As we celebrate Black History Month, Dr. Altha Stewart is creating it, in real time as the first African-American to lead the American Psychiatric Association (APA). A Memphis native, the associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center comes with an extensive background in both behavioral health services and business. In addition to serving as New York City's commissioner of mental health, Dr. Stewart was CEO of a children's psychiatric hospital in New York. She also managed one of the country's largest public health system's in Detroit.
In a statement, the association's chief executive and medical director, Dr. Saul Levin, called Tuesday’s election of Dr. Stewart "a historic election for the APA, reflecting the wide diversity of the organization, which is our strength.” Dr. Stewart, who has served as president of the Association of Women Psychiatrists as well as the Black Psychiatrists of America, will begin her term as president in May 2018.
Dr. Stewart has long been a champion for juvenile justice. As director of UTHSC, she formed the College of Medicine's Center for Health in Justice Involved Youth in 2015. In her previous work as a psychiatrist for the Shelby County Public Defender's Office, Dr. Stewart worked to improve statewide services for youth with behavioral health needs who land in the juvenile justice system. "We are on a mission to educate this community about trauma, its effects on the overall health and well-being of our community, and we are not going to stop until we complete that," Stewart said.
Dr. Stewart intends to continue this mission as president of the APA by championing useful and effective collaborations among medical colleagues outside of psychiatry, engaging in dialogue with advocacy groups and nurturing the next generation of psychiatrists. Her historic election marks the first time in the associations 172 year history that an African-American will serve as leader.
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