Intimate Partner Violence and Psychiatric Leadership: Clinical Perspectives

James Rachal, MD, previewed 3 presentations he is involved with at the APA annual meeting, spanning psychiatric workforce leadership and intimate partner violence.

Rachal described the first session, a skills-building learning lab, as focused on the practical steps of faculty recruitment, development, and retention—specifically how to identify strong physician and provider candidates, structure onboarding to position new hires for success, and support ongoing career development "not only as a physician but also as a leader." The second presentation addresses intimate partner violence, examining risk factors, methods for identifying high-risk individuals, the use of standardized professional judgment tools, and available resources and interventions for victims. He noted that recent gun legislation had affected risk dynamics in this population, and that special populations such as military personnel warranted distinct clinical consideration.^1,2

The third session, which Rachal will chair, is a leadership seminar covering the definition of leadership, strategies for developing leadership skills during residency, pathways to leadership roles post-graduation, the utility of advanced degrees, and change management principles, including a case discussion.

Rachal closed with brief reflections on the broader state of the field, expressing optimism about emerging interventions—including transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine, newer pharmacological agents, digital therapeutics, and biometric tools, He identified persistent underfunding as the central structural challenge in behavioral health, noting that the number of patients in need far exceeds the number the system is currently able to reach.

Dr Rachal is associate professor and chair of psychiatry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and medical director for behavioral health at Advocate Health Charlotte.

References

1. Addressing intimate partner violence and firearm-related harm as a public health crisis. National Medical Association. April 21, 2026. Accessed May 13, 2026. https://nmanet.org/press-release/addressing-intimate-partner-violence-and-firearm-related-harm-as-a-public-health-crisis/

2. Pulliam R, Bauman K, Smith J, et al. Closing the gap: the need to eliminate loopholes in legislation at the intersection of gun violence and intimate partner violence. Undergrad J Public Health Univ Mich. 2025;9:36-44.