WCM-Q Alumna Wins American Psychiatric Association Election

Dr. Rana Elmaghraby, an alumna of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), has won an election for the position of Resident-Fellow Trustee-Elect of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) following a national vote.

Dr. Elmaghraby, who graduated WCM-Q in 2016, finished top of a national poll among members of the American Psychiatric Association for the position. In this leadership role, Dr. Elmaghraby will serve for one year without a vote on the Board of Trustees, the governing body of the APA. Following a year’s service, she will advance to the position of Resident-Fellow Member Trustee and serve on the Board for one year with voting privileges.

Dr. Elmaghraby, who is currently a second-year psychiatry resident at the University of Minnesota, said: “I feel so honored and excited to be elected as the American Psychiatric Association Resident-Fellow Member Trustee. I have been involved with the APA since I was a medical student and I have always been interested in legislation and policy change because this is where big change happens.

“My goal is to serve as the voice of resident and fellow psychiatrists, particularly in the realm of trainee wellbeing, and to serve as an advocate for people living with mental illness.”

The APA, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., is considered the main professional organization for psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists and is reputed to be the largest psychiatric professional organization in the world, with some 37,800 members. The APA is also considered the world’s leading international psychiatric organization, with members practicing in more than 100 countries.

Dr. Elmaghraby said she has listed four key priorities to pursue in her term: excellence in patient care, strength through diversity, to advocate for trainee wellbeing and to represent the voices of psychiatry residents and fellows.

Dr. Thurayya Arayssi, senior associate dean for medical education at WCM-Q, said: “This is an absolutely wonderful achievement and we are extremely happy for Dr. Elmaghraby, as well as being very proud of her. I am sure she will distinguish herself in her new position and continue to serve as an exemplary ambassador for WCM-Q. Well done, Rana!”