreciate the value of continued membership.

Improving Access to Care: 

Addressing health disparities requires us to examine how systemic bias, including where healthcare services can be accessed, impacts the social determinants of health.

1. Increase reimbursement rates. Support parity for phone psychiatry sessions when patients lack reliable Internet and/or hardware for video sessions. 
2. Increase loan repayment programs for psychiatrists working in urban and rural physician shortage areas.
3. Require medical board supervision of all prescribing mental health professionals and expand campaigns that educate the public about how psychiatrists differ from other mental health professionals. Advocate for scope of practice disclosure laws that require health professionals to disclose their credentials to patients.
4. Simplify the maintenance of certification process and require climate psychiatry and reproductive psychiatry education for residents.
5. Support International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who comprise 30% of practicing psychiatrists in the USA. Many IMGs contribute to health equity by practicing in the public sector.
6. Support federal and state funding for urban and rural psychiatry residency programs.

Continuity of Service

1. As an almost six-year APA trustee, I can provide historical context to facilitate the APA’s next CEO/Medical Director’s acclimation to the position in May 2024.

Please support my candidacy for APA Treasurer. I welcome your feedback and questions.