1. What advocacy efforts would you propose to preserve positions for psychologists in public (i.e., county, state, and federal) agencies? In addition, how would you propose maintaining positions for psychologists in education and in health care systems? What do you see as the possible expansion of the roles psychologists provide in public settings (e.g., being head of treatment teams, prescription privileges with limited formulary, writing orders for behavioral treatments, etc.)? and 2. What is your position on psychology’s place as a provider in a system offering health services nationally (i.e., a national healthcare service system)?

[I see a great deal of overlap in the

responses to Questions 1 & 2 so I will combine my answers to these questions] This nation is about to undergo transformational change in the provision and funding of health care. It is essential that APA, to the extent that it legally can, and the APA Practice Organization (APAPO) participate fully in advocating for a central role in this transformation. There are a number of avenues for preserving and promoting positions for psychologists in public service. To meet the needs of those with mental illness and ensure continuity of care, it is imperative that psychologists in governmental institutions secure hospital privileges. As APA’s general counsel in the 1980’s, I authored APA’s amicus brief in Capp v. Rank, 793 P. 2d 2 (Cal. 1990), the mainly successful effort to allow psychologists to practice in California’s hospitals. This, however, must be a national effort. But beyond serving those with serious mental illnesses, public psychologists should have a major role in health promotion, particularly with underserved populations in underserved areas. For example, Native Americans, of all racial/ethnic groups, have the highest percentages of cigarette smoking, obesity, and binge drinking. Psychologists lead the way in understanding and treating addictions. As Jana Martin quoted a practitioner at the May 2009 Presidential Summit on the Future of Psychology Practice, “If I had to choose just one thing to

APA Presidential Candidates Respond

Donald N. Bersoff, Ph.D., J.D.enhance the practice of psychology in the next year, I would infuse the public with education about how psychology can lead to healthy living in areas such as weight control, stress management, sleep disorders, smoking, and so on.” It is beyond argument at this time that mental health cannot be separated from physical health. There are expanding opportunities for public service practitioners to be involved in illness prevention, illness amelioration, and positive psychology. As just one example, psychologists are finding a solid niche as part of cardiac care units in teaching patients about stress reduction, medication compliance, and diet control. It is obvious that successful advocacy for universal health care coverage will increase employment opportunities for psychologists in public service. But APA and APAPO cannot work for universal coverage alone. It is imperative that we work with other like-minded stakeholders. These groups must not only be those involved in health care or mental health but they must consist as well of consumer groups, labor organizations, and business associations, among others. An often forgotten arena for preserving employment opportunities for psychologists is in our public schools. It is imperative that APA and APAPO advocate for substantial funding for special education under the Individuals

Special 2009 APA Presidential Election Issue

1Continued on page 2

Candidates were asked to respond to a list of questions posed by the Division. What follows are the unedited responses received from the candidates.

Donald N. Bersoff, Ph.D., J.D.with Disabilities in Education Act and particularly, to ensure that school psychologists continue to be the primary psychoeducational evaluators. Psychologists are the best trained of all the mental health professions. But, we must move out of our institutional offices and our traditional practices. If we are to preserve positions for psychologists and expand employed opportunities, we must be innovative and venture outside typical systems and roles. There are federal programs, such as the National Health Service Corps that provide financial assistance to psychologists willing to serve in designated underserved rural and urban areas. As Norm Anderson reminded us at the Presidential Summit, attention to racial and ethnic diversity represents both an opportunity to make a difference in public health and to expand psychology practice in new directions. These opportunities are open to those who serve in the military (as I did during the Viet Nam War), in VA hospitals, and prisons. I feel compelled as an aside to comment on the resolution passed by a membership vote in 2008. The resolution was drafted in response to an earlier resolution passed by the Council of Representatives that restricted, but did not bar, psychologists’ participation in coerced interrogations of detainees at Guantanamo. The 2008 resolution, passed by a vote of 8792 to 6157, stated that psychologists are prohibited from working in settings where “persons are held outside of, or, in violation of, either International Law or the U.S. Constitution.” For those opposed to psychologists’ involvement in coerced interrogations, this sounds reasonable. But here is where the law of unintended consequences rears its ugly head. There are perhaps several prisons, psychiatric facilities, and institutions for persons with mental retardation that courts have held to have unconstitutional conditions. Will psychologists who work in such facilities be charged with unethical

