IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH ADVOCACY: A Conversation with Leaders and LegislatorsJoin us to network, socialize, and identify strategies in advocacy for reforms in mental health, discuss the value of physician engagement to the process, and identify priority issues on the horizon in Arizona.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER PROGRAM: Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 6 PM
6:00 to 6:05 pm Welcome and Introductions – Stephen Larry Mecham, DO, President, and Don J. Fowls, MD, Government Affairs Chair, Arizona Psychiatric Society 6:05 to 6:10 pm A Word from Advocacy Sponsor – Terrell Sweat, DIR State and Local Government Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy6:10 to 7:10 pm Improving Mental Health Through Advocacy: A Conversation with Leaders and Legislators
Special Legislative Guest: Representative Amish Shah, MD, MPHAlexis Glascock, Esq., Arizona Psychiatric Society LobbyistMarsi Thrash, Senior Regional Field Director – American Psychiatric AssociationAmanda Rusing, Director of Government Relations – ArMA
7:10 to 7:30 pm Question and Answer Session
Representative Amish Shah, MD, MPH Since 2019, he has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving Central Phoenix and South Scottsdale. He has been the recipient of several awards for the quality of his service, including the Arizona Capitol Times' Best Political Rising Star for two consecutive years, the Arizona Medical Association's Distinguished Community Service Award, and the Humane Society's Legislator of the Year. He is the recipient of the 2022 Legislator of the Year / Womens' Health Champion Award from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Alexis Glascock, Esq. is Of Counsel with Fennemore Craig PC and is the newly designated lobbyist of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, having assumed that role on January 1, 2020. Alexis has lobbied for clients including the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Arizona Association of Health Care Plans, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. She also has successfully assisted with the passage of bills in industries ranging from trucking to trampolines. Marsi Thrash is the Senior Regional Director of State Government Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association covering 17 Southern and Southwestern District Branches, including Arizona’s. She joined APA in November 2015 and celebrated 20 years of lobbying in 2020. Amanda Rusing is the Director of Government Relations for the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA). Amanda is responsible for leading ArMA’s advocacy team in representing the interests of its physician members. Utilizing members’ input, she steers the organization's advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels of the government. Prior to joining ArMA, Amanda worked in private-sector government relations where she lobbied state and local governments on behalf of clients on a diverse array of issue areas. Rusing also served as the director of legislative affairs for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and on staff at the Arizona State Senate.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: This outreach is supported by sponsorship from Janssen Neuroscience.
6:00 to 6:05 pm Welcome and Introductions – Stephen Larry Mecham, DO, President, and Don J. Fowls, MD, Government Affairs Chair, Arizona Psychiatric Society 6:05 to 6:10 pm A Word from Advocacy Sponsor – Terrell Sweat, DIR State and Local Government Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy6:10 to 7:10 pm Improving Mental Health Through Advocacy: A Conversation with Leaders and Legislators
Special Legislative Guest: Representative Amish Shah, MD, MPHAlexis Glascock, Esq., Arizona Psychiatric Society LobbyistMarsi Thrash, Senior Regional Field Director – American Psychiatric AssociationAmanda Rusing, Director of Government Relations – ArMA
7:10 to 7:30 pm Question and Answer Session
Representative Amish Shah, MD, MPH Since 2019, he has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving Central Phoenix and South Scottsdale. He has been the recipient of several awards for the quality of his service, including the Arizona Capitol Times' Best Political Rising Star for two consecutive years, the Arizona Medical Association's Distinguished Community Service Award, and the Humane Society's Legislator of the Year. He is the recipient of the 2022 Legislator of the Year / Womens' Health Champion Award from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Alexis Glascock, Esq. is Of Counsel with Fennemore Craig PC and is the newly designated lobbyist of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, having assumed that role on January 1, 2020. Alexis has lobbied for clients including the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Arizona Association of Health Care Plans, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. She also has successfully assisted with the passage of bills in industries ranging from trucking to trampolines. Marsi Thrash is the Senior Regional Director of State Government Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association covering 17 Southern and Southwestern District Branches, including Arizona’s. She joined APA in November 2015 and celebrated 20 years of lobbying in 2020. Amanda Rusing is the Director of Government Relations for the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA). Amanda is responsible for leading ArMA’s advocacy team in representing the interests of its physician members. Utilizing members’ input, she steers the organization's advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels of the government. Prior to joining ArMA, Amanda worked in private-sector government relations where she lobbied state and local governments on behalf of clients on a diverse array of issue areas. Rusing also served as the director of legislative affairs for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and on staff at the Arizona State Senate.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: This outreach is supported by sponsorship from Janssen Neuroscience.
