WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 16, 2020 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today announced that three of its members have been elected to leadership positions at the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). Two will join the Executive Committee for six-year terms as officers of the WPA: APA Past President Paul Summergrad, M.D., will serve as the WPA Secretary for Finances; and Edmond Pi, M.D., who previously served as the WPA USA Zone 2 Representative and vice chair of the APA Scientific Program Committee will serve as WPA Secretary for Scientific Meetings. Bernardo Ng, M.D., immediate past chair of the APA Council on International Psychiatry and Global Health was elected as the WPA Zone 2 (United States) Representative for a three-year term.

The WPA, a global association representing 140 psychiatric societies in 120 countries, brings together more than 250,000 psychiatrists. Its mission is to promote the advancement of psychiatry and mental health for all citizens of the world through its 70-plus scientific sections, education programs, publications, and events. APA is a member society of the WPA.

“The field of psychiatry benefits immensely when we, as researchers and as physicians, are well-connected worldwide,” said APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H. “I am so pleased to see APA members playing such important roles in the WPA, and congratulate Drs. Summergrad, Pi and Ng on their elections. I know they will represent the United States and APA well as the WPA works on its critical mission to help all countries advance mental health.”

“Since the WPA’s beginnings in the 1950s, APA and our members have supported and benefited from the relationship we have with the WPA,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “By joining the leadership of the WPA, Drs. Summergrad, Pi and Ng will continue that longstanding tradition of APA involvement in WPA work that will ultimately strengthen both organizations and the discipline as a whole.”

“I am honored to be elected by national psychiatric associations from around the world to this important position,” Summergrad said. “At this very difficult time globally, the WPA is an essential organization to support patients, families and the psychiatrists who care for them throughout the world,” he said. “I look forward to assisting these efforts and building on the already strong ties that exist between APA and WPA, especially due to Dr. Levin’s and Dr. Geller’s leadership, and that of many other APA leaders.”

“I am deeply humbled and grateful to be elected and to receive support form societies from many parts of the world,” Pi said. “I’m firmly committed to promote the mission of the WPA and to represent the APA during these unprecedented times.”

“It is a great privilege,” Ng said. “I’m very thankful for the APA leadership and the Assembly for nominating me. I look forward to representing the APA and working diligently alongside the other member of the WPA.”

Dr. Danuta Wasserman, psychiatrist and professor in psychiatry and suicidology at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, was elected WPA President-Elect and the incoming WPA President is Dr. Afzal Javed, a consultant psychiatrist at the National Health Service (NHS) and professor in the United Kingdom and honorary chairman of the Pakistan Psychiatric Research Center. More information on the WPA and the full results of the WPA Election are available at www.wpanet.org.

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 38,800 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.