The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society of Greater Washington (CAPSGW) is one of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s largest and most active regional organizations. CAPSGW proudly draws our members from the dynamic and multifaceted physicians who provide psychiatric care to the youth in our area. CAPSGW members work in private practice, in the public sector, in the military, and in academia. Many distinguished experts in the field of child psychiatry and leaders in national psychiatry organizations call the Washington, D.C. area home. The diversity reflected in the membership of CAPSGW befits the population we serve, which includes children and families from an unrivaled array of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds and youth with significant psychiatric and physical health needs. CAPSGW aims to support this talented group of physicians by adhering to our mission to “Advocate, Educate, and Nurture.”

CAPSGW advocates on behalf of our membership and our patients through our participation in the AACAP Assembly and other regional initiatives. CAPSGW has been involved in efforts to address issues ranging from the harms associated with conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, the impact of gun violence, school-based mental health, physician burnout and physician mental health, mental health response to disasters, and many more. CAPSGW recognizes the need for our members to have access to rich and informative continuing medical education opportunities and sponsors several educational events each year. CAPSGW nurtures future child psychiatrists through our early career psychiatrist subcommittee, which organizes social and networking events and travel awards for students, general psychiatry residents, and child psychiatry fellows. CAPSGW nurtures all members by offering a valuable space to connect with and learn from colleagues, to join forces to tackle challenges of importance to our field, and to inspire the next generation of psychiatrists. It is a privilege to serve as the President of this group and I look forward to the continued enthusiastic engagement of our members in the years to come.

Martine Solages, MD