MARK HYMAN RAPAPORT, M.D., DFAPA
www.markhymanrapaport.com
· Chairman and Reunette W Harris Chair of the
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
at Emory University School of Medicine
· Chief of Psychiatric Services for Emory Healthcare
· Founding Co-editor in Chief of Focus: The Journal of
Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry
· Founder and Co-chair of the NCDEU/ASCP New
Investigators Program
· Treasurer American Society of Clinical
Pharmacology
For over 25 years my patients and their needs have been the
touchstone that have guided my activities as a clinician,
researcher, educator, and public advocate. I have learned
more about courage, compassion, caring, as well as psychiatry
from my patients and their families than any textbook or
supervisor. They are the reason why I am running for
President-elect of the APA. We are at a time of tremendous
challenge but also opportunity and if we all work together we
can succeed in not only creating true health care parity for our
patients but the integration of psychiatric care into the fabric
of the evolving American Health Care System.
I became a member of the APA as a resident and the APA has
been an important part of my professional identity. I have
served as a District Branch (DB) councilor, chaired the CME
committee for the DB, co-chaired the program committee for a
California Psychiatric Association annual meeting, chaired the
APA subcommittee on Self-Assessment, chaired the APA CME
committee, served on the Council on Medical Education and
Lifelong Learning, helped lead the development of all of the
components of the Focus system of lifelong learning products
for the APA and served as the APA representative to the
AAMC. These activities allowed me to appreciate the strength
and complexity of our diverse organization.
I am honored to be nominated to run for President-elect of the
APA and, if elected, to continue our tradition of dynamic,
inclusive leadership. My primary goal will be to engage our
membership in creating a consensus about the longer-term
strategic priorities for the APA and an action plan with
measureable outcomes so that the work will continue
beyond my presidency. This will require the leadership of our
Caucuses, Assembly, Board of Trustees, and administrative
staff working together to develop processes for permanently
enhancing communication and alignment for the APA.
There are 4 steps we can take to transform a strong APA into a
dynamic membership organization: (1) engage all members in
creating the strategic plan for our future; (2) partner with
psychiatric specialty organizations to ensure the APA
understands their priorities and collaborates with them on the
major issues facing our field; (3) coordinate advocacy
initiatives with patient and family organizations like NAMI,
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Depression
and Bipolar Support Association; and (4) empower our
members and district branches by asking for their active
support through email, letters, and social media to influence
state and federal agencies or healthcare agents (insurance
companies, health systems).
My priorities for the APA will be:
· The implementation of parity for our patients and our
profession
· Leadership in Health Care Reform and in developing
integrated models of care
· Partnering with the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology to modify Maintenance of Certification
standards to better meet the lifelong learning needs of
psychiatrists
· Enhancing inclusiveness by embracing diversity of the
APA and increasing opportunities for younger members
My agenda is challenging but I believe if we all work together,
we will succeed. Please contact me to discuss your thoughts
about psychiatry and the APA .
www.markhymanrapaport.com.
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