Carol Bernstein Is President-Elect, Alan Schatzberg's Presidency Starts in May

Members of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) elected Carol Bernstein, M.D., president-elect of the association. Dr. Bernstein is finishing up a two-year term as APA vice-president. She will begin her year as president-elect at the conclusion of APA's 2009 annual meeting on May 21, when Alan Schatzberg, M.D., becomes APA president.

Dr. Bernstein, who was one of three candidates for the office, won 50% of the vote, outpolling Roger Peele, M.D., who received 30% and Michael Blumenfield, M.D., who received 20%. Dr. Bernstein is associate professor of psychiatry and associate dean for graduate medical education at New York University School of Medicine.

Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H., professor of psychiatry and director of public-sector psychiatry at University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, won a three-way race for vice-president. Dr. Geller has served as book review editor for Psychiatric Services since 1996 and editor of the journal's Personal Accounts column since 1994.

A total of 9,403 members voted this year, 31.5% of those eligible to vote and about the same percentage as in last year's election. The number of members voting online increased substantially, from about a third of members in the previous two years to 42% this year.