We Stood Together in La Jolla

Providers spoke, out loud, for the first time

Dr. Simi Brar, a psychiatrist in the Women’s Reproductive Mental Health program, stood in front of everyone and asked UC San Diego the question they have not answered:

“So why replace us? Why not retain while you expand? Why not honor us? Retain the providers who are offering to strengthen your vulnerable patient care.”

She talked about the oath every physician takes:

“There’s an oath that we all take, to do no harm. Today, I honor that oath. Every day I honor that oath. The people who created this policy are not honoring that oath today. They are causing direct harm to our patients.”

And she said plainly what her training means for the patients who depend on it:

“I have seven years of training. I trained like a surgeon, to be a psychiatrist, a child psychiatrist, a reproductive psychiatrist with infant mental health background training. Nobody in this entire UCSD system has my credentials.”

She spoke for the colleagues who could not be there:

“Numerous other PhDs and psychiatrists in our department are greatly affected by this policy. They cannot stay, or are in fear of speaking up. I will stand tall for their voice, because they can’t or won’t, in fear.”

And she framed it as a test of UC San Diego’s own stated values, their commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and their duty as a public institution to the patients they serve:

“Honor your provider. Provider well-being is patient well-being.”