conduct, simply because they are employed there? In attempt to solve one problem, APA has gone overboard with an overbroad resolution. If elected, I will seek to modify this resolution so as not to endanger the livelihood of psychologists who practice in public institutions and public settings. (For an expanded discussion of this issue, see my website—donbersoff.com—and search for my paper, “Contrasting Ethical Values—Fidelity to Whom?”

3. What is your stance on RxP? Specifically, do you have plans for addressing this issue? If so, could you describe them? If not, please describe why you do not find this an issue of importance for the field.

I am a cautious proponent of prescription privileges for psychologists. The arguments in favor are quite reasonable. The majority of prescriptions for psychotropic medications are written by primary care physicians, not psychiatrists. Many communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, lack psychiatrists so a great deal of mental illness goes untreated. Prescription privileges are already permitted by legislation for several categories of nonphysicians such as optometrists, and nurse practitioners, without ill effect. New Mexico, Louisiana, and Guam already give psychologists prescriptive authority with very little, if any, untoward consequences for patients. There is always the concern that widespread prescriptive authority will medicalize psychology practice and create “junior psychiatrists,” prescribing pills but offering no other treatment. But, in my conversations with officials in New Mexico, they note two important outcomes to date that ameliorate my concerns. First, there has not been a successful malpractice action against any prescribing psychologist. Second, almost all, if not all, prescribing psychologists combine

the administration of psychotropic medication with psychotherapy—a practice deemed most effective for most serious mental illnesses. As the U.S Supreme Court has noted, States are the laboratories for innovative public policy. Thus, at the present time, I see APA’s role as supporting our state associations’ attempts to secure prescriptions privileges, just as was done in the 1940’s to 1970’s in securing licensure for psychologists in all state jurisdictions. Each state will presumably pass somewhat different standards for training for prescriptive authority and eligibility to practice. As soon as APA discerns the most effective and reasonable legislation, it should then take the lead in creating and advocating for uniform standards throughout the country, as it has done for licensure through its Model Licensure Law.

4. What are the skills and areas of knowledge that you think will increase the capacities of psychologists who identify science as their primary work focus? What are the skills and areas of knowledge for psychologists who identify their primary work as practice?

Psychology is the only profession concerned with health care that emphasizes not only good practice but research and the scientific tradition. It is our scientists who have revolutionized public policy in many areas. For example, it was experimental psychologists who have led to changes in eyewitness testimony and the conduct of lineups. But I would like to see more of our scientists involved in research on clinical practice. As more and more emphasis will be placed on empirically-validated treatment, it is essential that we produce methodologically-sound, sophisticated research on effective therapies. To do this, some of our scientists should have clinical, as well as, research, training.

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Fall 2009

Robert E. McGrath, Ph.D.Responses were not recieved from Dr. McGrath.

I would like to see our field produce specialized “clinical scientists” who are as comfortable with therapy as they are with analysis of variance. As for the skills and areas of knowledge for psychologists who identify primarily with practice, I would note two inevitabilities. One is that our population is aging. Two, it is becoming more diverse (see response to Q.5 below). Thus, as the Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Older Adults (2004) urges, all psychologists should increase their knowledge and skills with respect to working with older patients through continuing education, training, supervision, and consultation. Second, all practitioners should take seriously the recommendations in APA’s Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services to Ethnic, Linguistic, and Culturally Diverse Populations (1993) and the more recent Guidelines of Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists (2002). As the latter document asserts, “Promoting organizational change through multiculturalism and diversity offers psychologists opportunities to learn about best practices and also . . . as an opportunity for personal and professional growth (p. 60).” And, as a final point, I take seriously the definition of psychology as the scientific study

of the behavior of humans and other animals. All practitioners must have a solid understanding of the scientific foundations of our discipline.

