Committees
Why Committee Service is Important
As a volunteer organization, The College relies on committees to conduct its business and carry out the strategic direction articulated by the Board of Regents. Committee service is one factor considered in elevating members to fellowship status (along with professional achievement and other service to The College, such as speaking at an annual meeting or nominating others for membership in the organization). Once elevated, fellows are eligible to serve as chair of a committee (members and fellows are both eligible to serve in the newly created position of vice chair). Serving as chair, in turn, makes fellows eligible for being elected to the Board of Regents.
How Committee Appointments are Made
Each spring, we send out committee volunteer forms to the membership, soliciting interest in serving on specific committees. In the fall, the President-Elect reviews the list of volunteers and the committee openings for the following year and makes appointments. Preference is given to members over fellows (to allow them to demonstrate service to The College and qualify for elevation). The College’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is also taken into account when making committee assignments. Finally, we send out e-mails to newly appointed committee members in the fall, letting them know their three-year terms will commence on March 1 of the following year. Unfortunately, because there are limited committee positions available, we’re not able to accommodate everyone’s request. Therefore, we encourage those not selected for committee positions to volunteer again the following spring.
Standing Committees 2024 - 2025
Audit
The Audit Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the audit process of The College, including selecting an independent audit firm for the purpose of regularly conducting an audit and preparing an audit report of the finances, internal controls and accounting of The College, and reviewing and assessing management’s compliance with the auditor’s recommendations.
Laura Fochtmann, Chair
Awards
The Committee on Awards shall recommend to the Board of Regents the names of candidates for the awards to be given at the Annual Meeting. The Bowis Award recognizes special contributions to The College. The Distinguished Service in Psychiatry Award is given for outstanding achievements in the field of psychiatry and is not limited to Members of The College. The Board shall make the final selection and shall also recommend the form and manner for granting the awards.
Jay Shore, Chair
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Award
The Committee on the Award for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shall recommend annually to the Board of Regents a nominee from among those practitioners who are recognized as leaders among their peers and whose body of work to date has had a substantial impact on the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Barbara Coffey, Chair
Continuing Medical Education
The Committee on Continuing Medical Education shall design and implement Member-oriented and non-Member oriented courses, institutes, and conferences. The Committee shall design and implement educational programs in the form of audiocassettes, video, or CD-ROM, and other such programs as approved by the Board of Regents. The Committee will also design educational programs geared to certification and re-certification. The Committee reports to the Committee on Education.
Alan Louie, Chair
Contributions
The Committee on Contributions is the only component authorized to seek funds on behalf of the association. The Committee on Contributions shall report its efforts directly to the Board of Regents.
Bennett Leventhal, Chair
Dean Award
The Committee on the Dean Award shall recommend annually to the Board of Regents a nominee from among those scholars and scientific investigators who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding and treatment of schizophrenia. The Chair of this Committee shall submit to the President and to the Chair of the Committee on Scientific Programs the curriculum vitae of the recipient of the Dean Award.
Mark Rapaport, Chair
Diversity, Respectful Inclusion, and Equity
The Committee on Diversity, Respectful Inclusion, and Equity shall oversee and promote the College’s diversity, respectful inclusion, equity and anti-racist initiatives; advise the Board of Regents on the establishment of policies related to these principles; and serve as a consulting body to the various elements of The College (including but not limited to those responsible for awards and honors; membership; and governance and administrative activities of the College).
Michele Reid, Chair
Education
The Committee on Education shall make recommendations to The College pertaining to its plan for meeting the professional and educational needs of the Membership and psychiatric residents. The Committee shall be responsible for obtaining CME accreditation for The College. The Committee shall be composed of the Chairpersons of those components related to continuing education.
Jeffrey Lyness, Chair
Education Award
The Committee on the Education Award shall encourage creativity in psychiatric education through the presentation of a financial award given annually to a qualifying program. The award is presented to the program which best represents creative thinking while engaging in teaching timely psychiatric issues at the medical school, residency, or post-graduate level. The award is presented at The College's Annual Meeting.
Molly Gathright, Chair
Ethics
The Committee on Ethics shall have responsibility for handling complaints made against Members of The College consistent with the Procedures for the Processing and Disposition of Complaints adopted by the Board of Regents, as from time to time amended thereby. The Committee shall also maintain and recommend changes to the Code of Ethics to the Board of Regents.
Todd Cox, Chair
Finance
The Committee on Finance shall report its recommendations directly to the Board of Regents concerning all the financial affairs of The College as well as its budgetary matters. The Treasurer shall serve ex-officio on this committee. The Committee on Finance shall advise the Treasurer on the association's investment policies.
Art Walaszek, Chair
Award for Research in Geriatric Psychiatry
The Committee on the Award for Research in Geriatric Psychiatry shall recommend annually to the Board of Regents a nominee from among those scholars and scientific investigators who have made outstanding contributions to research in geriatric psychiatry. The Chair of this committee shall submit to the Board of Regents and to the Chair of the Committee on Scientific Programs the curriculum vitae of the recipient for the Award for Research in Geriatric Psychiatry.
Ryan Hall, Chair
Honorary Fellowship
The Committee on Honorary Fellowship shall recommend to the Board of Regents the nominees to be considered for Honorary Fellowship. Honorary Fellows are chosen from distinguished physicians and scientists whose outstanding scientific and clinical contributions are significant to the field of psychiatry and who would otherwise not be eligible for Membership in The College. Honorary Fellows are not required to pay dues and are not eligible to hold office or Committee Membership. Their names are not included in the Active Membership roster of The College. The Board shall make the final selection. Staff recommends the form and manner for presentation of Honorary Fellowship certificates.
