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Information on APA's Election: ABOUT THE CANDIDATESFull Access

CANDIDATE FOR MEMBER-IN-TRAINING TRUSTEE-ELECT

Laura K. Kent, M.D.
Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.43.23.0020c

Member-in-Training

PGY-3 Psychiatry Resident, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 2007- ♦ Hospitalist, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, New Hampshire, 2006-07 ♦ Internal Medicine Residency, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, 2003-06 ♦ Medical School, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1999-2003 ♦ Dean's Recognition Award, 2003 ♦ Director, Einstein Community Health Outreach Free Clinic, 1999-2003

I am deeply honored to have this opportunity to run for member-in-training trustee-elect (MITTE) of APA. As psychiatrists in training, we are the future of psychiatry. This means that we need to know what is happening on the front lines of the field—both in order to understand the challenges that lie ahead and to shape the decisions that will affect our patients and our careers for years to come. If elected to be your representative to APA, I will work to keep you as informed as possible about what is happening in APA and psychiatry—and conversely keep APA and psychiatry as informed as possible about what is happening with you.

This is a very exciting and pivotal time in psychiatry. With the recent passing of the mental health parity bill, a new era is unfolding that promises both tremendous opportunity and great challenge. As your MITTE, I will work to keep you aware of the latest developments in the field and of APA's involvement in these issues so that together we can be most effective in shaping the future of psychiatry.

In the age of e-mail and the Internet, we can develop ways in which we can truly work together. I believe that my training in medicine, psychiatry, social service, and the financial sector positions me to be able to effectively represent and communicate with you as your MITTE. As the former director of a 200-member, free outreach clinic in medical school, I have demonstrated that my management style is collaborative and based on good communication. As your MITTE, I will:

Develop a collaborative network of residents nationwide through frequent two-way e-mail communication and focused discussions at national meetings.

Work to increase resident representation in APA so that we can maximize resources identified for future psychiatrists to help with early career concerns including fellowship opportunities, growing a practice, and financing medical education.

Be directly accessible to you throughout the two-year term to hear your concerns, to discuss the issues that you believe should be on the Board of Trustees agenda, and to brainstorm solutions.

Invite any resident to contact me directly with their concerns and ideas.

You are the future of psychiatry, and we need your talent and input!

I come to psychiatry from a unique perspective because I completed an internal medicine residency prior to becoming a psychiatry resident. I chose to pursue psychiatry because I increasingly saw psychiatric issues as central to the lives of my patients. You and I know that psychiatry is essential to all of medicine and thus that psychiatry residents belong at the epicenter of medicine. I am eager to apply my experiences in both medicine and psychiatry as your MITTE to help increase communication and collaboration across all medical fields and organizations.

APA is a vital organization that advocates for us, educates us, and connects us as a nation of psychiatrists. There should be no question that being a psychiatry resident means being a member of APA and helping to shape APA's future. As your MITTE, I will use my diverse experience to represent your interests at the highest levels of the organization and to make you aware of the myriad opportunities that APA offers you.

In summary:

I will vigorously represent your needs on APA's Board of Trustees and will advocate for those issues most important to you as residents and young psychiatrists.

I will be accessible to you and keep you informed of important developments as they occur.

I will work with you to shape the future of psychiatry, finding opportunity in these challenging times.

I will work to place psychiatry firmly at the forefront of medicine where it belongs.

I look forward to working together to make APA work for you!

Primary Professional Activities and Sources of Income

Professional Activities

90%—Psychiatry Resident, New York State Psychiatric Institute

8%—Hospitalist, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, N.H. (moonlighting)

2%—Internist, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, N.Y. (moonlighting)

Income

69%—Psychiatry Resident, New York State Psychiatric Institute

20%—Hospitalist, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, N.H. (moonlighting)

11%—Internist, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains, N.Y. (moonlighting)