5. How do you plan to promote and implement the APA Action Plan for Diversity to move APA and the Divisions toward becoming multicultural and diverse organizations?

I want to take a slightly different tack in responding to this question. If there is one area where APA can be proud of its accomplishments, it is with regard to diversity within the organization. Our divisions cover the entire spectrum of psychological science and practice. Many diverse interest groups have a voice on the Council of Representatives, e.g., (Division 44—Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues; Division 45--Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues; Division 35--Society for the Psychology of Women; and Division 51--Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity. In addition, representatives of the Council of National Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests (i.e., Asian American Psychological Association. Association of Black Psychologists, National Latina/o Psychological Association, the

Society of Indian Psychologists), are official observers to the APA Council. Perhaps APA should consider giving these organizations a seat on Council. Nevertheless, the promotion of multiculturalism and diversity within APA has long been a policy of the Association (see documents referenced in Q.4). Where I think we can do better is in our teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and during internship training. By 2050, if not sooner, there will be no ethnic or racial group in the majority. Soon, everyone will be in a minority. Thus, it is important that APA promote the increase in programs that emphasize cultural diversity and multiculturalism. As the Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists (2002) state, such programs are “based on the premise that multicultural and culture-specific knowledge in education is effective in producing more competent researchers, educators, therapists, and other applied practitioners (p. 31).” If APA truly wants to enhance employment opportunities for its members, particularly its early career psychologists, we must promote training in multiculturalism so that our future practitioners will meet the quickly advancing challenges of a diverse planet.

3

Donald N. Bersoff, Ph.D., J.D.

Fall 2009

Ronald H. Rozensky, Ph.D., ABPP

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Fall 2009

1. What advocacy efforts would you propose to preserve positions for psychologists in public (i.e., coun-ty, state, and federal) agencies? In addition, how would you propose maintaining positions for psycholo-gists in education and in health care systems? What do you see as the possible expansion of the roles psy-chologists provide in public settings (e.g., being head of treatment teams, prescription privileges with limited formulary, writing orders for behav-ioral treatments, etc.)?

Stabilization of funding followed by increased resources should be major goals to preserve positions for public service psychologists, those in educa-tion, and those in healthcare (I will de-tail my activities in healthcare reform below). Those of us dedicated to public ser-vices (I directed a community mental health program in Evanston, IL, and founded the National Rural Behavioral Health Center in Florida) have many success stories to tell. Those narratives should be used to reinforce for policy makers the positive outcomes for our patients and clients, their families, and our communities. They illustrate that public monies – local, state, or national – are well spend for psychological ser-

vices. Thus, I would suggest that we es-tablish a central information “bank” of best practices and programs to be used by those of us who advocate for pro-grams and funding. This information can be utilized as “case[s] in point” for preserving, expanding, or establishing new programs when we talk with gov-ernment policy makers, legislators, pri-vate foundation decision makers, and the general public. Additionally, workforce analysis data can be used to illustrate both geo-graphic areas of shortage and types of practices and services in need of more psychologists. I chaired the task force that led to the funding of APA’s Center for Workforce Studies; the mission of that Center is to provide a data-based understanding of opportunities for ser-vice expansion and needs analyses data that can be used with policy makers and funding sources to reinforce, along with our best practices examples, how many psychologists are needed and in which service areas, to provide services to the public. These best practices and workforce data should include cost-ef-fectiveness information as well to fur-ther reinforce, for decision makers, that our services not only add to the quality of life of individuals and communities, but do so in a cost conscience manner. When I was APA’s representative to the JCAHO in early 1990s I advocated that qualified psychologists should be permitted to practice to the full extent of our licenses and scope of practice within accredited healthcare facilities. This included serving as team leaders and other clinical-administrative roles. JCAHO now allows licensed indepen-dent providers to do so. Psychology must have representatives within ac-creditation organizations, foundations and government agencies who can speak for psychology as part of those organizations. Data-based, successful best practice examples, including examples such as psychologists in the military and the states with prescriptive authority, can

be utilized to argue for expansion in that practice arena, or for that matter, any area in which we practice.

