April 2, 1999

By Rodrigo Muņoz, M.D.
APA President

The rapid transformation of APA into a totally different multifunction structure creates opportunities that deserve mention here.

1. The Amer-ican Psychiatric Foundation is likely to have many interactions with the fast-growing group of psychiatrists older than 65 years. Our latest information is that at least 30 of the members older than 90 years are still working. Many vigorous psychiatrists in their 70s and 80s are highly productive, and many more could participate in foundation-sponsored programs.

   The first of these programs may involve helping shape or reshape clinical, educational, and research centers abroad. Hugo Van Dooren, M.D., chair of APA's Committee on Senior Psychiatrists, has begun to study a plan to create five new clinics in underserved areas of South America. Could we do the same in this country, particularly in areas where access to psychiatric services needs to be improved?




2. APA's American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education (APIRE) will most likely enhance and strengthen existing research and educational programs and start new ones. Likely to grow under more highly focused and creative leadership as a result of the new institute are APA's Practice Research Network; the practice guidelines project; communication and cooperation with the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies; and new research projects involving psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.

   APA's new institute will provide impetus for projects that seek excellence in training and professional development, continuing medical education, and new careers in psychiatry.




3. A new APA is emerging that is patient oriented, member led, and supportive of multiple activities that increase and protect the many roles of our profession. This APA addresses the problems affecting many communities.

   The most immediate task in planning for this new APA is developing enough integration and coordination throughout the organization so that our priorities and goals are clearly represented in the distribution, mandate, and composition of APA components. The ideal result is that we have the components we need to meet the goals we have formulated.

   The Council on Internal Organization, working with the Board of Trustees, the leaders of the Assembly, the chairs of key components, and many other members, is rapidly coming up with a concept that tells us what we look like when we are at our best. This concept includes enough flexibility so that different structures may serve compatible goals.

   Advocacy for our patients is the first priority of the new APA. Advocacy for APA members is the second. These two priorities blend in our advocacy for patient communities, whether they are divided according to age or other demographic parameters, diagnosis, location, work status, or ability to finance medical care. Each group deserves equal attention and the best available care, creating the need for many strategies and much creative planning.

   The American Association of Community Psychiatrists (AACP) has been at the forefront of innovation in psychiatric care for diverse groups. I have asked the president of the AACP, Charles Huffine, M.D., to tell us about the organization's efforts, which have been complementary to those of APA. Dr. Huffine is the assistant medical director for child and adolescent programs at the King County Mental Health Division in Seattle. He also has a community-oriented private practice devoted to treating adolescents.