My vision as a candidate for APA President-Elect

Industry. There are many significant unmet treatment needs in psychiatry. Approximately 82% of DSM disorders do not have any FDA-approved medication. The APA should constructively engage the pharmaceutical industry (the only entity that develops medications for our patients!) to do more research and development of therapies for conditions with no approved treatments, and to explore new mechanisms of action for more effective or tolerable psychiatric medications. Importantly, the APA should urge major pharmaceutical companies not to abandon neuropsychiatric disorders because they afflict tens of millions of US citizens and are the top causes of long-term disabilities.

Journals. The APA should consider rebranding its journals as “JAPA,” similar to JAMA, which will widen its influence and generate revenue to fund various priorities.

Telepsychiatry. And why can’t the APA create a national telepsychiatry network to meet the needs of underserved populations who have very little access to psychiatric care as in many rural areas? Private companies have filled that space, but the APA and its members can do it better, and this can become a benefit of membership.

Brain bank. Finally, the APA should consider establishing a “Brain Bank” of various psychiatric subspecialties to consult and advise the military, college administrators, corporations, and government agencies about strategies and tactics to solve many problems that arise from overt or covert psychiatric illnesses among their employees, staff, students, or constituents.

The APA cannot solve all societal problems, but it has the moral authority and clinical/scientific depth and gravitas to create an agenda of solutions and to partner with many other stakeholders to achieve mutual societal health goals.