One of the great things about the American Psychiatric Association is how much the organization welcomes its members getting involved. Whether it is sitting on a council or committee, advocating at the local, state and national level, or serving on the APA Assembly, there are plenty of ways for members to work to promote the interests of our patients and our profession.

Spots for leadership positions at APA are limited and require a significant investment of time and effort to be successful. Those looking for a way to have a direct impact on the future direction of APA’s mission have another powerful tool at their disposal: their vote in APA’s 2018 Election.

Voting is now open and will remain so until 12:59 P.M. ET on Jan. 31. We’ve got another great slate of candidates this year, all of whom are dedicated to working for you and the APA.

It’s important to make an informed choice when voting, which is why we’ve made it as easy as visiting APA’s Elections page on Psychiatry.org. Here, you can view the full slate of candidates, most of whom have websites outlining priorities for office. The elections for President-Elect and Secretary even have short videos of each candidate personally explaining their qualifications and their goals should they be elected. I encourage you to visit this page and find the candidate that best fits your vision of where APA should go in the future.

I’ve had the pleasure to speak to a many of you in my time as President-Elect and now President of APA, and I know that you are a dedicated group who are deeply passionate about improving the lives of your patients, and making sure that psychiatry has a voice in the high-level conversations that affect the mental health and well-being of our nation.

Your vote is your voice, and I firmly believe that the opportunity to make your voice heard in the direction of our organization is one that is too important to pass up.

The candidates you elect will have an impact on APA policy, will serve as some of psychiatry’s most visible advocates at the federal level, and work together with the Board of Trustees and the Assembly to make the best possible decisions for the APA.

Visit psychiatry.org/elections today and make your mark on the future of APA with your vote.