Humberto Valdes Jr, MD / Exeter

I am an Exeter resident and business owner who has practiced Psychiatry in the Seacoast area for 30 years.  I graduated from Harvard College and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and completed my Psychiatry Residency at Harvard Medical School’s McLean Hospital.  I later went on to obtain an MBA from Harvard Business School.  Throughout my education and professional career, I have studied extensive medical research linking the mental health of a community with the level of involvement in art, music and culture, with the greatest benefit coming from active participation rather than passive exposure to “the arts”.  As a board member of Arts Industry Alliance and the TEAM initiative, I am a strong proponent of prioritizing the channeling of community resources to programs that support artists and musicians producing original work. This gives both the creators and the community at large a sense of self-worth and pride.  I have been extremely impressed with the strides this organization has made despite the hurdles they seem to face on a regular basis.  These artists and musicians have a wealth of professional experience and knowledge of the various genres within the arts industry.  They also bridge social barriers at their events, often bringing people together from different age demographics, diverse cultural backgrounds, and different political viewpoints.  I encourage everyone to get behind Arts Industry Alliance and TEAM.  They have the best of intentions for the future of Exeter.