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Biographical Statement: For over 25 years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to assist children and their parents in relieving the pain and suffering of emotional and behavioral problems. I was drawn to medicine by an early interest in biology and the opportunity to help others. Once in medical school, I was drawn to psychiatry, and specifically to child psychiatry, by the influence of several wonderful teachers, particularly Nancy Roeske. These mentors helped me to develop an appreciation of the need to help the whole person.
In 1974, I began my private practice of child and adolescent psychiatry, my primary professional activity. I also began work with a new mental health center that enabled me to develop inpatient and outpatient treatment programs and later day therapy programs for children and adolescents. This was the beginning of my association with the psychiatry department of a large general hospital. I have continued all of these associations. At this point, I direct youth services for the mental health center, and I function as the associate medical director for youth services at the hospital.
My involvement with APA began during my residency when I was chosen to be a Falk Fellow. This allowed exposure to our organization on a national and district branch level very early in my career. My life has been greatly enriched by my contacts and friendships with numerous committed, dedicated psychiatrists in my district branch, within my Area, and for the last eight years within the Assembly Executive Committee.
Among my joys and accomplishments has been my marriage of over 30 years to my best friend, Judy. Together we have enjoyed family activities and travels with our three sons. Judy has been patient and supportive in all of my pursuits, including my effort to be the next Assembly recorder.
Candidacy Statement: It is a great honor to be nominated for the office of Assembly recorder. I appreciate the opportunity to share my views on the mission of the American Psychiatric Association.
In everything we do, we must remember the primary mission of our organization: the advocation and support of quality, ethical, accessible, and nondiscriminatory care for our patients while maintaining support and assistance for our members as they attempt to deliver that care.
Managed care has had a major impact on our patients and on our profession. Some of this impact has been positive, but much of it has not. Managed care in some form will continue. As it evolves, we need to develop and support systems that will put the psychiatrist in charge of both delivering and managing the care in a way that is cost-effective, but that also honestly addresses the quality of care. We need to support initiatives that address managed care abuses that have had an adverse effect on quality of care. These should include public educational activities, improved contacts with employers, legislative effort, and, when necessary, legal action. Our educational institutions have also experienced a major impact from the changes in our health care system. We need to continue to support the maintenance and improvement of undergraduate and graduate medical education. We must continue to attract high-quality students to our specialty.
Our members-in-training and early career psychiatrists represent the future of psychiatry and the future of our organization. Their enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and advocacy for our patients are an inspiration to everyone. They face barriers and problems as they begin their careers. They deserve our support and assistance as they work to deal with those problems. All of our members need increased support from APA. Those of us who have had the privilege of serving in the Assembly are well aware of the dedicated work of our organization in addressing the needs of our patients and our members. Many of our members are less aware of this work. We need to work toward improved communication between the Assembly and our members. We should offer greater support to our district branch legislative and public affairs initiatives in a variety of ways, perhaps including funding from national sources.
We are currently in the process of reorganization geared toward making APA more responsive to the needs of our patients and our members. As we reorganize, it is important to maintain the Assembly's primary function: to generate and move forward ideas and actions from our members at the local level. Area Councils and state societies also play an important role in communication on a state and regional level: a function that must be maintained.
As we move forward, I feel that I have the experience to continue to serve the Assembly. I have served as deputy representative and representative of my district branch. For the past eight years, I have been a member of the Assembly Executive Committee as the deputy representative and representative of my Area. For the past two years, I have chaired the Assembly Committee on Planning. During this period, we have implemented the Assembly's desire to conduct a part of its business with reference committees while maintaining the important role of our Area Councils. The committee has also worked with the early career psychiatrists and representatives of allied organizations to better define and implement their role in the Assembly and within APA.
I feel my extensive experience with the Assembly has prepared me well for the position of Assembly recorder. I welcome your support in the May election.