APA is launching an initiative to expand volunteer opportunities for members. This initiative introduces micro-volunteering, which consists of short-term, flexible opportunities that allow members to contribute in meaningful ways without long-term commitments. These time-bound tasks enable volunteers to support the organization’s work in a way that fits their availability while making a tangible impact on the work of the association.
Current Opportunities
APA Member Practice Management Guides Review
Are you a practicing psychiatrist or early-career physician with experience navigating practice management challenges? Volunteer to review APA’s Practice Management Guides to assess whether the content remains accurate, relevant, and useful for members. Based on interests, volunteers will evaluate assigned resources (about two or three resources either under Commercial Payer Issues, Medicare & Medicaid, Private Practice Management Issues, and/or General Clinical Issues Related to Practice Management) that are currently on the website. Volunteers will recommend updates, consolidation, or retirement to ensure materials reflect current regulations and real-world practice needs. This work supports APA’s mission by improving the quality of guidance provided through the Practice Management Helpline and offers participants an opportunity to contribute their expertise while shaping resources used by peers across the field.
- Project Dates and/or Time Commitment: Estimated 2 - 4 hours total over 3 - 4 weeks (flexible within a 4-week review window)
- Number of Volunteers: 6 - 8 members
- Suggested Requirements:
- Experience in clinical practice (early career or established psychiatrists encouraged)
- Familiarity with practice management topics (e.g., billing, Medicare, telepsychiatry, compliance, or private practice operations)
- Interest in improving member-facing resources
- Ability to review materials and provide concise feedback
- Deadline: June 12, 2026
Scan Of APA’s Position Statements and Resources on Behavioral Addictions
This short-term project involves a scan of APA’s position statements and resource documents, blogs, one-pagers, etc. pertaining to behavioral addictions (i.e. gambling, technology, gaming). This volunteer would be required to use their APA member sign-on to access all of APA’s website materials. At the conclusion of this project, the volunteer should be able to provide thorough notes on APA’s current resources and provide recommendations to the Council on Addiction Psychiatry to fill in gaps and address topical issues, e.g., identifying conflicting or redundant topics/content, or identifying area/subject matter that requires Council’s attention or that has not been covered by the Council but should, etc.
- Project Dates and/or Time Commitment: April 20 - May 11, 2026
- Number of Volunteers: 1
- Suggested Requirements: Preferably an addiction psychiatry fellow or a psychiatry resident specializing in behavioral addictions (i.e. gambling, technology, gaming).
- Deadline: June 12, 2026
Observers of Psychiatric Encounters
This project involves the convening of a small work group to complete the Council on Healthcare System and Financing’s Resource Document on Observers of Psychiatric Encounters. This resource was initiated and eventually put on hold to complete obligations assigned to the council. The project originated as a referred Action Paper requesting "That the APA, through its appropriate Councils and Committees (Council on Psychiatry and the Law, Committee on Ethics), develop policies and guidelines for observers (with varying degrees of clinical and non-clinical background) of psychiatric encounters, with due consideration given to patient ability to give informed consent". The finished project should be sent to the referred councils for their review.
- Project Dates and/or Time Commitment: June 1 - July 27, 2026
- Number of Volunteers: 6
- Suggested Requirements: Middle to late-career psychiatrists that have had individuals observe their patient sessions, in an educational (not medical or counseling training program) capacity.
- Deadline: June 12, 2026
IDFAPA Application Mentors and Reviewers
Are you an International Distinguished Fellow of the APA (IDFAPA)? Volunteer to support prospective applicants by serving as a mentor and reviewer during the IDFAPA application cycle. Volunteers will be available to provide guidance to nominees who request assistance, helping them navigate the application process with clarity and confidence. Because international members are not affiliated with District Branches, this role is critical in ensuring applicants have access to mentorship and support, should they request it.
- Project Dates and/or Time Commitment: June 5, 2026 - July 15, 2026, estimated 5 hours total for this timeframe
- Number of Volunteers: 1 - 2
- Suggested Requirements:
- Must be a current International Distinguished Fellow of the APA (IDFAPA)
- Willingness to provide mentorship and application feedback to international nominees
- Flexibility to provide feedback across different time zones
- Deadline: June 23, 2026