Dr. Adam Tripp discusses the vital work being done by your
Area 3** Assembly Representatives!**
Strengthening Our Voice: Area 3 (Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC) and the May 2026
Assembly
As we approach the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Assembly
meeting in May 2026, the Mid-Atlantic States Area 3 is rolling out
several initiatives designed to ensure you remain connected, recognized,
and informed.
Bridging the Communication Gap The Area 3
communication committee’s new strategy focuses on building a more
transparent and fluid communication infrastructure. A key priority is
developing WhatsApp groups and a formal communication policy to
facilitate “up and down” discussion from the Assembly to district
branches, local chapters, and general members. To address the disconnect
some feel with the national organization, the committee’s goal is
producing brief, digestible summaries of APA bills and actions,
translating complex policy into plain-language explanations that show
why these wins matter to your practice. Additionally, a proposed new
Member Spotlight program will launch to recognize your achievements,
pairing these features with brief “advocacy victory” callouts to
highlight our collective impact.
Leading Through Action Papers
Pennsylvania psychiatrists are spearheading a robust slate of Action
Papers (APs) for the upcoming Assembly. These proposals address critical
public health and professional issues, including:
- Public Health & Advocacy: We have an action
paper focusing on de-escalation and sensitivity training for ICE
officers to minimize trauma, while another seeks a formal APA position
statement on gambling. - Clinical Management: Two action papers (led by PAPS
representatives) advocate for strengthening psychiatry’s role in obesity
management and improving access to inpatient care regarding EMTALA
responsibilities. - Professional Standards: Another action paper
addresses the need for a position on age-triggered physician cognitive
assessments, and another proposes an affiliate membership model for
family physicians within district branches.
By utilizing foundational data, such as email open rate analysis, the
Area 3 communications committee aims to ensure these advocacy efforts
and resources reach every member in Pennsylvania. I am also including a
link for a new APA Communities video tutorial for the APA Communities
website and the new Communities mobile app. We look forward to
representing your interests and celebrating our shared victories this
May.
Bio
Dr. Adam Tripp is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in
clinical practice, research, and academia. He earned his doctor of
philosophy and medical doctorate in 2006 from the State University of
New York Upstate Medical University. He completed his Psychiatry
residency training and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Psychiatry
department at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Since
2011, he has been a co-owner and psychiatrist at Better Stories, a
private practice currently with two locations serving approximately 3000
patients annually across all of Pennsylvania.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Tripp is an adjunct assistant
professor at UPMC, where he lectures to psychiatry residents and
supervises geriatric psychiatry fellows. He is also the medical director
for the in-home geriatrics support program, an Allegheny County funded
community program addressing the needs of geriatric patients with
psychiatric disorders in their homes. Dr. Tripp has numerous
peer-reviewed articles, oral presentations, book chapters, and poster
presentations. He also does advocacy work, speaking with a local men’s
group in Pittsburgh, NAMI, and as a Pennsylvania delegate in the
American Psychiatric Association Assembly.
Outside of his professional life, he enjoys time with his wife and
four kids, photography, and is an avid endurance runner, having
completed multiple marathons and ultramarathons.