Carmen J. Thornton

Carmen Jewel Thornton is Chief of Workforce Development & Health Equity at the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) where she oversees programs aimed at addressing the physician workforce shortage, creating multisector approaches to children’s mental health, and advancing health equity in the child and adolescent psychiatry field. Under her direction, AACAP administers an extensive awards portfolio that provides research fellowships, training, and mentorship opportunities to medical students and residents. She leads AACAP’s development efforts by securing funds for important AACAP initiatives. Throughout her career, she has led a number of federally and privately funded youth-focused programs including school health, chronic disease, HIV/STI prevention, and teen pregnancy at a host of national health and education associations. 

AACAP’s mission is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy, education, and research, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers. The Academy's membership consists of over 11,000+ child and adolescent psychiatrists from the US and abroad. AACAP is a professional medical organization committed to leading its membership through collective action, peer support, continuing education, and mobilization of resources. Its diverse membership embodies a wide range of facets within the field of child and adolescent psychiatry including: research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support, and collaboration.