Psychiatr News December 7, 2007
Volume 42, Number 23, page 33
© 2007 American Psychiatric Association
Information on APA's Election: ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
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CANDIDATES FOR AREA 2 TRUSTEESeeth Vivek, M.D.
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Chairman, Departments of Psychiatry and Addiction Services: Jamaica,
Brookdale, and Flushing Hospitals, N.Y.  Chairman, Advanced Center for
Psychotherapy, N.Y. Private Practice, Forest Hills, N.Y.
Secretary, New York State Psychiatric Association Representative,
Queens County Psychiatric Society, APA Assembly Past President, Queens
County Psychiatric Society
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"It's the best of times, it's the worst of times."
On the one hand, our field has never been so vibrant. It is an exciting
time to practice and teach psychiatry. The advances in our knowledge and
understanding have given us so much more to offer. It is wonderful to see how
much more our patients and their families expect as compared to even 20 years
ago. We truly are on the threshold of an exciting future.
On the other hand, our profession is under siege. Clinical psychologists
have won a few battles. These "nonphysicians" can prescribe
psychiatric medications in a couple of states. It boggles the mind, but it is
true. And if we are not vigilant and proactive, it may be a very slippery
slope for the rest of us in the near future.
On another front, psychiatry even more than the rest of medicine is under
attack from managed care. Access to care was always an issue for some, but now
even middle-class families are impacted by the exploitation employed by most
managed care companies. While their CEOs walk away with multimillion-dollar
packages, our patients are put through the wringer just to get what is very
basic care in a civilized and affluent society.
A few years ago, along with my colleagues, I started a "free
clinic" in a Queens neighborhood for uninsured families. Within weeks
our caseload grew to unmanageable proportions. I want the opportunity to fight
back with the voice and resources of APA. It is my dream to see full access
and true parity for our patients while still active in our careers.
Working in psychiatry for the past 33 years has truly been a wonderful
journey. Two psychiatric residencies and a consultation-liaison fellowship at
Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx followed one another in quick succession.
However, my learning process continued with added training and certifications
in addiction psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, forensic psychiatry,
administrative psychiatry, and psychosomatic medicine. I sought and obtained
additional training in clinical hypnosis, group psychotherapy, and
psychodrama. To this day, I seek out courses in aspects of our specialty that
seem interesting or useful. I am glad that my thirst for knowledge is as
robust as it was during my training years.
Several years ago, I was given the unique opportunity to build our
Department of Psychiatry from the ground up. Here my creativity and
professionalism were put to test, and I am pleased to report that what started
as a one-employee department then is today 70 psychiatrists strong and
stretches across three major teaching institutions with two full-fledged
residency programs and two fellowship programs—one in child psychiatry
and the other in psychosomatic medicine. Our residents are our future, and I
have made sure that all our residents are members-in-training of APA.
My role as chairman involves administrative, teaching, research, and clinical
responsibilities. In addition, I have maintained a private practice for the
past 27 years, where I have earned the trust and respect of several patients
and their families.
I believe that APA is the best hope we have for our patients and ourselves.
However, in the last 40 years APA voting has dropped from over 60 percent to
under 30 percent. Our strength and credibility lies in our numbers and our
enthusiasm. It is important though painful to note that several of our
colleagues feel disconnected and removed from APA and its leadership. Many do
not see the value of being part of organized psychiatry. Many have dropped
out. It will be priority #1 for me to reach out to all fellow psychiatrists.
Working to increase membership and enhancing the perceived and real value of
that membership will be a primary goal.
"Ultimately all politics is local...."
I will continue to serve the needs of New York state psychiatrists. There
are some issues that are distinctly geographic and regional. I am familiar and
sensitive to those, and have served at the district branch and state levels
for several years.
I am especially drawn to issues around residents and their education.
Following the example of Brooklyn and N. Y. County, I founded the Scientific
Paper Contest initially in Queens County and this year at the New York state
level.
Given the honor of representing you on the Board, I will do all I can to
advocate for our profession, our patients, and their families.
I ask for your vote.
Primary Professional Activities And Sources of Income
Professional Activities
- 80%—Medisys Health Network (Jamaica, Brookdale, and Flushing
Hospitals and the Advanced Center for Psychotherapy)
- 50%—Administration
- 50%—Patient care, research, and teaching
- 20%—Private practice
Income
- 80%—Medisys Health Network
- 20%—Private practice
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