2. What is your position on psychol-ogy’s place as a provider in a system offering health services nationally (i.e., a national healthcare service system)?

I have been directly and actively in-volved in making recommendations about psychology’s place in national healthcare reform. I was appointed by the US Secretary of Health and Hu-man Services as a member of HRSA’s Advisory Committee on Interdisciplin-ary Community Based Services in the Bureau of Health Professions. I now serve as Chair Elect of that commit-tee. My responsibilities include assur-ing the Committee’s annual report to Congress and the Secretary recognizes both funding for healthcare services provided by psychologists and the importance of education and training funding for psychology’s next gen-eration. For the last six months I have been involved in the actual writing of healthcare reform recommendations in my role as Chair-Elect. In concert with the three other advisory groups within the Bureau (including Medicine, Nurs-ing, Dentistry), we have just completed a letter to the Secretary of HHS and the Congress detailing recommendations for the funding of, and clinical services within, healthcare reform; herein is the future of practice. These recom-mendations focus on the importance of an truly interdisciplinary healthcare system with a focus on quality and ef-ficiency. The recommendations clearly identify the role of all health profes-sions, including psychology, as key to a “reformed,” integrated, national health care system. My Committee is working specifically on interprofessional educa-tion and serve recommendations. As one of eight co-signers of the letter to

Ronald H. Rozensky, Ph.D., ABPP

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Fall 2009

Congress, I believe I have represented psychology well both in our roles as a strong member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and as an independent discipline providing patient care to the fullest extent of our license and scope of practice – whether working within organized healthcare settings or in in-dependent practice. My evolving lead-ership role in the Bureau of Health Pro-fessions further reinforces psychology’s voice in the future of healthcare as de-tails of healthcare reform are worked out. I have been a major voice for the concept of interprofessional educa-tion and training and interdisciplinary health care services.

3. What is your stance on RxP? Spe-cifically, do you have plans for ad-dressing this issue? If so, could you describe them? If not, please de-scribe why you do not find this an is-sue of importance for the field.

My stance has been positive; based upon an individual’s competency, properly trained psychologists should be permitted to practice to the full ex-tent of our license and scope of prac-tice; prescriptive authority is one of those competencies. In my role on the HRSA’s, Bureau of Health Professions’ Advisory Committee on Interdisci-plinary Community Based Services I wrote, and the following paragraph was included, in the Committee’s 2008 draft recommendations to the Secre-tary of Health and Human Services and Congress: RECOMMENDATION #4: The Secre-tary and/or the Congress should include a section within the reauthorization of Title VII and Title VIII that supports funding for education and training of nurse practitioners, pharmacists, psy-chologists, and physician assistants to provide pharmacological and/or psy-chopharmacological services. Such training will augment the healthcare workforce and expand access to care

for underserved populations. Further-more, the Secretary should draft and support specific legislation that assures healthcare reimbursement [including Medicare, Medicaid, and other private healthcare reimbursement mechanisms] for these pharmacological and/or psy-chopharmacological services. This recommendation was accepted by the committee and should appear in the final draft of the report to be sent to Congress and the Secretary of HHS later this year. Clearly, I support this area of practice for those psycholo-gists who are properly educated and trained to provide this service. I per-sonally see prescription authority as one of the clinical skills practiced by psychologists, as long as properly pre-pared, similar to any other proficiency or skill. I would continue to support this practice area for those who choose to include it in their portfolio of clini-cal competencies. As editor of the Jour-nal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings I accepted several articles for publication on psychologists’ role in psychopharmacology and published a special issue on the topic as well.

