AACAP Selects Dr. Priya Punnoose as Congressional Fellow
Washington, DC, October 3, 2024 – The American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is pleased to announce that Priya Punnoose, MD, has been selected as the 2024-2025 AACAP Congressional Fellow. This prestigious 10-month fellowship offers a unique opportunity for a child and adolescent psychiatrist committed to child mental health advocacy to gain in-depth experience within a congressional office, enhancing their understanding of the federal legislative process.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected as AACAP’s Congressional Fellow. I look forward to sharing my experiences as a child psychiatrist with Congress and bringing back valuable insights about policy and advocacy to our field,” said Dr. Punnoose.
Dr. Punnoose is currently working in the office of Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), where she will engage directly with the intersection of health care and government policy. As part of this fellowship, she will represent the interests of child and adolescent psychiatry, learning how legislative processes impact the delivery of mental health care to children and adolescents across the country.
Dr. Punnoose completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Children’s National Medical Center. Most recently, she served as the Medical Director of Emergency Department Psychiatric Services and Associate Program Director of the Child and Adolescent Fellowship Program at Children’s National Medical Center.
“As child and adolescent psychiatrists, we are advocates for our patients. Understanding the legislative landscape is crucial to shaping the policies that influence the care we provide,” said AACAP President Tami D. Benton, MD. “We are proud to invest in this fellowship, which strengthens our profession’s role in influencing policy.”
Dr. Punnoose’s fellowship will conclude in May 2025.
For more information on the AACAP Congressional Fellowship, please visit here.
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The American Association of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, an affiliated 501(c)6 non-profit organization of AACAP, was formed in 2013 as a way for child and adolescent psychiatrists to increase their advocacy activities.
The mission of the Association is to engage in health policy and advocacy activities to promote mentally healthy children, adolescents, and families and the profession of child and adolescent psychiatry.