Electronic Spring 2025 | Issue 62
Dr. Swaminathan and Dr. Busch “retire” from the APA Assembly-a personal reflection
By: Arden Barnett
It still is hard to think of being in the APA Assembly, without Shastri “Swami” Swaminathan and Ken Busch also being present. But beginning with the fall meeting in November 2024, that is exactly what has occurred.
After 20+ years of representing Illinois in the APA Assembly, each did "retire" from the Assembly in May 2024 after the annual meeting in New York City. Dr. Swaminathan always said he would “retire” from the Assembly when Dr. Busch did, and that is exactly what happened in May.
Each has represented Illinois well during their time in the Assembly, rising to positions of leadership and providing wise guidance in this APA organization. This has occurred on a national level, but in particular on the regional level of the Area 4 Council (the APA midwestern district branches) and also in our Illinois district branch. During this time, they have helped keep the Illinois Psychiatric Society “noticed” in the APA, by keeping our state organization actively involved and part of activities occurring on the national level in the APA.
During the length of their time in the Assembly, they were able to establish a reputation for fairness, wise thoughtfulness, and seasoned opinions about issues occurring in our state and nationally. They were found by their colleagues in Illinois and in other areas of the country to be knowledgeable, honest in their dealings, and trustworthy, leading to a well-deserved reputation of integrity in their interactions with others. Besides this, each of them had an acute sense of the politics of the APA (and our state of Illinois), and how to navigate politically in each arena to best represent our patients and the psychiatrists of Illinois and have all our voices heard. Each has held various positions in the Assembly during these many years.
Dr. Swaminathan most recently served as parliamentarian at the national meetings with the Assembly. This is besides his being a creator of many resolutions during the years, to bring to the attention of the APA the issues of Illinois.
Dr. Busch most recently served as leader of APA Area 4 Council. In that role, he has advocated for all psychiatric patients and psychiatrists, as well as nurtured a new generation of young psychiatrists into positions of leadership in the APA.
Each his left their mark in enduring programs in the APA.
Dr. Swaminathan established the Area 4 Legislative Conference during the Area 4 winter meetings, the majority of which were in Chicago. These meetings continue annually. At the meeting, a local state legislator speaks to issues of the day occurring in the respective state legislative body. The meeting also allows psychiatrists from the midwestern states, local psychiatric leaders, residents, and medical students to come together and share information on issues in each state. An important part of this is also to discuss what have and have not been effective strategies to deal with these issues.
The Legislative Conference for Area 4 has been so successful that in May 2024 the APA Assembly, taking this idea, establish a national Legislative Conference at their meeting. This meeting was modeled after the one that Dr. Swaminathan established.
Dr. Busch established for the APA Area 4 Council the MLK Commemorative Event, held on a Saturday in January. He worked tirelessly to promote this Zoom event and establish it as a regular event for residents, medical students, and members to attend. At this meeting people, programs, and events traditionally under-recognized in organized psychiatry are given recognition and discussed. This is now an annual event for Area 4.
Just as important, Dr. Busch has helped support and nurture new psychiatrist members of the APA Assembly, as they joined the Area 4 Council. His gentle, wise mentoring skills have led over time to the advancement of many of these members from their entry into APA governance to positions of leadership in the organization. Recently this has been evident in the election of a Speaker of the APA Assembly from Area 4, as well as two young and energetic members of the Area 4 Council who are now on the APA Board of Trustees. This is a notable achievement of mentoring for which he would take no credit, but deserves it.
For me, despite my decades of friendship with these two wonderful colleagues, what has been most notable from working with them for the last 5 years in the Assembly has been their support. It was always warm, sincere and focused on what would help me become established successfully in activities of the Assembly. None of their advice was ever given seeking their own personal or professional gain. This not a frequent occurrence in our current world. Each was willing whenever needed to answer any questions I had as a new member and provided encouragement and their wise advice.
Fortunately for us, though they have retired from the APA Assembly, they remain, to our benefit, actively involved speaking to important matters for psychiatry and our patients in Illinois.
