Dr. Norris's Web Site

Full-Time Private Practice of Child, Adolescent, and Forensic Psychiatry; Ohio State College of Medicine, 1969; Residency—Adult: Boston University, and Child: Judge Baker and Children’s Hospital; Faculty, Harvard Medical School, 1974- ; Recorder, Speaker, 1996-99; APA Board of Trustees, 1998-99; Vice Chair, Joint Reference Committee, 1998-99; APA Scientific Program Committee, 1998-2000; APA Finance and Budget Committee, 1994-2000; Psychiatric News Editorial Advisory Board, 1999- ; Deputy Rep, Area 1 and Eastern Canada, 1993-96; Consultant, Joint Commission on Government Relations, 1991-96, Vice Chair, 1996; APA Membership Committee, 1985-91, Chair, 1990-91; Examiner, ABPN; Mass. DB: Chair, Legislative Committee, 1985-95, Ethics Committee, 1985-89, 1991- ; Mass. Board of Registration of Medicine, 1989-91; Black Psychiatrists of America.

This is an exciting and challenging time for psychiatry. Growing scientific knowledge has enhanced our understanding and treatment of psychiatric illnesses, symbolized in this year’s Nobel Prize award to an APA member, Eric Kandel.

On the other hand, this is a very difficult time for psychiatric patients and psychiatric physicians. Each of us has experienced delayed or denied care, which placed the welfare of the patients at risk and, in some instances, their lives. Patients depend on us for support during their times of vulnerability. Our core commitment to improve access to psychiatric care must include advocacy for patients and their families, for example, advocacy for adequate formularies, inpatient days, and office visits.

The APA advocacy must embrace children, adolescents, minorities, and the poor.

Our advocacy must include the over 40 million uninsured and must include the psychiatrically ill who fill the jails and prisons. Our advocacy must address the challenges of violence, homicide, and suicide.

The Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health advocates for improved access to and utilization of mental health services for greater numbers of our population and to fight against stigma, which has long been associated with mental illness. These are priorities of our Association.

Our APA is the premier psychiatric organization in the country and in the world. It is quite diverse in its membership: encompassing training members, psychiatrists educated in the U.S. and those trained abroad, practitioners of diverse cultures and racial identities, and those who are underrepresented. Our membership reflects the diversity of our country, but our organizational leadership does not. We are losing members who believe that APA is not attentive to their concerns and needs.

APA has made progress in addressing important practitioner issues nationally and in its district branches and state associations. Scope of practice, parity without loopholes, Patients’ Bill of Rights, and confidentiality form legislative and litigation initiatives to remedy inappropriate and egregious management decisions. It is important to acknowledge, however, that members feel APA has not communicated its successes.

Our Association can do better in utilizing the skills of all of our members to build a more accessible and more responsive APA. Critical thinking, effective planning, and firm fiscal management can assure that we manage our challenges successfully.

My career, as an office practitioner and attending on hospital units, has focused on the clinical and forensic needs of children, adolescents, and adults in private, academic, and public settings. These experiences have helped me in my state and national legislative advocacies, as I know the practice concerns of psychiatrists striving to treat patients in these difficult times. It is important to be respectful of diverse views as we come to firm and fair consensus about what is good for patients. Over the years of advocacy, my effectiveness has been enhanced by the tireless dedication of many of you who have worked with me to improve the access and the delivery of quality psychiatric services. I am optimistic about the future of psychiatry, and I am committed to these goals. I ask for your support to continue this work with you for the benefit of our patients’ lives and for our profession.

Work: 100%—Private practice of child, adolescent, family, and forensic psychiatry

Income: 100%—Private practice of child, adolescent, family, and forensic psychiatry