About this Webinar: Thank you to those that attended our live webinar on Nov 1st, and a special thank you to the representatives from each of the agencies contributing to crisis response in Arizona for a general overview of 988 and Arizona crisis care, the statewide crisis line, 911 integration, mobile team dispatch, crisis services by region, local details regarding mobile teams, crisis facilities, second responders, and law enforcement.
The resources and presentations from each speaker will be available by clicking on each presenter link below. We will have a live recording of the webinar available on our YouTube page click here.
If you'd like additional mental health resources, please click here
CME is available for those that attended our live session. If you have any questions please reach out to admin@azpsych.org
Learning Objectives
1. Evaluate national trends related to 988 and crisis care.2. Differentiate recent developments in crisis services in Arizona.3. Formulate how to access local services for patients in need of crisis care.
Continuing Education Credit
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Arizona Psychiatric Society. The APA is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The APA designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Planning Committee and Faculty Disclosures The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Planning Committee Gretchen Alexander, MD, has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: LB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., individual stockholder. None of the other Planning Committee members has any financial relationships to disclose.
Faculty DisclosuresNone of the faculty has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Continuing Education Credit
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Arizona Psychiatric Society. The APA is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The APA designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Planning Committee and Faculty Disclosures The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Planning Committee Gretchen Alexander, MD, has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: LB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., individual stockholder. None of the other Planning Committee members has any financial relationships to disclose.
Faculty DisclosuresNone of the faculty has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
MEDIA TRAINING: An Event for Arizona Psychiatric Society Members MAXIMIZING SOCIAL MEDIA AND ADVOCACY IMPACTS
Media Training for Arizona Psychiatric Society Members: Maximizing Social Media and Advocacy Impacts
If you were not able to attend live on June 15, 2021 for the media training with senior APA communications staff (detailed bios below) on insights for media interactions, best practices, how to prepare, how to follow-up, and establishing best practices for social media engagement, please contact our offices. Meeting materials and a private link to the video recording is available to our members. If you are not a member, but are interested in joining, please reach out for more information on joining and the training.
If you were not able to attend live on June 15, 2021 for the media training with senior APA communications staff (detailed bios below) on insights for media interactions, best practices, how to prepare, how to follow-up, and establishing best practices for social media engagement, please contact our offices. Meeting materials and a private link to the video recording is available to our members. If you are not a member, but are interested in joining, please reach out for more information on joining and the training.
Ginnie Titterton
Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, APA
Ginnie Titterton is APA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, where she helps oversee various aspects of the organization’s public outreach, including through press, social media, and the patient and family-focused areas of the website. Prior to joining APA in 2019, she led communications for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. Over her twenty-year career, she has held communications positions at the American Council on Education, Child Care Aware of America, and Environment America. She holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management from George Mason University (VA), where she was awarded the John D.R. Cole Award for excellence in academic achievement.
Erin Connors
Senior Media Relations Manager, APA
Erin Connors is Senior Media Relations Manager for the American Psychiatric Association. She works directly with journalists who turn to the APA when they are covering stories about mental health. Erin was a broadcast journalist for almost 20 years, serving as an anchor and reporter covering health and medical stories in Minnesota, New York, Vermont and the Washington D.C. area. Erin is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications/Journalism.
Luke Waldron
Senior Social Media Manager, APA
Luke Waldron is APA’s Senior Social Media Manager. In his tenure he has increased engagement on Twitter by 293%, LinkedIn by 193%, Facebook by 233%, and Instagram by 92%, growing the social media following of APA to over 700,000 followers. Luke’s role at APA follows seven years of experience in digital campaigns, branding, social media, web design, and strategic partnership development. He has been honored for his work in a variety of ways, most recently winning the Social Media Award for National Addiction Treatment Week from PR News in 2019.
APA Course of the Month and More
Try the APA Learning Center free with the Members Course of the Month. Each month, members have free access to an on-demand CME course on a popular topic. CLICK HERE for more information on the current Course of the Month.
SMI Adviser is an initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and implemented by the American Psychiatric Association. Its mission is to advance the use of person-centered approaches to care that ensure treatment and support for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Through the SMI Adviser website and smartphone app, clinicians can access education, data, and consultations to help them make evidence-based treatment decisions, and individuals affected by SMI can access resources and answers from a national network of experts.