4. What are the skills and areas of knowledge that you think will in-crease the capacities of psychologists who identify science as their primary work focus? What are the skills and areas of knowledge for psychologists who identify their primary work as practice?

No matter in which of the many branches of psychology or diverse work settings we find psychologists, it is our rich, shared heritage of basic and applied science, critical thinking, and dedication to service that shape psy-chology’s future. Specific to increas-ing the capacity of those involved in science will be remaining current with evolving technologies, fMRI, genetics, statistical & biostatistical methods, be-havioral economics, cognitive science,

neurosciences, and global and cultural diversity. For those who primarily iden-tify with practice, I would suggest that staying current with the same issues and their application to assessment and treatment is key. One of my proposed presidential initiatives will focus on “psychology and public health.” This topic bridges research and practice is-sues and highlights the application of psychological principles to the com-mon good – from disease prevention and health promotion, to violence prevention, from community health education, global warming & sustain-ability from a behavioral perspective to psychological contributions to commu-nity health, positive health behaviors, and remediation of problems at work, in organizations ands schools, in the family, the individual and community. This topic illustrates not only a bridge between science and practice but the fact that they overlap with both shared foundations and applications.

5. How do you plan to promote and implement the APA Action Plan for Diversity to move APA and the Divi-sions toward becoming multicultural and diverse organizations?

As President I would continue to sup-port Dr. Anderson’s overall diversity planning including the hiring of a di-versity officer with association-wide responsibilities to look to continuing the growth of diversity in our field, our association’s employee group, and within governance. While on the APA Board of Directors I supported the hir-ing of the diversity offer understanding that a key person in the role can facili-tate, coordinate, and move that agenda forward. I think we have made great strides by including the minority psychologi-cal associations’ representatives on the APA Council as well as continuing to

Melba J. T. Vasquez, Ph.D.

1. What advocacy efforts would you propose to preserve positions for psychologists in public (i.e., coun-ty, state, and federal) agencies? In addition, how would you propose maintaining positions for psycholo-gists in education and in health care systems? What do you see as the possible expansion of the roles psy-chologists provide in public settings (e.g., being head of treatment teams, prescription privileges with limited

formulary, writing orders for behav-ioral treatments, etc.)?

It is absolutely critical that psycholog-ical services be included in all aspects of healthcare reform, for both public and private delivery of services. Inclu-sion and integration of mental and be-havioral health care into primary health care, such as in the Veteran’s Admin-istration system, is critical for persons across the lifespan. Psychologists must be included as vital members of inter-disciplinary health care teams, with ap-propriate reimbursement. Collabora-tion among all the health professionals results in efficient coordinated care and enhances treatment of the whole per-son. We must advocate for the increase of psychologists and trainees in Feder-ally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). Reforming Medicare payment for psy-chological services, lowering barriers to patient access to necessary services including in rural and underserved ar-eas, and increasing funding for psycho-logical training are all important advo-cacy efforts to promote and preserve positions for psychologists in public agencies. We must add psychologists

to the Medicare “physician” definition in order to have the responsibility to do our work, e.g. write orders for behav-ioral treatments, and get appropriate reimbursements. I have been actively involved in advocacy at the state and national level for many years, and en-courage others to do so, including stu-dents.

2. What is your position on psychol-ogy’s place as a provider in a system offering health services nationally (i.e., a national healthcare service system)?

Psychology must be included in any national health care system that evolves in the next few months; this is a critical time period for us. The im-portance of health-related behavioral factors in all aspects of illness is better understood now than ever by our social science researchers, our providers, by the public and by public policy experts. Therefore, the timing is right for us to promote access to mental health care by influencing institutional and policy changes. Psychologist researchers and

