[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1115-E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING STEVEN SHARFSTEIN ON HIS INSTALLATION AS AMERICAN 
                   PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2005

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Dr. Steven S. 
Sharfstein on his installation as President of the American Psychiatric 
Association. Dr. Sharfstein is President and Chief Executive Officer of 
the Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore, where he has worked for 
nearly 20 years. Located in Towson, Maryland, Sheppard Pratt Health 
System is a private, non-profit behavioral health organization with 
over 1,500 employees. Founded in 1891, Sheppard Pratt is the area's 
largest behavioral health care organization. The hospital's reputation 
as one of the leading organizations in the field of mental health is 
known not only in Maryland, but throughout the national and 
international mental communities.
  Dr. Sharfstein is also Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of 
Psychiatry at the University of Maryland. A practicing clinician for 
more than 30 years, he is best known for his research and writing on 
the economics of practice and public mental health policy. Over 13 
years, he has held a variety of positions at the National Institute of 
Mental Health, including Director of Mental Health Service Programs. 
This month, Dr. Sharfstein completes on May 27th his one year term as 
President-Elect of the American Psychiatric Association and begins his 
term as the 132nd President of the APA, the country's oldest national 
medical specialty society.
  Dr. Sharfstein has established himself as an active leader in his 
profession and has worked to eliminate the stigma associated with 
mental health treatment. Throughout his years at Sheppard Pratt, Dr. 
Sharfstein's work has been truly inspirational in advancing the fight 
for mental health parity.
  Dr. Sharfstein has served the American Psychiatric Association as 
chairman of the Budget Committee, the Committee on Managed Care, and 
the Ethics Appeals Board. He has also served as co-chair on the 
Committee on Psychiatric Reimbursement, as well as vice-chair of the 
Joint Commission on Government Relations.
  A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Albert Einstein College of 
Medicine, Dr. Sharfstein trained in psychiatry at the Massachusetts 
Mental Health Center in Boston from 1969 to 1972. He also received a 
Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government 
in 1973 and a certificate from the Advanced Management Program at the 
Harvard Business School in 1991. He was Secretary of the American 
Psychiatric Association from 1991 to 1995 and its Vice President from 
2002 to 2004.
  Through his outstanding leadership at Sheppard Pratt Health System, 
Dr. Sharfstein has already made numerous invaluable contributions to 
the quality of psychiatric care. I look forward to continuing to work 
with him to advance the cause of quality mental health treatment, and I 
congratulate him on this achievement.

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