The Director leads APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity (DDHE) and supports the CEO/Medical Director as Deputy Medical Director. The incumbent serves as a member of the c-suite team charged with enhancing the availability and quality of mental health (and substance use disorders) services to diverse and underserved populations (including the groups under the federal minority statutes), and promoting a better understanding of diverse and underserved populations with mental illness, the need for early recognition and treatment and that mental health is a fundamental aspect of a person’s health.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Creates short and long term DDHE objectives consistent with APA’s organizational strategy.
Represents the Medical Director I Office of Medical Director in his/her absence.
Serves as a psychiatric expert for APA administration and maintains current knowledge in the field of psychiatry.
Manages the financial performance of DDHE.
Works with the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and others, to obtain external funding to support new initiatives, as appropriate.
Responsible for the employment, training, motivation, discipline and performance evaluation of assigned employees.
Oversees daily activities of DDHE, ensuring optimum performance consistent with DDHE objectives.
Participates in executive level decisions affecting key APA issues.
Cultivates and builds strategic relationships with other medical professional associations, non-physician associations and patient organizations in furtherance of DDHE goals.
Represents the APA to other national and local organizations both public and private, including federal and state governments and legislative bodies about diversity and health equity issues
Oversees the Council on Minority Mental Health/Disparities (and its committees), AssemblyCommittee of Representatives of Minority and Underrepresented (MUR) Groups (American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Psychiatrists, Asian American Psychiatrists, Black Psychiatrists, Hispanic Psychiatrists, International Medical Graduate Psychiatrists, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Psychiatrists, and Women Psychiatrists), MUR caucuses, Council on Children, Adolescents and their Families, Council on Geriatric Psychiatry, and other components and workgroups as assigned.
Jointly with APAF, oversees APA/APAF fellowship programs such as:
SAMHSA funded Minority Fellowship Program
Diversity Leadership Fellowship
Leadership Fellowship
Spurlock Congressional Fellowship
Child Psychiatry Fellowship
Public Psychiatry Fellowships
Interacts with other divisions to keep them informed of DDHE activities and to develop ways to collaborate on issues of common interest.
Provides leadership to staff as a trainer, mentor and role model.
Attends external meetings and conferences relevant to diversity and health equity, where appropriate.
Engages in new and creative outreach initiatives designed to promote an understanding of mental illness and improve the availability and quality of care for diverse and underserved populations.
Assists the medical community in gaining a better understanding of the cultural barriers and aspects of the treatment of mental illness, including the differing responses to medication within certain ethnic groups.
Develops a cadre of psychiatric leaders who understand the issues within diverse and underserved communities and can represent the diversity of the psychiatric professionals and the patients they treat.
Proactively recruits members of underrepresented groups into psychiatry and develops leaders in the health of diverse and underserved populations issues and research from APA membership.
Works with all other APA departments to ensure cross coordination of activities between departments and liaises with the Diversity at Work employee team.
Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS
M.D./psychiatrist or physician with experience in Health Equity and Diversity
At least 10 years of diversity and health equity experience in the field.
Ten+ years of broad experience in psychiatry(post-residency/fellowships), including administration, clinical services, education and/or research preferred.
Extensive publications including journal articles, books, and resources focusing across diverse population groups.
Experience working with both diverse and underserved populations and MUR psychiatrists on mental health issues related to diverse communities that experience disparities.
Ability to effectively interact with professionals, people and families living with mental illness, and advocates.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to make effective presentations.
Strong administrative and organizational skills with the ability to provide leadership, direction and supervision of programs and to staff.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Normal demands associated with an office environment.
Ability to work on computer for prolonged periods, communicate with individuals by telephone, e-mail and face to face.
Some travel may be required.
About American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the world's largest psychiatric organization, with over 38,500 U.S. and international member physicians and 240 employees. Its vision is a society that has available, accessible quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. APA has excellent benefits, including medical, dental, 401k, flexible spending accounts, and tuition assistance. The APA is located in Washington, D.C. within walking distance of the L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop.
