By Grace An, M.D., Rebekah Dietrich, D.O., and Jacky Salomon Petion, M.D.

Dr. An is a first-year child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at Zucker Hillside Hospital/Northwell Health, and an APA SAMHSA minority fellow. She completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Virginia.

This March, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the APA Spring Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. All the speakers provided insights into the diverse career paths available within psychiatry, and they were truly inspirational as they outlined their unique career trajectories and goals. I especially appreciated the sessions on advocacy and policy, which, along with the support of my CAP fellowship program, influenced my decision to attend this year’s American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Legislative Conference. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and spending time with my APA SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program cohort, experiencing our national monuments and memorials, and admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms. Overall, the summit not only positively impacted my professional development and expanded my network, but it also was a source of motivation and space to reflect on my career goals, clinical practice, patient population and participation in advocacy.

Dr. Dietrich is from New Jersey and is currently a PGY-3 psychiatry resident in South Jersey and an APA SAMHSA Minority Fellow. She plans on attending a fellowship after graduation and would like to work with underserved communities in the future. Outside of work, Rebekah enjoys spending time with her pup, Frankie, and learning acupuncture.

As a SAMHSA MFP Fellow, I have had the great pleasure of meeting leaders in the field virtually for the past several months. However, no virtual meeting could compare to the experience of attending the APA Spring Leadership Summit. The speakers were inspiring with their diverse backgrounds, fearlessness in advocacy, and unwavering desire to be mentors. It was also inspiring to see those from similar humble backgrounds being national leaders. I walked away with tangible ideas of how to improve advocacy in my residency and how advocacy is an integral part of my job as a physician.

Shortly after the summit, I encountered a difficult situation on a rotation that required advocacy for my patients and my team. The summit emboldened me to advocate for those involved effectively.

I truly appreciate the SAMHSA MFP staff, mentors, and speakers who provided me with this opportunity to attend the Spring Leadership Summit and help me grow as a leader.

Dr. Salomon Petion is a third-year psychiatry resident at One Brooklyn Health System and an APA SAMHSA Minority Fellow. He previously worked as a research scientist in Haiti, conducting clinical trials to reduce stigma and improve health care delivery for individuals living with HIV. His current work focuses on integrating neuroscience with circuit-based and device-related interventions, alongside advocating for equitable, evidence-based mental health care for underserved communities.

The APA Spring Leadership Summit was a transformative and invaluable experience for any fellow dedicated to advancing equity in mental health. It provided a unique opportunity to connect with inspiring leaders and learn from their experiences. I am now able to envision myself in a leadership role contributing to the APA’s mission. A key takeaway was the power of collective action and how professional associations can lead impactful, community-driven initiatives. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of boldness and courage in pursuing meaningful change. Mentorship emerged as a powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth. The second day’s site visits were particularly moving, highlighting how even small interventions can significantly improve community health. On the final day, I gained practical advocacy skills, learning how to structure and present a project, engage policymakers and demand accountability. Exploring research opportunities also helped clarify how to align my interests with long-term career goals. It was truly an empowering experience.