Dear members of IAPA,

It brings me great pleasure and pride to assume the presidency of IAPA from 2024 to 2025. Since its establishment in the late 1970s, our organization has been at the forefront of representing Indian-origin psychiatrists and their interests in the USA. Our organization is vibrant, particularly during the APA annual meeting, where many of our members and potential members present their research on various topics. The 2024 IAPA annual meeting organized by my predecessor, Dr. Bhagi Sahasranaman, in San Francisco renewed the sense that we are eager to meet and collaborate.

To secure a bright future, we must remain united and continuously enhance our membership while emphasizing the value of being a member.

• Let us begin by encouraging more medical students and resident applicants, including 2nd Generation and IMG, to become psychiatrists and learn how to navigate the challenging path toward securing a competitive residency.
• Residents and fellows require mentorship and resources to look beyond residency and select a future practice setting, and early career psychiatrists need more opportunities and guidance to establish a solid career path.
• IAPA has established a mentorship program, and we must encourage our MIT and ECP members to take advantage of it.
• We should celebrate the accomplishments of our mid-career members and find ways to acknowledge their work and leadership.
• Seasoned psychiatrists like myself believe that socializing and continuing our legacy is the key to happiness and life satisfaction.
• IAPA is focused on representing our rights while highlighting our heritage and working cohesively with APA and other sister organizations.

I am grateful to the IAPA board for entrusting me with the leadership role. My committee is young and enthusiastic, and eager to effect change. It gives me tremendous joy and pride to represent you, our members, without whose support we cannot move forward.

You can look at my bio here.

If you have any ideas, feel free to email me at tarak@vasavada.us. I am always happy to discuss and help however I can.

Sincerely,

Tarak Vasavada, MD