Paul Summergrad, Chair
Laughlin Fellowship Selection
The Laughlin Fellowship Selection Committee shall recommend to the Board of Regents the names of individuals in various psychiatric residency educational centers for appointment as Laughlin Fellows. These individuals, as determined by the Committee, shall be the ones whose performance as residents indicates that they will become outstanding members of the profession.
Elizabeth Kieff, Chair
Long-Range Planning and Policy
The Committee on Long-Range Planning and Policy shall study and make recommendations to the Board of Regents concerning all activities and policy formation of The College, with emphasis on dedication to its goals, soundness of administration, cohesiveness of group, and an abiding interest of the Membership in the aims and objectives of The College. At least two Past-Presidents shall be Members of this Committee.
Cathy Crone, Chair
Membership
The Committee on Membership shall be provided for in Article IV, Section I, of the Bylaws, except one of the Members shall be a Past-President of The College. The Membership of this Committee shall be broadly representative of the professional interests of The College. In order to reflect changes in the Bylaws concerning the size of The College, this Committee shall continue its responsibility to evaluate qualifications of proposed Members and shall report at each meeting of The Board of Regents, noting the number of available Membership vacancies.
Ilisse R. Perlmutter, Chair
Membership Development
The Membership Development Committee shall design and implement strategies for recruiting New Members, particularly those from underrepresented groups; support the elevation of Members to Fellows; and foster more diverse and inclusive representation of Members and Fellows in leadership roles in The College.
Robert N. Golden, Chair
Award for Research in Mood Disorders
The Committee on the Award for Research in Mood Disorders shall recommend annually to the Board of Regents a nominee from among those scholars and scientific investigators who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding and treatment of mood disorders. The Chair of this Committee shall submit to the President and to the Chair of the Committee on Scientific Programs the curriculum vitae of the recipient of the Award for Research in Mood Disorders.
Karen Dineen Wagner, Chair
Nominations and Leadership Development
The Committee on Nominations, chaired by the President-Elect, each year shall submit to the Board of Regents a slate of nominees for the offices of The College. In the selection of nominees for offices and committees, consideration shall be given to Members according to their broad professional interests as represented in The College.
George Keepers and Marcy Verduin, Chair
Commission on PRITE®
The Commission on PRITE® shall be composed of the Treasurer, the Secretary-General, and three Members appointed by the President-Elect with the approval of the Board of Regents. The PRITE® Editors and The College's Executive Director shall serve on this Commission as ex-officio Members. The Commission shall be responsible for the administration of the PRITE® program. The Commission shall meet at least once a year in conjunction with the Board of Regents. Other meetings may be arranged as included in the PRITE® budget.
Sandra DeJong, Chair
PRITE® Editorial Board
The PRITE® Editorial Board has responsibility for writing and editing the PRITE® and CHILD PRITE®. The Editorial Board shall report to the PRITE® Commission.
Arden D. Dingle, Editor-in-Chief PRITE®
Ann Schwartz, Associate Editor PRITE®
Lauren Osborne, Associate Editor PRITE®
Venkat Bhat, Associate Editor, PRITE®
Jessica Jeffrey, Associate Editor CHILD PRITE®
Michael Shapiro, Associate Editor CHILD PRITE®
PRITE® Fellowship Selection
The PRITE® Fellowship Selection Committee shall recommend to the Board of Regents the names of individuals in various psychiatric centers for appointment as PRITE® Fellows. These individuals, as determined by the Committee, shall be the ones whose performance as residents and as item writers indicates that they will contribute to the work of the PRITE® Editorial Board.
J.T. Thornhill, Chair
Scientific Programs
The Committee on Scientific Programs shall plan, select speakers, format, implement, and evaluate the scientific programs for the Annual Meeting and other meetings of The College. The Committee shall determine the eligibility of the programs for CME credits, and recommend such designation to the Board of Regents, as well as award certificates of appropriate CME credits to Members who participate in these programs.
Cathy Crone, Chair
Commission on PIPE®
The Commission on Psychiatrists in Practice Examination (PIPE®) shall be composed of the Treasurer, a Chair and four Members appointed by the President-Elect with the approval of the Board of Regents. The PIPE® Editor and the Executive Director shall serve on this Commission as ex-officio Members. The Commission shall be responsible for the administration of the PIPE® program. The Commission shall meet at least once a year in conjunction with the Board of Regents. Other meetings may be arranged as included in the PIPE® budget.
Pieter Joost van Wattum, Chair
PIPE® Editorial Board
The Psychiatrists in Practice Examination (PIPE®) Editorial Board has the responsibility for writing and editing the Psychiatrists in Practice examination. The Editorial Board shall report to the Ad Hoc Commission on PIPE®.
Amy Hoffman, Editor PIPE®
Andrew Furman, Associate Editor PIPE®
Subcommittee on Bylaws
The Subcommittee on Bylaws shall be responsible for incorporating into the association's Bylaws those changes recommended by the Board of Regents and voted upon by the general Membership. The Subcommittee shall make recommendations to the Board of Regents for modifications in the Bylaws that are in keeping with changes taking place in the structure and function of The College.
Chris Thomas, Chair
Subcommittee on Nominations to the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN)
The Subcommittee on Nominations to ABPN shall identify College Members to serve as ABPN Directors and recommend these candidates to the Board of Regents for nomination to ABPN.
Darrell G. Kirch, Chair