Electronic Summer 2025 | Issue 63

President's Message

By: Adrienne Adams, MD, MS

Fellow IPS Members,

It is my pleasure and honor to serve as your president for the term 2025-2026, and I want to thank immediate past president Dr. Houston and past presidents (especially Drs. Scherer, Alam, and Bennett) who have provided support and encouragement. As a native Detroiter who moved to the great state of Illinois to begin my training at the University of Illinois-Chicago, I became the first psychiatrist in my family. Not being from a legacy family, I never thought I would be before you as the first African American female President for the Illinois Psychiatric Society. As an introduction to all, I will share my backstory in that like most women physicians we are heroic in nature. As a child, while watching old episodes of M*A*S*H with my parents I knew I wanted to help people like my mom, but unlike my mom (who is a registered nurse) my path was becoming a doctor because I wanted to be the identified leader who people would look to for solutions. This attitude was instilled in me by loving parents who touted the mantra “be a ram and not a sheep” or chuckling to themselves “she is small but spicy.” Thus, I have always opposed inequities and strove to break barriers.

As a mid-career psychiatrist, I have worked in academia much of my career including such roles as medical directorships (inpatient, outpatient, CL, residential), CAP Fellowship program director and currently as Vice Chair for Education and Academic Affairs. My time within medical societies has been ongoing since early in my training. I value the work done within the various societies and as my involvement grew within IPS the more my admiration of my colleagues and friends who comprise the boards, committees, and our task forces.

Our past presidents have maintained the goals of our mission statement such as championing evidence-based solutions like collaborative care to improve access to safe care for our communities that especially experience the psychiatrist shortage within Illinois. Additionally, the promotion of education and CME through courses, virtual series, and notification of outside offerings. Community outreach is also a significant aspect of IPS. As co-chair for the Health Equity and Anti-Racism committee (HEAR-C), we initiated several community engagement events, including the Carl Bell, MD Memorial Award program for high school students' essays on thought-provoking topics, and the APA Moore 5K suicide charity walk where our district branch has raised the most money three years in a row, being acknowledged as the top state society. Since 2021, IPS has worked with state legislators in providing mental health fairs and talks at Community Health fairs. We have promoted the 988 number when it was first introduced, we provide psychoeducation and resources to help reduce stigma around mental health.

My presidential initiative will continue to support advocacy, continued education but in addition I will focus on strengthening our membership engagement and community outreach. I will work with our newly formed Membership Committee chaired by Dr. Kandra to interact with our members, gather feedback and offer activities, events and features that make their IPS membership more meaningful. Additionally, I aim to develop connections with high school and/or middle school children by providing opportunities for mentoring, panel discussions, and introduction of leadership skills. I would like to end with a favorite quote by former Vice President Kamala Harris, "Optimism is the fuel driving every fight I've been in"