Source: The Canadian Psychiatric Association
The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) recently announced the inauguration of its new president, Dr. Georgina Zahirney, at its annual conference, held earlier this September in Quebec City.
Dr. Zahirney is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. She holds clinical appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the Department of Psychiatry at the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Val-d’Or site. The main focus of her clinical practice is the care of adults in shared care and outpatient crisis services.
“It is truly humbling to be chosen by such a group of devoted, compassionate and brilliant psychiatrists and to represent them as President. I am thankful for the support and mentorship of my colleagues, over the years, which has been invaluable in forging the leadership skills needed to take on this new challenge. I am dedicated to furthering our mission and upholding the values of our esteemed profession,” said Dr. Zahirney.
After completing her medical training and psychiatry residency at McGill University, Dr. Zahirney started her clinical and academic career at the University of Montréal teaching hospital. She later obtained a diploma in health administration from the School of Public Health at the University of Montréal in 2015. This formal training enhanced her experiences in the management and organization of health and mental health services. Currently she has administrative responsibilities at the MUHC as medical director of the Module for Evaluation and Liaison (MEL) Crisis Service and coordinates quality improvement activities for the department of psychiatry.
Dr. Zahirney is dedicated to improving practice conditions for the psychiatric profession and the quality of care for its patients. She has long been involved with her provincial psychiatric association, the AMPQ, on its Board, Executive and multiple committees. She was an expert consultant on the Working Group on Equitable Access to Psychotherapy Services of the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux, which developed a report for the Québec government.
“Despite advances in evidence based treatments, too many patients and families still lack access to high quality and safe care. While there is much to be proud of about our health system, Canadians face many barriers to achieving quality care, including remarkably, the lingering stigma attached to mental illness and the psychiatry profession,” said Dr. Zahirney.
Dr. Zahirney has remained committed throughout her career to giving voice to psychiatry within the larger house of medicine. “I invite you to join me, our CPA leaders and our patient and family partners, in this journey to transform Canadian mental health care into a top-performing system.”
Congratulations Dr. Zahirney!
September 27, 2019