It is hard to believe that 2 years have passed so quickly and that my term as president is almost complete. It has been an interesting and rewarding experience. Having served as delegate for almost a decade, I started my term convinced of the importance of continued involvement in, and support for, “organized psychiatry”, our professional organizations. As I said in my first Message, as delegate I had been exposed to the flaws in both the APA and its constituent organizations. However, I believe that they still serve an important function, in advocating both for our patients’ right to receive the best treatment we were trained to provide, and for our members’ right to practice in the manner in which we have been trained. I saw my Presidency as an opportunity to foster that involvement and support from our members, in part by focusing on important and underrepresented member groups, and in enhancing the return on their investment of money (dues), time, and energy (active participation).

On the local level, this meant trying to accomplish several tasks. First, recruiting, engaging, and retaining members-in-training (MITs), as they are the future of psychiatry, were given special priority. Through a combination of efforts, we were successful. The number of MITs doubled, nearing 100, and MIT representatives were active participants on the Board. Secondly, it also meant addressing the long-standing difficulty our district branch has had in attracting many of our IMG colleagues, and MITs, especially from the Nassau University Medical Center. As they represent a significant segment of the psychiatrists either practicing or in training on Long Island, this was no small issue. The success of our efforts in this direction was symbolized by the table of residents from NUMC, a historic first, at the recent April Annual Meeting. At last count, NUMC was close to achieving membership in the “100%” Club, an honorary distinction for Residency Programs whose residents all become APA members. Thirdly, in order to increase our effectiveness in advocating for our patients, GLIPS needed to be more visibly involved with other advocacy groups, like NAMI and the Clubhouse of Suffolk County. Not only has GLIPS been a sponsor for some of their recent events, but members of the Board have served as liaisons, as members of their Boards, and have supported their legislative efforts through visits, phone calls and letters to legislators. Lastly, another important role for the Society remains in providing opportunities for collegiality for our members, such as our excellent April Annual Meetings, the revitalized GLIPS-sponsored Women’s Group, and a new Residents’ Group in Suffolk County.

It has been a busy 2 years, but obviously there is much more to do! I feel confident that my successor, Dr. Louis Najarian, will continue to build upon and expand the initiatives of my term, as well as developing his own. I do want to end by thanking the Board for their hard work in translating enthusiastic ideas into concrete accomplishments. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to our Executive Director, Jackie Cast, for her tireless efforts on behalf of GLIPS, and, more personally, for the outstanding assistance she has provided me throughout all my years on the Board.