Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians

TSPP’s mission is to develop the highest quality of comprehensive psychiatric care for patients, families, and communities and your individual membership helps collectively accomplish that goal by enabling TSPP to continue to provide quality CME programs and a strong legislative voice for Psychiatry. Your personal involvement in TSPP’s activities also helps to shape the future of Psychiatry. With this in mind, TSPP invites you to serve on committees year by selecting from the list in the preference form, the committees you have an interest in (please try to limit your selection to one Committee per Council listing to avoid potential meeting conflicts).

Participation in committees also provides an opportunity to informally network with your colleagues from around the State and share issues and concerns about your practice, patient care, legislative matters and medical education.

Your preferences will be considered by TSPP President for approval. Appointments are generally for 3 years. Information about each of the committees is listed below:

COUNCIL ON ADVOCACY

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: To monitor present and proposed legislation and regulation at all government levels that could affect services to psychiatric patients; to attempt to ensure such legislation is in conformity with the principles of scientific care; to propose needed legislation or regulation, in liaison with other interested groups when appropriate, that would benefit psychiatric patients and the psychiatric profession in its efforts to treat patients effectively; and, to monitor court developments affecting patients and members.

COUNCIL ON EDUCATION

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION: To develop the Scientific Program for the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians’ Annual Meeting in accordance with the Essentials as outlined in the Texas Medical Association’s CME Guidelines, after receiving approval both from the Executive Council and the Finance Committee for particular plans; and, to assist the President-Elect in the development of the Scientific Program for the Texas Medical Association Section on Psychiatry.

RESIDENT-FELLOW MEMBER SECTION: To review the needs and concerns of members-in-training as seen by the residents to facilitate more resident involvement with appropriate TSPP Committees; and, to provide a forum for members-in-training for collegial sharing of mutual concerns and ideas.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT: To review clinical practice issues affecting members in any practice setting (e.g., regulations, reimbursement, technology, office procedure, etc.) and propose educational programs and policies to improve the delivery of care to patients and to enhance the practice of psychiatry. As needed, review and update existing practice guidelines and develop new guidelines for the practice of psychiatry.

COUNCIL ON SERVICE

ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY: To provide a forum for psychiatrists employed by academic centers to network and to share information of mutual interest and concern about their academic settings.

CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS: To monitor developments in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, in both the private and public sectors, and to inform the membership of issues and policies affecting the care and treatment of children and adolescents.

FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY: To review the legal aspects of civil, criminal, correctional and legislative issues that affect patients and the practice of psychiatry.

PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: To review the effectiveness of the organization of clinical services, and the funding for public mental health services administered and/or provided by State and local public agencies; and, to assess the authority, roles, and functions of psychiatrists in public mental health services.

COUNCIL ON FELLOWSHIP

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP FORUM: To provide a forum for Chapter leaders to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest regarding Chapter operations. Open to Chapter Officers and Representatives.

COUNCIL ON LEADERSHIP

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS: To prepare, as necessary, changes in the Constitution and Bylaws as mandated, either by vote within the Society or changes in APA structure which affect the District Branch structure as well; to review the Constitution and Bylaws and submit recommendations for possible improvement of the current document. Appointed by Chapter.

ETHICS: To undertake the confidential investigation of complaints of unethical behavior or practices against Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians’ members in accordance with APA procedures approved by the Assembly and the Board of Trustees. Appointed by Chapter.

DISTINGUISHED FELLOWSHIP: To coordinate all nominations for advancement of Distinguished Fellowship in the American Psychiatric Association and make recommendations to the Executive Council regarding Fellowship recommendations. Appointed by Chapter.

FINANCE: To prepare an annual operating budget, taking into account previous years’ income and expenses, and requests from individual committees and other components; to review requests from members regarding dues adjustments and recommend appropriate actions to the Executive Council; to oversee and advise on investment strategies for reserve funds; to present financial statements; to make recommendations to the Executive Council and the membership as to the financial needs of the Society; and to develop strategies to recruit and retain members.

NOMINATING: To recommend a slate of officers to the membership at the annual meeting as per Chapter VI, Section VI of the TSPP Bylaws; to screen nominations for the Distinguished Service Award, the Special Service Award, and the Psychiatric Excellence Award and other awards approved by the Executive Council, and to make recommendations regarding these matters to the Executive Council. Restricted to past three TSPP Presidents.