Thank you to the 167 members who responded to the 2017 MPS member survey!!  The survey was sent by US mail as well as by email so that members had options for participating, as well as multiple reminders.  Since the total is down 23 from last year, continuing the overall downward trend, we continue to remain open to member input throughout the year.  Please contact Executive Director Heidi Bunes any time with suggestions, complaints and questions.  Some highlights of the responses are as follows.

Members provided input regarding their CME needs, including specific suggestions for future programming, with the predominant educational need being psychopharmacology (about 30%), and substance use disorder a distant second (about 7%).

Over 55% of respondents have visited the MPS website in the past year and noted that events, licensure information, news and advocacy are of most interest to them.  Just over a third have registered for a member account that they used most frequently to update their profile, pay dues and view the online member directory.  Another third plan to register but haven’t found time yet.

This year’s survey included a question about end-of-life options and assisted suicide legislation.  Of the 154 responses to this question, 35% were unsure whether they support such a bill.  Support and opposition were essentially the same with 26% each.  Several concerns were raised about ethics, the slippery slope, potential abuse, etc.

Over 95% of members are satisfied or very satisfied overall with the MPS.  MPS News and influencing how psychiatry is practiced in Maryland continue to be what those who responded value most about being a member, with the annual membership directory ranked third.

Congratulations to Helen Bellete, Mary Cutler and Parvis Sahandy, who were selected randomly to win a $100 credit each toward MPS dues or an MPS event.  The complete results are posted here:

2017 MPS Annual Member Survey