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Fall 2009

Ronald H. Rozensky, Ph.D., ABPPfund minority Council members to at-tend the meetings. The fact that the bylaws amendment to give the vote to these associations was not successful speaks to the need to better educate our members as to the importance of assur-ing that Council reflects the diversity of our overall population. I also see the importance of actively mentoring psychologists representing diversity to seek positions on APA boards and com-mittees, in divisions, and state associa-tions. We also must do a better job un-derstanding the workforce issues in psychology to help with the multicul-

tural and diversity agenda. I was very involved in helping attain additional funding for APA’s new Center for Workforce Studies. This center should help us better analyze the education, training and career pipeline in Psychol-ogy and identify hurtles to increas-ing diversity within our field. While the CEMRATT2 findings suggest in-creased minority student involvement in the field, the number of minority fac-ulty has not kept pace. Thus, we need to not only routinely study this issue as part of ongoing workforce analysis but use those results to help advocate for directing Title VII educational funding to programs that focus on eliminating

disparities in faculty; only then can we establish interventions on a data-based, ongoing basis to increase diversity and increase the diversity role models for the coming generations of psycholo-gists. My presidential initiative and goals have been based upon bringing together the entire “Family of Psy-chology” to help build our future. That clearly includes actively recognizing and incorporating global competency and multiculturalism in all aour activi-ties and building diverse representation within all levels of APA governance and throughout our field.

www.RozenskyforAPAPresident.com

Melba J. T. Vasquez, Ph.D.practitioners have been at the forefront in developing effective health promo-tion, chronic disease management, and in promoting strategies to enhance healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

3. What is your stance on RxP? Spe-cifically, do you have plans for ad-dressing this issue? If so, could you describe them? If not, please de-scribe why you do not find this an is-sue of importance for the field.

We must support the expansion of our APA Practice Organization c6 entity to increase advocacy at both the state and federal level. At the state level, RxP must continue to be prioritized. While we now have prescribing psychologists in the Department of Defense, New Mexico, Louisiana and Guam, these ef-forts must be expanded in order to pro-vide quality psychopharmacological services to consumers who must now wait for weeks and even months to get services. Properly trained psychologists have the capacity to coordinate psy-chotherapy with psychopharmacologi-cal services in a highly effective man-ner, and we must expand this scope of practice for psychologists. I am chair of the Task Force for the revision of the Model Licensing Act, and we have been included RxP in the revisions of the definition and scope of practice for psychologists. The APA Council of Representatives adopted the Guidelines Regarding Psychologists’ Involvement in Pharmacological Issues at its August, 2009 meeting, and the dissemination of these guidelines will help promote the highest standards for service delivery.

4. What are the skills and areas of knowledge that you think will in-crease the capacities of psychologists who identify science as their primary work focus? What are the skills and areas of knowledge for psychologists who identify their primary work as practice?

Science is the foundation of our pro-fession. Science informs every area of our basic and applied psychological arenas. Psychological scientists, in ad-dition to understanding basic psycho-logical statistics and research methods must keep abreast of emerging tech-nologies and the most current research methodologies, including research with longitudinal methods, modeling, and measurement, and with diverse popula-tions. Scientists must also have skills to submit and obtain grants and to ad-vocate for increased research funding on Capitol Hill and with various execu-tive branch agencies, e.g. Departments of Health and Human Services, Veter-ans Affairs, Defense, National Science Foundation, and the National Aeronau-tics and Space Foundation. Our profession now has a definition of evidence-based practice as “the in-tegration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture and preferences (APA Task Force, 2006, p. 273). Predictions of the future involve changes in health-care payments and reimbursements contingent on account-ability for our work. Thus, we have the opportunity to translate our evidence base, including meta analyses of psy-chotherapy outcome studies, of the past two decades, into treatment guidelines and methods to assess our own work, rather than have those imposed on us. Meta analyses of psychotherapy out-come studies report that all treatments are effective to some degree, but some are more efficacious with some prob-lems than others. Practitioners must know that the success of all techniques depends especially on the patient’s sense of alliance with the healer, and that the ability to be adaptive and flex-ible with a wide range of diverse clients in diverse settings is crucial. Practitio-ners will be challenged in the coming years to consider collaboration in pri-mary care; it has become increasingly

clear that the greater emphasis on pri-mary care required us to partner and practice with primary-care physicians, nurse practitioners, and others. I am interested in promoting an al-liance between psychotherapy practice and research; in addition, applied re-search must be more easily available to practitioners.

