50 Years Later: Advice for New Psychiatrists

Psychiatry & Society

On July 1, 1975, H. Steven Moffic, MD, started his first jobs in psychiatry. To celebrate this, the 50th anniversary of that occasion, Dr Moffic shares his advice for young psychiatrists.

"Sooner or later, you are going to get to some important ethical decisions," Moffic said to potential young career psychiatrist listeners.

He also recommends being flexible, agreeable, and thinkers and learners. Overall, he thinks young people should keep their options open and be open-minded.

"I've done lots of different stuff in psychiatry, stuff I never imagined doing. But I think I've learned something different from all of them," said Moffic.

The therapeutic alliance is the most important variable according to Moffic, and should be prioritized.

In this day and age, with increased competition for placements, Moffic believes young psychiatrists should strive to find their passions or where they excel. If passion and expertise combine, "you're in good shape," as it will also help decrease burnout.

Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specialized in the cultural and ethical aspects of psychiatry and is now in retirement and retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer and speaker, he has done a weekday column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He was chosen to receive the 2024 Abraham Halpern Humanitarian Award from the American Association for Social Psychiatry. Previously, he received the Administrative Award in 2016 from the American Psychiatric Association, the one-time designation of being a Hero of Public Psychiatry from the Speaker of the Assembly of the APA in 2002, and the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1991. He presented the third Rabbi Jeffrey B. Stiffman lecture at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis on Sunday, May 19, 2024. He is an advocate and activist for mental health issues related to climate instability, physician burnout, and xenophobia. He is now editing the final book in a 4-volume series on religions and psychiatry for Springer: Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianity, and now The Eastern Religions, and Spirituality. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.