Association of Women Psychiatrists
APA Election
| Office | Candidate |
| Trustee at Large |
David Fassler, M.D. |
AWP: What have you done to advance women’s involvement in organized psychiatry and specifically in the APA? Please tell us your specific accomplishments.
Fassler: For the past five years, I have served as the Chair of the Council on Children, Adolescents and their Families. In this position, I have tried hard to actively increase the involvement of women on both the Council and the seven Committees under our auspices. Each year I have submitted recommendations for appointments that would help bring the component more in line with the overall membership of the APA. At the present time, approximately 40% of the members of the Council and Committees are women.
AWP: What important issues for women would you promote? How would you do this?
Fassler: From a public policy standpoint, I would promote access to and funding for high quality childcare services, programs encouraging women to enter medicine, and those aimed at recruiting women into psychiatry. In terms of psychiatric practice, I believe discrimination against women still exists with respect to hiring, salaries and promotion. The APA clearly needs to be a vocal advocate on these issues. I also think we all clearly benefit from a close and collaborative relationship between the APA and the Association of Women Psychiatrists, and I would certainly encourage both organizations to explore ways of improving communication and coordinating our educational initiatives and advocacy efforts.
AWP: What strategies would you use to promote the retention and recruitment of women in APA?
Fassler: I think we need to be creative with respect to the retention and recruitment of women in the APA. One possibility would be a reduced dues program for joint membership in the APA and the Association of Women Psychiatrists. Other thoughts would include a discount for couples and/or for psychiatrists who may be working less than full-time. Even more important, I believe women will join the APA if it effectively addresses their practical needs, concerns and priorities. In this regard, we need to make sure the APA is appropriately meeting the needs of women in terms of mentorship, leadership and career development.
Frances Bell
info@womenpsych.org
http://www.womenpsych.org/new.html
Last updated March 29, 2006 08:10 PM
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