Early Career Psychiatrist (ECP) Group

                         Chair                                          Co-Chair
                        alt                                alt

                                              Christopher Laboe, MD                  Claudia Maynard, DO                      

The Early Careers in Psychiatry (ECP) Group seeks to provide informative content, mentorship, and networking opportunities to psychiatrists in residency/fellowship training, as well as those within 5 years of completing their residency/fellowship training. We plan to achieve this by providing exposure to psychiatry outside of academia, making mentorship accessible, and providing a platform for members to share their own experiences in regards to issues that may arise during or after training. Some activities that ECP has spearheaded in the past include informative sessions about: legal issues in practicing psychiatry, career paths, and the challenges and tips for efficiency during the transition from residency to becoming an attending. Recently, the ECP has enjoyed collaborating with other subcommittees to encourage trainee and early career psychiatrist representation throughout the MPS. In collaboration with the Psychotherapy committee, the ECP hosted a well-attended panel on “the nuts and bolts of starting a private practice.” With enormous support from the Anti-racism committee, we have revived formal MPS mentorship efforts. Finally, the ECP was able to host a face-to-face networking event, with 50 attendees composed of psychiatry residents and early career psychiatrists throughout Massachusetts (the committee’s first in-person event since COVID). The ECP is committed to providing more opportunities for in-person socialization, networking and mentorship, as we continue to create a positive community-like experience in the ECP and encourage engagement in the MPS throughout their careers

The Early Career Psychiatry Committee was established in 2018 through the leadership of Ashley Matskevich MD, who was then the Resident Fellow Member of the MPS Council. Membership is open to all MPS members who are within 7 years of completing residency or Fellowship training as well as current psychiatrists in training.  The committee has met at regular intervals since that time and has established a steering committee and liaison with the major Massachusetts Psychiatric Residency Programs.  The Committee sponsored a Career Day event in October 2019 and hosted multiple gatherings to discuss career path opportunity and development; the committee plans to continue to host educational and social events of relevance to Early Career Psychiatrists. The Committee has met with the MPS Retirement Committee to discuss opportunities for mentorship and referrals and has sponsored group mentoring sessions.  The Committee also works with other groups in MPS to support legislative training for early career members.

Mission Statement:

  • To provide collegiality and support for members during their training and 7 years post training;
  • To promote engagement of Early Career Psychiatrist in the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society;
  • To provide input to leadership of MPS concerning early career issues and trends that will impact their professional lives in the future;
  • To prepare the next generation of MPS leaders and support the mission of MPS;
  • To provide educational opportunities concerning issues important to early Career Psychiatrists;
  • To sponsor family friendly social events for Early Career Psychiatrists;
  • To liaison with RFM co-chairs of MPS committees, the RFM and ECP members of the MPS Council and with APA RFM and ECP representatives and activities.