"I am deeply honored and grateful to have been selected for the 2026 APA SAMHSA Summer Medical Student Program." — Kaleigh Wingate, M.D.

Through this opportunity, I had the privilege of attending the 2026 APA Spring Leadership Summit in Montgomery, Alabama, focused on "Changing Landscapes and Informed Mental Health Policy." It was an incredibly meaningful weekend of learning, reflection and connection centered on mental health equity, advocacy and the structural forces that continue to shape health outcomes and access to care across communities.

What made this experience especially impactful was the opportunity to engage more deeply with the intersection of psychiatry, policy, history and justice. Reflecting on themes from the books "Mental Health Equity," "Unequal Health," and "Just Health" challenged me to think more critically about what it means to advocate for patients not only in clinical spaces but also within the larger systems that influence their lives and well-being.

Being in Montgomery added even more depth to the weekend. Visiting the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park was a powerful reminder that conversations about health equity are inseparable from the historical and structural realities that shape our present. Those experiences left me with an even greater sense of responsibility as I prepare for a career in psychiatry.

I also left this weekend feeling incredibly encouraged by the future psychiatrists and mental health advocates I had the opportunity to meet. It was such a blessing to be surrounded by people whose passion, thoughtfulness and commitment to equity will undoubtedly shape the future of our field.

This experience feels especially meaningful, as I just received my match decision for psychiatry at Dartmouth College. At such a pivotal moment in my journey, I am grateful for opportunities like this that reaffirm my commitment to becoming a psychiatrist grounded in service, advocacy and equity. As someone hoping to build a career in child and adolescent psychiatry, reproductive psychiatry, and mental health equity, this weekend strengthened both my sense of purpose and my hope for what is possible in mental health care.

Thank you to the APA, SAMHSA and the team that put together this extraordinary opportunity aiming to invest in the next generation of psychiatric leaders.