DB Cited for Recruitment Effort

Assembly members from the North Carolina Psychiatric Association (NCPA) accept the Assembly’s new District Branch Best-Practices Award at the Assembly’s November meeting in Washington, D.C. Pictured are (from left) NCPA Representative Nicholas Stratas, M.D.; Women Psychiatrists Representative Diana Dell, M.D.; Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Psychiatrists Representative Margery Sved, M.D.; and NCPA Representative Peggy Dorfman, M.D. Holding the plaque is NCPA Executive Director Robin Huffman.

The award, which was developed and presented by Gary Weinstein, M.D., the Area 5 deputy representative, honors a district branch (DB) that has shared an innovative program with other DBs. The award, Weinstein noted, will promote “cross-fertilization” of successful DB initiatives.

The NCPA was cited for its creative program to recruit and retain members in which all DB committees focused on that issue, regardless of their primary charge. In addition, the NCPA sent letters to all the state’s nonmember psychiatrists explaining why they should join and established a statewide referral service that links patients with psychiatrists. It also enhanced its Web site to share more information about itself and to put more CME offerings online.