5. How do you plan to promote and implement the APA Action Plan for Diversity to move APA and the Divi-sions toward becoming multicultural and diverse organizations?

The changing demographics of this country and the increased globalization means that we must do a better job of preparing psychologists for work in a changing world. The APA Workforce Analysis reported that 86% of practic-ing psychologists and 92% of Early Career Professionals who responded to the survey practice with racial and ethnic minority consumers. The mem-bership in our APA, our divisions, and our state, provincial and territorial as-sociations must reflect those chang-es. We have to work to increase the pipeline of psychologists from diverse backgrounds. I have been part of a re-search team to explore the variables as-sociated with recruitment and retention of diverse students at different levels of psychology education; the findings from this study will partly help us bet-ter understand why our talented stu-dents of color enter professions other than psychology. As APA President, I will nurture di-versity of all kinds in APA, in Divisions and in related psychological associa-tions. Programmatic efforts such as the Diversity Delegates invited to attend the State Leadership Program (APA Practice Directorate), the Minority Fel-lowship Institute held each summer, the Advanced Training Institute on Re-

Fall 2009

7Continued on page 8

Melba J. T. Vasquez, Ph.D.

Fall 2009

8

1. What advocacy efforts would you propose to preserve positions for psychologists in public (i.e., coun-ty, state, and federal) agencies? In addition, how would you propose maintaining positions for psycholo-gists in education and in health care systems? What do you see as the possible expansion of the roles psychologists provide in public set-tings (e.g., being head of treatment teams, prescription privileges with limited formulary, writing orders

for behavioral treatments, etc.)?

In addition being a D18 Fellow, my teaching as a Professor of Psychology and my law practice reflect a strong commitment to public service. Beyond the Ivory Tower, I am in the trenches advising and defending psycholo-gists, and I am a sworn law enforce-ment officer (LEO). In both psychol-ogy practice and law enforcement, I focus on modern training standards, and have extensive involvement with regulatory laws and public policies. Advocacy requires much more than just general communication to the public about psychology. There must be widespread recognition of the rea-sons for and effects of declining pub-lic services. For example, the grow-ing need for psychologists in criminal justice settings (e.g., prisons, given the many mental health needs of inmates) and community mental health settings (since many of the severely persistently mentally ill are now supposedly being followed in the local community) re-quire aggressive and astute solutions. State psychological associations and private practice psychologists should be encouraged to address the general

public welfare that is too often left primarily to public agency psycholo-gists. For example, an advocacy group within each state psychological asso-ciation should develop plans to solve legal issues impacting psychologists and lobby legislators for support. Fi-nally, state and private universities should use their psychology facul-ties to strengthen their involvement with public and community affairs. Positions in public services, such as in education and health care sys-tems, require well-crafted communi-cations to citizens through the mass media. Again, I practice what I preach. For the last four years, I have written a biweekly column for the newspa-per in the rural Michigan town where I started my career years ago. Also, many of my publications deal with public service, such as on legal and ethical issues pertaining to psychol-ogy, education, and criminal justice. Communication to the public is an ef-fective strategy for cultivating support for an expansion of roles. It is unwise and potentially restrictive to list new roles per se, because public services must be flexible and develop according

Continued on page 9

search Methods with Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups, co-sponsored by the APA Science Directorate, are excel-lent examples of encouraging the pipe-line of diverse leadership in our disci-pline and profession, and ultimately in our society. We must implement what we have learned from the Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Girls and Women (APA, 2007); Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients (APA, 2000); Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice and Or-ganizational Change for Psychologists (APA, 2003); and Guidelines for Psy-

chological Practice with Older Adults (APA 2004). Although tough econom-ic times have slowed down implemen-tation of aspects of the APA strategic plan, one significant part that I hope to implement during my tenure as Presi-dent is the hiring of a diversity officer as part of the Diversity Implementation Plan and the recommendations from the Council Resolution to Enhance Ethnic Minority Recruitment, Retention and Training. The APA Public Interest Directorate attempts to solve the problems of the world; the grand challenges in society. I am interested in applying our psycho-

logical knowledge and strategies to fa-cilitate a healthy transformation in so-ciety about the changing demographics in society, given the anxiety, fear, threat and backlash that seems to be emerg-ing. Reducing discrimination, bias and stigma in society for all groups, includ-ing the mentally ill, is an important goal in society.

