Conversations about Purpose, Empowerment, and Psychiatry

By Office of the President | May 6, 2025

We are excited to share the news that Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D., Dr.Med.Sc., as President of the American Psychiatric Association, will take the national stage at the APA 2025 Annual Meeting for two extraordinary conversations about health, leadership, and equity.

On Saturday, May 17, Dr. Viswanathan will host a fireside chat with tennis legend and entrepreneur Venus Williams during the APA Opening Session, where they will discuss the relationship between physical health, mental wellness, and the resilience it takes for success on and off the court. As a champion of equality and wellness, Venus brings star power and deep purpose to the conversation.

On Monday, May 19, during the Emerging Voices: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Plenary, Dr. Viswanathan will join APA chief executive officer Marketa M. Wills, M.D., MBA, FAPA for a conversation with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female head of state, former President of Liberia, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Following her keynote address, President Sirleaf will reflect on leading through crisis, elevating women’s voices in health policy, and advancing peace through inclusive leadership.

These two conversations, one with a global sports icon and the other with one of the world’s most respected political leaders, will frame mental health as medical care and a human right.

We are proud to see Dr. Viswanathan representing Downstate at the center of such transformative dialogue. We will share more in an upcoming President’s Bulletin.

Tags: Psychiatry