Committees

NCPS has many working committees to help fulfill our mission, To advance the quality and effectiveness of psychiatric care through advocacy, professional education and camaraderie. It takes passionate and dedicated volunteer members to make it possible. There are many advantages to engaging with your local APA District Branch and builds on your personal and professional development and expanding your network. Please see our opportunities below and reach out if something interests you. 

Asian American Issues Committee

The committee promotes communication, peer support, informal mentoring, and education among local psychiatrists interested in Asian American issues. All interested NCPS members are welcome irrespecitve of their race or ethnicity. The committee meets roughly every other month on a weekday evening.

Contact: Chair Jacquelyn B. Chang, MD (650) 692-2520 jbchang@alumni.stanford.edu

Awards Committee

The committee meets three times every other year to prepare a list of awardees for Awards Dinner.

Contact: Chair Rona Hu, MD (415) 334-2418 ronahu@stanford.edu

Budget & Finance

The committee meets four to six times per year to review finances of the society and prepare the budgets.

Contact: Chair NCPS Treasuerer - Dr. Michael Ostacher at info@ncps.org

Communications/Newsletter 

This committee meets every other month to discuss and plan newsworthy content and article creation for our membership to be disseminated through our bi-monthly newsletter, The Psychiatric Physician, or by email or social media posts. Currently seeking interested members for participation or article creation. 

Contact: Chair Peter Forster, MD - peter@gatewaypsychiatric.com

Constitution & Bylaws

The committee meets as needed to evaluate society's Constitution and Bylaws.

Contact: NCPS Office (415) 401-2767 info@ncps.org

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

This committee meets monthly and seeks to foster professional development in minority psychiatrists, to educate and increase cultural proficiency and to advocate to expand diversity, equity and inclusion for psychiatrists and their patients. Currently seeking interested members to participate, as well as subject matter experts to help educate or mentor. 

Contact: NCPS Office (415) 334-2418 info@ncps.org

Ethics

Membership by invitation only. The committee meets quarterly to review ethical complaints against members.

Contact: Chair Marvin H. Firestone, MD, JD (650) 212-4900 firestone@forensicneuropsychiatry.com

Fellowship

The Fellowship Committee meets three times per year to prepare, reveiw and assist Distinguished Fellowship applications for review by APA.

Contact: Chair Larry Lurie, MD - info@ncps.org

Government Affairs

The committee works on local and state issues important to our members and meets monthly. Currently seeking interested members to represent each of the 18 counties in our membership region, as well as members who can serve as subject matter experts (SME's) in specific practice settings or treatment modalities. 

Contact: Co-chair Diana Wertz, MD or Co-Chair Yelena Zalkina, MD at info@ncps.org

Membership

The committee meets as needed to plan membership engagement and conduct outreach. Currently seeking interested members to participate.

Contact: Co-chair Zena Potash, MD or Co-chair Smita Das, MD, PhD at  info@ncps.org

Professional Education

The committee meets monthly or as needed to plan and evaluate educational programs, including but not limited to our Annual Meeting & Scientific Program, our Annual Fall Conference, webinars and workshops.

Contact: Co-chair Farah Zaidi, MD (650) 573-2530 farah09@yahoo.com  or Co-chair Diana Wertz, MD (650) 690-2778 dianawertz@gmail.com

RFM / ECP Committee

The RFM (Resident Fellow Members) / ECP (Early Career Psychiatrists) committees were recently combined in order to provide continuity to members in residency as they transition into the next stage of their careers. Networking opportunities, assistance with job searches and CV writing, as well as social activities will be provided to members. Currently seeking interested RFM and ECP members. 

Contact: NCPS Office (415) 334-2418 info@ncps.org

The Resource Group 

This committee meets monthly by phone conference call, to discuss new information, education and research regarding the wellness of psychiatrists. The Resource Committee's Hotline is 888-386-3641.

Contact: Chair Michael McGee, MD at info@ncps.org

Social Media 

This is a newly formed committee to help monitor, administrate and create content for our various social media platforms, including our private member Facebook Group, our public Facebook page, our Twitter page and our Instagram. Currently seeking interested members to participate. 

Contact: NCPS Office at info@ncps.org

If you have an idea for a committee that you think would serve NCPS in our mission To advance the quality and effectiveness of psychiatric care through advocacy, professional education and camaraderie, please contact our Executive Director at (415) 334-2418 or email info@ncps.org