Question 1.

I welcome the document from the MIT and ECP leaders coming to the Assembly next May as the Resident and Fellow Bill of Rights. This crucial document is very timely as the economic pressures on residency programs are increasingly more severe with the national downturn in the economy and the decrease of pharmaceutical-company money for psychiatric education.
 
The core to the Bill of Rights is that residencies and fellowships are dedicated to training without any other alternative purpose in mind. It should directly address issues prior to the commencement of training, during a resident’s path in training, and of course, address issues that present after training is complete.

While I directed the Saint Elizabeths residency program for 16 years, it became Washington's largest of four programs [18 residents to 40 residents]. This was partially because we were able to place training needs first and avoid impingements of institutional needs. With this continued spirit, I will fight for the passage of the Resident and Fellow Bill of Rights when it comes to the Assembly, and subsequently to the Board of Trustees.  Furthermore, President-elects automatically become a member of the APA’s AMA team. If elected President-elect, I will also work for its passage in the AMA House of Delegates, and subsequently champion these Rights to ensure the success of the Resident and Fellow Bill of Rights.
 
Question 2.

No one has a better track record of increasing the participation of residents in the APA’s governance that I do. Three pertinent examples follow:

1.  I was Assembly Speaker when we passed the motion of having 14 MIT representatives in the Assembly,
2.  I authored the amendments to the Washington Psychiatric Society Constitution that established MIT and ECT membership in that organization’s Board of Directors, and
3. I have had motions passed that there be no limit on the number of Corresponding Members of committees.

The latter is key, as there had been severe limits on the number of appointees. However, in removing the limits on Corresponding Members we can make it easier to appoint more MITs who have demonstrated their value to a committee and make it easier to retain them on committees when they are no longer MITs.

The next step, in my opinion, is for the MIT-ECP Subcommittee to work with elected MITs and ECPs to develop a formal mechanism to advise the President-elect, who makes appointments, as to appointment considerations. Giving the MIT-ECP subcommittee this responsibility will provide me, as President-elect, with better direction and, without a doubt, increase the appointments of MITs and ECPs.

Roger Peele, MD, DLFAPA, Past-Speaker of the Assembly, and Trustee-At-Large.