The Council on Geriatric Psychiatry focuses on the special mental health needs of older adults. The council’s work stands at the intersection of psychiatry and other medical specialties. It recognizes that integration of care is vital to the well-being of geriatric patients. The council accomplishes its goals by initiatives related to education, research, and clinical care in geriatric psychiatry.

Highlights of Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in geriatric psychiatry.
• Work collaboratively with other professional and advocacy groups to develop best practices in geriatric psychiatry.
• Provide education and training to other physicians (including, but not limited to psychiatrists), residents, and medical students at scientific meetings and in other settings about the special needs of geriatric populations with mental illness.
• Evaluate existing public policy, services, and third-party funding mechanisms for psychiatric care of older adults.
• Develop educational materials on the needs of persons who are mentally ill older adults and about the role of psychiatrists in meeting those needs. These materials may be targeted for medical and non-medical audiences.
• Support and/or lead ongoing efforts to improve the recruitment of psychiatrists into geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs.
• Identify and implement research into end-of-life issues and advance care planning, especially for people with mental illness, including populations of cultural, racial, and religious diversity.

Staff Liaison

• Elvis Gyan, Ph.D.

Council Members

• Badr Ratnakaran, M.B.B.S. – Chairperson
  2024-2026
• Ruby Castilla Puentes, M.D., FAPA
  2024-2027
• Ebony Dix, M.D. – Early Career Psychiatrist Representative
  2020-2026
• Micheline Dugue, M.D.
  2019-2025
• Helen Kyomen, M.D., M.S., DLFAPA
  2024-2027
• Susan Lehmann, M.D., DLFAPA
  2019-2025
• Yolonda Pickett, M.D.
  2020-2026
• David Roane, M.D., DLFAPA
  2023-2026
• Antoinette Shappell, M.D., FAPA
  2024-2027
• Sandra Swantek, M.D., DLFAPA
  2019-2026
• Rajesh Tampi, M.D., M.S., DFAPA
  2024-2027
• Alexander Threlfall, M.D. – Assembly Representative
  2024-2025
• Vimal Aga, M.D., FAPA – Corresponding Member
  2024-2025
• Shilpa Srinivasan, M.D., DFAPA – Corresponding Member
  2024-2025