On Wednesday, May 1, McLean held its 10th annual Board of Visitors meeting. The Board of Visitors (BoV) comes together each spring to connect more deeply around their shared interest in mental health issues and learn about McLean’s role in the field.
They delight in this opportunity to engage with each other and McLean’s leadership and staff. The group boasts over 200 members, and about 100 individuals attended this year’s meeting, including one of the group’s newest members: Paul Mannix.
Mannix received care at McLean in his 20s, and he thanks the hospital for saving his life. Now, over 10 years later, he continues to serve as an advocate for mental health awareness and has found great joy in giving back to the hospital philanthropically. He joined the BoV after seeking more opportunities to engage with the hospital.
As a first-time meeting attendee, Mannix wasn’t sure what to expect, but he left the day feeling informed and excited about the connections he had made. “The meeting was a great opportunity to learn more about where McLean is headed and to meet other folks who share the same interest and dedication to the hospital,” he explained.
However, this day marked an even greater milestone: It was his first time back on campus since he was a patient. He described this full-circle moment, saying that “being back and being healthy was really meaningful.”
New Board of Visitors member Paul Mannix (center) enjoys a lunchtime conversation at the event
The group received a warm welcome from hospital President and Psychiatrist in Chief Scott L. Rauch, MD, and Division of Psychotic Disorders Chief Dost Öngür, MD, PhD, set the stage for an in-depth presentation from Division Clinical Director Joseph Stoklosa, MD, on the history and impact of using Open Dialogue in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Since many members of the Board of Visitors are also generous donors to the hospital, the group heard from Director of Development Jen Meyers about the tremendous impact of their philanthropy at McLean.
Every year, the event includes a host of popular break-out sessions which enable attendees to connect with McLean researchers and clinicians in a small group format where they can participate in more intimate discussions.
Mannix joined a roundtable led by Roger D. Weiss, MD, chief of McLean’s Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction. He described this conversation as incredibly informative and engaging. “I appreciated that the information was something that you could take and use; so much of it was applicable, not just theoretical,” he praised.
The Board of Visitors looks forward to gathering again in 2025, creating space for even more connection and learning for people like Mannix. “I’m so excited to give back to McLean and to pay it forward,” he said.
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