Asian Federation of Early Career Psychiatrists (AFECP)

History:

AYPA was launched in November 2010 as a prelude to the inauguration at the AFPA’s World Congress, by the Efforts of Professor Russell D’Souza. The setting up of the Asian Young Psychiatrists’ Association was discussed and put this in my plan for the world congress in November 2009 at the Taipei Congress board meeting.

As AYPA is part of AFPA’s initiative (Asian Federation of Psychiatric Association), young psychiatrists from Turkey, Egypt and Russia are included as these countries have joined AFPA in the West Asian and Central Asian divisions of AFPA.

AYPA is to be formally inaugurated at the 3rd WCAP, Melbourne, 2011.

The current steering committee members (see below) were chosen by Prof. D’Souza and Prof. Deva. They tried to have representatives from both large countries and small regions, keeping in mind that Asia has a broad spectrum form very rich to very poor regions. Some of the steering committee members were chosen from the applications sent for the 3rd WCAP and others were chosen as Prof. D’Souza met them personally in various meeting and found them eager to help in formation of such an association.

The former chair of the steering committee was Dr. Kanna Sigiura from Japan, who had a great role in the initiation of the AYPA until she had to step down due to her new work in the WHO. Thus, Prof. D’Souza appointed new chairs: Dr. Darya Smirnova (Russia) and Dr. Hussien Elkholy (Egypt) to carry on the process till the 3rd WCAP, where the elections of the new board will take place.

The steering committee has been active for almost a year now, and although they do not know each other, they managed to communicate and arrange a thorough program for precongress activities for the young psychiatrists.

Aims:

AYPA has a wide range of resource countries, so in contrast to other local associations, AYPA is aiming for a bigger, more resourceful, more interactive community.

AYPA aims mainly to the support of the young psychiatrists in countries of AFPA to be able to contribute to the mental health care and reduce the mental health gap,

Also, AYPA aims at supporting the participation of the young psychiatrists in different scientific activities (e.g. the scholarships in the 3rd WCAP).

The last session in the precongress will focus on what AYPA should be, the structure, objectives, activities, future meetings, and the election of the new board under the supervision of Prof. D’Souza.

Contact us:

For the time being, you can contact the steering committee members. Their emails are shown in the table below. Your communications will be also under Prof. D’Souza’s supervision and guidance.

EXECUTIVE

President

Dr. Darya Smirnova

Russia

dashakoshkina@mail.ru