APA Rocks San Francisco

Last month’s annual meeting in San Francisco showed that despite an ailing economy and a Code Orange security alert, psychiatrists and others by the thousands (more than 20,000, in fact, breaking previous meetings’ attendance records) wanted to be with colleagues in a city known for its numerous cultural attractions, spectacular scenery, and outstanding cuisine.

The meeting inadvertently started off with a San Francisco event whose popularity—and outrageousness—continues to grow each year: the Bay to Breakers Foot Race. On Sunday morning, May 18, many meeting goers riding the shuttle buses had to take an unexpected hike when they discovered that the streets leading to the Moscone Center were closed off to accommodate the race’s route. What they saw wasn’t the usual collection of sweaty, breathless athletes (see photo top left).

Later that day, the Assembly finished up its semi-annual three-day meeting (see Original article: page 7), newly elected officers took their seats on APA’s Board of Trustees, and APA’s president and president-elect presented alarming messages about the disastrous state of this country’s mental health system (see Original article: pages 1 and Original article: 8). Both Paul Appelbaum, M.D., and Marcia Goin, M.D., urged their fellow psychiatrists to become involved in the quest to secure the funding and services to which mentally ill Americans have a right. Moreover, many members had their first opportunity to meet APA’s new medical director, James H. Scully Jr., M.D., who assumed APA’s top staff position in January.

Next year’s annual meeting will be held in another location popular with many APA members: New York City, from May 1 to 6.