From The President… Joe Kenan, M.D.
When first I joined ASAP seven years ago, I saw the organization as a strong, vibrant, and thriving organization. The annual meetings were first-class, hosted at amazing hotels with excellent facilities. The President stayed in a Presidential Suite at the host hotel, complements of ASAP. The Board of Governors enjoyed splendid lunches and dinners, gratis, during the Board of Directors meeting. A several-hundred-page hardcover “annual” was produced yearly and sent to every member … etc., etc. … ***CHA-CHING*** Ahhh … The good old days.
I recall, next, attending my first Board of Governors’ meeting and learning the awful truth: the organization was hemorrhaging money. Although once the magnificent organization had a magnanimous reserve of over a hundred thousand dollars, the account was quickly nearing zero. Yearly expenditures outpaced receivables by bounds. Board Members openly “hoped” there would be an organization in a few years. I remember, during that meeting, eying the door and wondering how I could politely excuse myself and never return.
I’m glad I stuck it out. Over the years, the Board has made the necessary cuts to keep ASAP alive. Although I miss some of the perks and lavish displays of wealth, I am happier that the State of the Organization is the best it has been in years.
The 2010 ASAP annual conference was an unqualified success. We had more attendees than in any recent year; the venue at Cedars-Sinai was free, compliments of Psychological Trauma Center; the Cedar-Sinai Department of Addiction Services made a generous contribution of $10,000 to pay for CME; another donator provided the food; and the cocktail hour was hosted by The California Society for Adolescent Psychiatry.
Most important, the conference was a blast.
Due to what turned out to be a fortuitous error, our reservation at The Magic Castle was screwed up, which necessitated a brief meeting devoid of the usual pontifications.
Finally, ABAP (American Board of Adolescent Psychiatry) and ASAP merged. The ASAP governing board has established a new council on Board Certification in Adolescent Psychiatry with our own Richard Ratner, M.D. as council chair. The council is working to develop a new exam at this time but board certification for Adolescent Psychiatry is ALIVE AND WELL. Have a great summer, Joseph Kenan M.D.
Read More...