The application of technology to an academic clinical practice and career: Evidence-based medicine, telepsychiatry, and distance education

Abstract

Background. There are many paths to telemental health as an enjoyable career. An academic career involves significant clinical, educational, research, and administrative dimensions. Technology is a key part of personal experience, professional activities, and our societal evolution. Methods. This chapter uses personal and professional narratives about day-to-day work, projects, and key turning points to discuss themes and opportunities for readers. Results. Medicine, telepsychiatry, and other technologies offer a rewarding career path. Intersections of passions and collaboration with others make progress logarithmic rather than additive. My career involves work with trainees, interdisciplinary mental health staff, and colleagues in other areas of medicine and public health initiatives at the community, state, and federal levels. All of these endeavors provide opportunities to apply technology and, in many ways, to improve patient care, communicate with others, and disseminate information-all in all, to be administratively more efficient and effective. Personal and professional use of technologies overlap in some regards, but are very different in others. Conclusions. Technology offers opportunities to learn, teach, and administer programs.