Dear AAGP Members,
Whenever AAGP has a growth opportunity, I always go back to our Mission and Vision statements to guide the way.
Our Vision: Optimal mental health and wellness for all aging adults.
Our Mission: We are the community of geriatric psychiatrists, health professionals, scientists, and advocates committed to improving mental health care and wellness in aging adults.
This year, we are really putting our money where our mouth is. AAGP is not a guild organization. This means that though we are definitely the home for Geriatric Psychiatrists, we don’t only represent Geriatric Psychiatrists. We represent everyone who cares about mental health and wellness for all aging adults. The process of aging is complex and nuanced meaning that all of us work in and with multidisciplinary teams. None of us can do our work effectively in silos and our by-laws reflect that. The board has asked that to stay in compliance with our by-laws, we make a temporary move to expand to two more non-physician members. This is not a new idea, but one that was unfortunately overlooked during the last election cycle. Our by-laws have long had non-psychiatrists included on the Board of Directors and the vast majority of you understand that we have an obligation, both legally and ethically, to continue that tradition.
Another way that we are staying true to our Mission is the AAGP Certificate Program launched on September 1st. The Certificate Program Task Force led by Drs. Tampi, Rogers and Smoski designed this course to help train our colleagues who are not geriatric psychiatrists, but who also care for aging adults and want to expand their knowledge base to provide the best possible care for their clients and patients. This Certificate Program is designed for all professionals working to advance the mental health and well-being of older adults and reinforces what we know to be true, meaningful care depends on collaboration across disciplines.
As I’ve said before, the theme of our 2026 Annual Meeting is “Opening Doors: Welcoming New Perspectives in Geriatric Mental Health and Aging,” speaking to our shared commitment to inclusion and innovation. We welcome professionals from every background, whether you are an MD, DO, PhD, social worker, nurse practitioner, or someone dedicated to improving the lives of older adults. Your work is essential. Your presence is valued. You belong here. I hope to see you all in Arlington!
With gratitude,
Elizabeth J. Santos MD, MPH
President, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry