On March 9, the MPS Council voted unanimously to update the vision, mission and values of the organization as follows:

VISION

The Maryland Psychiatric Society is a professional organization of psychiatrists that works to foster high quality, accessible, culturally humble comprehensive, effective, and patient-centered care for Maryland residents living with mental health and substance use conditions.

MISSION

The mission of the Maryland Psychiatric Society is to:

• Advocate for all Maryland residents living with mental health and substance use disorders to receive the highest quality care
• Work to ensure that historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals have access to culturally respectful, comprehensive treatment.
• Serve and represent the professional needs of Maryland psychiatrists, including underrepresented and diverse voices within the psychiatric community
• Collaborate with other professional, community, and government organizations to advocate for our patients’ rights and interests

 VALUES

• Professional responsibility based on the highest standards for clinical practice and professional conduct
• Patients making empowered choices
• Universal access to the most effective care
• Respect for patients and colleagues
• Lifelong professional learning
• Collegial support
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within our membership and within the field of psychiatry
• Recovery and healing

The Community Psychiatry and Diversity Coalition and the Executive Committee had central roles in drafting the updates.  This is one part of a multi-pronged response by the organization to the Council’s commitment in June 2020 to “questioning our practices, listening to people of color in our community and designing a plan with specific actions that create meaningful solutions for change.”