WINTER 2023 ISSUE

White Coats on the Hill: PSV Members Lobby Congress on Vital APA Issues at the 2023 Federal Advocacy Conference

Dr. Badr Ratnakaran; Sophia Dycaico, Legislative Assistant to Rep Bobby Scott; Dr. Janice Bray; and Dr. Hena Yakoob visiting Rep. Bobby Scott’s office during the Federal Advocacy Conference.

By Hena Yakoob, MD
VCU Health System
Richmond, VA

PSV supported the involvement of members lobbying Congress at the 2023 Federal Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC on October 16-17.

There were several key issues and policies on APA’s legislative agenda for the 118^th Congress. Dr. Badr Ratnakaran (Virginia Tech Carilion SOM, Roanoke), Dr. Janice Bray (US Navy Mental Health, Portsmouth), and Dr. Hena Yakoob (VCU Health, Richmond) engaged in advocacy training and a full day of lobbying members of Congress on Capitol Hill on issues including behavioral health integration in primary care, supporting the psychiatric workforce shortage, and maternal mortality and health equity.

Our representatives had the opportunity to educate stakeholders in the offices of 6 members of Congress from Virginia (two Senators and four House Representatives) on the issues affecting our patients and practice and advocate for their endorsement of several bills related to mental health reform. All in all it was a successful day for advancing the profession, promoting higher quality care for patients, and fighting stigma surrounding mental illness.

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