In June, the American Psychiatric Association SAMHSA MFP team cohosted the second annual Future Leaders Academy in San Francisco, California, with UCSF and UC Davis, for students in the Future Leaders in Psychiatry Program (FLIPP) and the Rising Psychiatry Scholars Program (RPSP).

FLIPP and RPSP participants attended lectures on interventional and nutritional psychiatry, panels from current psychiatric residents and attendings at Zuckerberg General Hospital, and seminars on community care models within psychiatry and navigating polarizing conversations. Additionally, they toured the psychiatric in-patient and emergency wards of Zuckerberg General Hospital and UC Davis’s MIND Institute, participated in a resume and cover letter workshop in preparation for medical school, and demoed introductory transcranial magnetic stimulation (TSM) procedures at UC Davis’s novel TSM clinic.

Below, two participants share their experience:

Tyler Parker is an RPSP participant and former FLIPP participant in his final year at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a Navy veteran aspiring to become a psychiatrist focused on Black children’s mental health.

Some moments in life feel like oxygen to a dream. This year’s Future Leaders Academy was one of them. Returning for my second year, I thought I knew what to expect, but UC Davis breathed new life into my vision of becoming a psychiatrist. Last year, visiting UCLA let me imagine the academic path ahead; this year, stepping inside the hospital and feeling the hum of patient care made it tangible, grounding, and real.

Getting hands-on experience with transcranial magnetic stimulation wasn’t just exciting, it was also transformative. Surrounded by mentors and peers, I was reminded that medicine isn’t a straight road; it’s about faith, resilience, and persistence.

Like a powerlifting static hold, the Future Leaders Academy let me stand under the weight of my dream, preparing for the day I’ll lift it entirely. I left California grateful, renewed, and confident that I’ll find a way to make this vision a reality.

Jasmyn Rolison is a FLIPP participant and third-year student at Drexel University studying neuropsychosocial studies. She aspires to become a psychiatrist focused on working with underserved communities and promoting education to reduce mental health stigma.

Participating in the Future Leaders Academy (FLA) was truly an invaluable experience that solidified my aspiration to pursue a career in psychiatry. The program not only offered education about psychiatry and its interventions but also gave us the chance to gain hands-on experience, deepening my understanding of mental health care. I also had the honor of hearing from inspiring psychiatrists who generously shared their unique journeys into the field, offering both insight and encouragement. What made this experience especially meaningful was its strong commitment to empowering students as the future of psychiatry by providing access to resources, mentorship, and guidance designed to bridge gaps in pursuing medicine. FLA gave me a clearer path forward, a renewed sense of purpose, and a community of incredible peers from diverse backgrounds. Together, we supported and learned from one another in ways I’ll always carry with me throughout my career journey.

The Future Leaders Academy is made possible thanks to APA members’ dedication to advancing the future of psychiatry.