President’s Column

by Craig M. Martin, M.D.

[April 1995; Vol. 22 No. 2]

The Maryland Psychiatric Society wishes to establish and maintain an environment in Maryland which supplies excellent, comprehensive mental health resources for all its citizens. This statement, the vision of our society, was unanimously endorsed by your representatives at our February 14, 1995 Council meeting.

With conflictual issues facing our members and patients at an increasing pace, the leadership of MPS believes we also need the direction provided by a clear mission statement for our professional organization. Again, by unanimous vote on February 14, 1995, the MPS Council endorsed the following as a statement of our mission.

The Maryland Psychiatric Society will further the science and progress of psychiatry. It will preserve high professional and ethical standards and protect the therapeutic alliance between the patient and his/her psychiatrist and treating facility. It will support choice of and access to the best, most effective care for patients, and aid psychiatrists in achieving the highest degree of professional satisfaction.

This mission statement was derived through careful deliberation and debate over the past year by the Executive Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Council. It represents our shared view of basing treatment efforts on science, ethics and care instead of just cost. It defines the need for choice and a therapeutic alliance in working with those we serve. Health care reform should not be about shifting small profits for small organizations to larger profits for larger organizations. It must focus on maintaining treatment relationships that work and enhancing our scientific understanding and provision of effective psychiatric care.

We believe these efforts can best be achieved by accomplishing the following objectives.

1. To improve the evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and care of persons treated by psychiatrists.
2. To encourage research and prevention for psychiatric disabilities, and professional education in psychiatry and allied fields.
3. To advance the standards of all psychiatric services and facilities.
4. To foster the cooperation of all who are concerned with the medical, psychological, social, and legal aspects of mental health and illness.
5. To make psychiatric knowledge available to other physicians, scientists in other fields, and the public at large.
6. To strive to dispel the stigma and discrimination that comes from suffering from a mental illness.
7. To promote the best interest of actual or potential patients of psychiatrists.
8. To vigorously advocate for the professional interests of the membership.

The Society welcomes your input and opinion. Should you like a separate copy of our Vision, Mission, and Objectives statement, please call the office at (410) 625-0232. If you have recommendations for further refinement or change, we would appreciate those as well to be presented in our September Council meeting.