New Orleans, La., May 26, 2022 — At the close of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2022 Annual Meeting, Adam Nelson, M.D., assumed the role of Speaker of the APA Assembly of District Branches.

Adam Nelson, M.D. is the Medical Director for La Cheim Behavioral Health Services in Oakland, Calif., and has a full-time office practice in Mill Valley, Calif. He served as the Chair of Psychiatry at Marin General Hospital, Medical Director of the Brinton Psychiatric Homeless, Medical Director of Sacramento County Jail Psychiatric Services, and Inpatient Service Chief at the David Grant USAF Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base. Dr. Nelson also served as Consulting Psychiatrist to San Francisco General Hospital’s High-Utilizer Case Management Team, Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, Glide Church Medical Clinic, and to numerous other local clinics and nonprofit organizations. He is Past District Branch President of the Northern California Psychiatric Society.

In California, Dr. Nelson has been an outspoken advocate for improving access to mental health services and was previously appointed by the Governor to the California Mental Health Planning Council. Dr. Nelson is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Distinguished Lifetime Fellow of the APA.

Dr. Nelson has been involved with the APA Assembly for 10 years and previously served as Recorder, Acting Speaker-Elect, and Speaker-Elect. Nelson has been recognized with the Air Force Commendation Medal for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm and received “Best Psychiatrist in Marin County” Award in 2017 and 2018.

“It is an honor to have been chosen as Speaker of the APA Assembly by my colleagues,” Nelson said. “The Assembly truly represents the broad interests of APA’s membership, and I look forward to working next year to further our shared mission of improving treatment and outcomes for our patients.”

The APA Assembly is a deliberative, advisory body to the APA Board of Trustees. The Assembly represents and serves the needs of the district branches and state associations and recommends actions to the Board of Trustees. The Assembly is officiated by a Speaker, Speaker-Elect and Recorder.

Other recently elected Assembly Officers include:

• Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D., DFAPA, Speaker-Elect
• Steven Starks, M.D, FAPA, Recorder

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.