The work of the Arizona Psychiatric Society is carried out through the contributions of the following working Committees, together with the executive leadership of the Society:
Communications: Yazhini Srivathsal, MD, Chair, and Ramsha Rao, MD, Associate Chair
The Communications Committee oversees the public affairs outreach and media efforts of the Society, with a goal to improve the positive image of psychiatry. Members can designated a specific interest in public affairs/media response, social media, website development, Newsletter, and member communications. Currently, the Newsletter Editor position has rotated on a guest basis, but the position is open to a member volunteer wishing to serve in that role continuously. Members are also welcome to sign on to targeted social media outreach around a topic or behavioral health awareness event.
Disaster Psychiatry Task Force: Nicholas Ahrendt, MD, Outgoing Chair (Chair Position Open)
The Disaster Psychiatry Task Force works collaboratively within the community to advance awareness and response capabilities around the same, which may include public health disasters such as the pandemic, man-made events (such as climate response), or acts of violence impacting the community. This work has also included the impacts to physicians and the advocacy for destigmatization of mental health through the revision to the licensure questions at the Arizona Medical Board. This Committee is key to participation in the Interprofessional Behavioral Health Collaborative of Arizona.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD, Chair
The DEI Committee is formed to advance the considerations of diversity, health equity, and inclusion in all matters impacting the practice of psychiatry and the membership and leadership of APS. It is the goal of the Committee that awareness of the goals and principles of DEI be incorporated into all Committees and the work of the leadership of APS. The full charge of this newly formed Committee is being developed, and if you are passionate about this topic, your contributions can lay a strong foundation and pave a way to make a difference moving forward.
Early Career Psychiatrist (ECP): Felicitas Koster, DO, Co-Chair (Outgoing), and Srinivas Dannaram, MD, Co-Chair (Continuing), Nathan Jones, MD, Co-Chair (Incoming)
Early Career psychiatrists are defined as General Members in Years one through eight following graduation from psychiatric residency. The ECP Committee is comprised of General Members in these practice years, working collaboratively together to represent the voice of the early career psychiatrist in decisions and leadership of the Society, and in the planning of educational, social, and professional networking events that reflect the interests of its members.
Education: Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD, Chair
The Education Committee is responsible for the planning of professional educational events, with primary focus on the annual scientific session of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, and works collaboratively with other professional organizations, including the Arizona Society for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in the development of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a psychiatric physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession.
Ethics: Jehangir (Jay) B. Bastani, MD, Chair
The Ethics Committee ensures APS and its members abide by the ethical code of the medical profession, specifically defined in American Psychiatric Association's Principles of Medical Ethics With Annotations Especially Applicable to Psychiatry ("Principles"). The Ethics Committee is responsible for responding to members' request for guidance on ethical issues they are facing in their practice, providing educational information on ethical issues to members, and responding to, reviewing, and issuing decision recommendations on ethics investigations relating to an APS member brought forward by an individual with appropriate standing, jurisdiction, and within the allowed time frame. The APA provides ethics training to Committee members on the Principles and appropriate procedures.
Forensic: Jack Potts, MD, Co-Chair, and Scott Kirkorsky, MD, Co-Chair
The Forensic Committee advocates for the professional interests of APS members and the interests of their patients with respect to psychiatry and the law (including but not limited to corrections, the Courts, and law enforcement). When appropriate, the Forensic Committee will bring issues to the attention of the Government Affairs Committee.
Government Affairs f/k/a Legislative: Don J. Fowls, MD, Chair
The Government Affairs Committee advocates for the professional interests of APS members and the interests of their patients with public officials, elected and appointed, serving the State of Arizona. It monitors local, state and federal legislative and advocacy issues that are of concern to Arizona psychiatrists and their patients, and works closely with the APS Lobbyist. The Government Affairs Committee reviews active legislation and determines or recommends to leadership the position of support or opposition on issues relating to mental health, and its members participate in the RTS system (posting comment on active legislation), meet with and maintain relationships with their elected representatives, and may choose to testify or post comment on priority issues. The Committee has current work groups active with focus on mental health parity and patient safety.
Membership: Gagandeep Singh, MD, Chair (Outgoing), and Payam Sadar, MD, and Nicholas Ahrendt, MD, Co-Chairs (Incoming)
The Membership Committee promotes the recruitment, retention, and recognition of membership in APS. The work of the Committee includes membership drives, promoting activities and opportunities to retain members, increase engagement, and recruit new members. The Committee invites members of distinction to apply for Distinguished Fellow and is key to developing and supporting nominations that meet the criteria for distinction to the APA.
Nomination: Gurjot Marwah, MD, Chair
The Nomination Committee invites and reviews nominations to serve as executive officers of the Society and prepares a recommended slate for acceptance by the Executive Council in advance of the annual business meeting. The Nomination Committee also reviews nominations for the annual Society awards and recognition and makes recommendation regarding awards to the Executive Council.
Resident-Fellow Member (RFM): Reema Chopra, DO, Nathan Jones, MD (Outgoing), and Kailee Marin, DO, Co-Chairs, Chase Crookham, DO (Incoming)
Resident-Fellow Members (RFM) are those members currently in psychiatric residency or fellowship programs. The RFM Committee members work collaboratively to represent the voice of psychiatric residents and fellows in decisions and leadership of the Society, and in the planning of educational, social, and professional networking events that reflect the interests of its RFMs. The RFM Committee Co-Chairs are also the RFM Co-Representatives, each chosen to represent a current Arizona psychiatric residency program.
Women’s Group, Bahar Altaha, MD, Chair
The Women's Group works to promote the voice and professional goals and needs of women in psychiatry through the planning of educational, social, and professional events and other communication and outreach.
