Leaders in Research, Education Join APIRE Board
The American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education (APIRE) board members elected two key figures in the administrative health care and education fields in its June elections.
Herbert Pardes, M.D.: “Through research, you can make your points from a much sounder base.”
APIRE came into existence in 1998 as the research, education, and training component of APA. Through its activities, APIRE has fostered careers in psychiatric research, conducted clinical and health services research, enhanced the research and education capacities of APA, and sought to inform health policy by providing fellowship and visiting scholar opportunities relating to psychiatric research and practice.
“The idea of APA’s having a dedicated effort to work on research and psychiatric issues is terrific,” Pardes told Psychiatric News. “I am hopeful that APIRE will function in a way to advance all of psychiatry’s best interests, and I’m very pleased to be whatever help I can in this regard.”
Pardes came to APIRE with considerable leadership experience. He served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health from 1978 to 1984.
In 1984 Pardes was appointed jointly as director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and chair of the department of psychiatry at Columbia University, and in 1989 he was appointed vice president for health sciences at Columbia University and dean of Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Those appointments ended when he became president and CEO of New York Presbyterian Hospital in January 2000.
He is also closely involved in new research as the president of the scientific council of the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression. “Through research, you can make your points from a much sounder base,” said Pardes, who noted that policy in the mental health field is often shaped by research.
Scully said that he is excited about the future of APIRE. APIRE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing it to pursue independent funding to carry out research and training activities.
“APIRE has the exceptional potential to be a real force to advance our field,” said Scully, who added that he is honored to serve as treasurer. “The board includes many distinguished contributors to our field, and I look forward to working with all of them.”
Scully is also director of the Division of Education, Training, and Research at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. He is a former APA deputy medical director and former director of APA’s Office of Education.
The APIRE board of directors also designated an executive committee of seasoned APA leadership. Members include Steve Mirin, M.D., APA medical director, and Darrel Regier, M.D, M.P.H., executive director of APIRE and a nonvoting ex-officio member of the committee. Paul Appelbaum, M.D., president-elect of APA, and John Greden, M.D., chair of APA’s Council on Research, were appointed directors on the APIRE board.
APIRE’s Board of Directors also includes Dilip Jeste, M.D., Howard Goldman, M.D., Kenneth Wells, M.D., Charles Nemeroff, M.D., Tana Grady-Weliky, M.D., Leah Dickstein, M.D., Richard Harding, M.D., Nyapati Rao, M.D., Sara Charles, M.D., and Abram Hostetter, M.D. ▪
