Association of Women Psychiatrists
APA Election
| Office | Candidate |
| President-Elect |
Marcia Goin, 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.
Goin: My first step into the medical world was taken alone. Ignoring the discouragement of my College Dean, I went on to be the first woman graduate from Middlebury college to be admitted to medical school. Although there were only six women in our class of 80 at Yale Medical School. the opportunity to be with other women who shared my passion for medicine was a delight.
As a young psychiatrist I joined the newly formed local Committee on Women. Here was a place to talk about the special problems we faced working to climb the academic ladder - initiating research, developing teaching skills. As Director of Residency Education in he Outpatient Clinic of a public sector hospital I have actively encouraged, mentored, advised and nurture hundreds of young women psychiatrists. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Assembly Representative and Chair of the Committees on Confidentiality and the Practice of Psychotherapy I have pushed for the appointment of women to task forces and committees. I have organized symposia on subjects such as "The Management of Suicidal Behaviors" and an "Overview of the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder" and made certain to identify and include women on the panel of experts.
AWP: What proportion of men and women would you like to see on APA Committees? How many women would you appoint? This question is only applicable to President Elect nominees.
Goin: My first step into the medical world was taken alone. Ignoring the discouragement of my College Dean, I went on to be the first woman graduate from Middlebury college to be admitted to medical school. Although there were only six women in our class of 80 at Yale Medical School. the opportunity to be with other women who shared my passion for medicine was a delight.
As a young psychiatrist I joined the newly formed local Committee on Women. Here was a place to talk about the special problems we faced working to climb the academic ladder - initiating research, developing teaching skills. As Director of Residency Education in the Outpatient Clinic of a public sector hospital I have actively encouraged, mentored, advised and nurture hundreds of young women psychiatrists. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Assembly Representative and Chair of the Committees on Confidentiality and the Practice of Psychotherapy I have pushed for the appointment of women to task forces and committees. I have organized symposia on subjects such as "The Management of Suicidal Behaviors" and an "Overview of the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder" and made certain to identify and include women on the panel of experts.
AWP: What important issues for women would you promote? How would you do this?
Goin: Women's health and women's place and strength in the workforce are two of the many women's issues that I would promote.
There is a large menu of studies that remain to be done in the sector of women's physiology, hormonal activity and interactions with medications, specifics of life stressors and developmental issues. My studies of the psychological impact of mastectomy and breast reconstruction highlighted the need for oncologists, surgeons and psychiatrists to understand and respond to the impact of cancer treatment and the mutilating experience of some necessary treatments. I would encourage the Institute on Research and Education to seek funding for exploration in these areas.
The current economic downturn is heavily impacting the already fragile financing of medical care. As these battles are waged women must be certain to have an informed place at the table. Faculties are shrinking, budgets are being cut and everyone is having to cut back. Women must be certain to be knowledgeable and informed when these decisions are being made. Nurturing, mothering skills, and empathic attunement mustn¹t lead to weakening one¹s position in the line of leadership. I would add this to the agenda of the APA Committee on Women and the Central Office.
AWP: What strategies would you use to promote the retention and recruitment of women in APA?
Goin: I would do everything possible to foster women's awareness of the APA Women¹s Mentoring Program. It was so rewarding to be available to one of my mentees during what one might consider the developmental phases of residency: her initial struggle at having to leave behind her expertise in all areas of medicine and concentrate on psychiatry, the excitement of psychological discovery, questions of family versus profession, etc. This type of personal involvement strengthens both parties. The program provides a link for women around the country to learn abut jobs, different areas of interest or enjoy camaraderie and support.
I would encourage the expansion of the efforts of women in grassroots legislative efforts. This is an exciting entree in the work of the APA. When my residents or others learn about action alerts and contact legislators they see first hand how the APA works and realize that their voice makes a difference.
Through the years my own involvement in the APA has waxed and waned in concert with the needs and demands of my family; but I have always maintained a connection. I would encourage dialogue on the Women¹s Listserve about themes including: parenting, research, and special psychotherapy issues of transference and countertansference.
Frances Bell
info@womenpsych.org
http://www.womenpsych.org/new.html
Last updated March 29, 2006 08:07 PM
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