Thank you for the opportunity to address concerns of Division 18. I respectfully ask for your #1 vote. Please visit my website for more information at www.melbavasquez-forapapresident.com

Robert “Bob” H. Woody, Ph.D., Sc.D., J.D.

Robert “Bob” H. Woody, Ph.D., Sc.D., J.D.

Fall 2009

to the needs and resources of constitu-ents. Suffice it say, I strive for open-mindedness, knowledge based on con-temporary and empirical information, and evidence-based decision-making.

2. What is your position on psycholo-gy’s place as a provider in a system of-fering health services nationally (i.e., a national healthcare service system)?

With a Doctor of Science in public health (in addition to my credentials in psychology, education, and law), I have always supported that psy-chological services should be part of public health programs for the needs of ALL people. Psychology has an irrefutable place as an essential ser-vice in a national healthcare system. Modern healthcare recognizes the strong link between the mind and the body. This integration deserves more than lip service. It should permeate psychological research, assessment, interventions, and educational pro-grams that will better prepare the next generation of psychologists. Another avenue for making the mind-body con-nection a reality is through interdisci-plinary collaboration with other health care professions (e.g., participating in programs with primary care providers, health care specialists in various set-tings, community wellness programs, mass media prevention campaign, etc.). In the mass communications frame-work, governmental sources and the public should be “educated” to psy-chologists’ unique contributions, such as how behavioral science research can complement medical and health-care management at the patient and systems levels. With the scientist-prac-titioner model as the cornerstone for modern health care systems, we need to teach third-party payment sources the value-added results of psychology. A focus on public health for every constituency is essential. APA should allow no bias or discrimination, reach

to every rural-urban sector, and as-sure high quality research, education, and clinical services. APA should con-front the dire need for health care for the mentally ill and rehabilitation for a host of limitations. Promoting leg-islative remedies should be a priority. Governmental funding for research, training, and community programs must be consistent and increased. Us-ing behavioral science, APA should construct solutions for the negative im-pact of the economy on human welfare.

3. What is your stance on RxP? Specifically, do you have plans for addressing this issue? If so, could you describe them? If not, please describe why you do not find this an issue of importance for the field.

Like any other professional service, prescription authority or privileges requires that the practitioner have comprehensive training and proven competency. Over the years, the foun-dation for preparing psychologists for prescription authority has been con-structed and, although “finishing work” is still needed, I believe that it is clear that properly trained psychologists are justified in adding prescription author-ity to their services for the benefit of society. I support advocacy efforts, establishing standards for assurance of high quality training and practice competency, and appropriate accom-modation in existing licensing laws. Prescription authority does not mean that traditional roles and func-tions should be lessened. Every psy-chologist need not be prepared for or granted prescription authority. Rather, there should be a balancing and unifi-cation of diverse knowledge and skills, aligned with the scientist-practitioner model. This approach will assure the best outcome for practitioners, service recipients, the profession, and society.

4. What are the skills and areas of knowledge that you think will in-crease the capacities of psycholo-gists who identify science as their primary work focus? What are the skills and areas of knowl-edge for psychologists who iden-tify their primary work as practice?

In accord with the standards for APA accreditation, an organized in-tegrated curriculum should require all students to successfully compete learning experiences in the core areas of psychology (to name but a few--bio-logical, cognitive-affective, and social bases; statistics and research meth-ods; psychological measurement; eth-ics), as well as supervision of practice. Moreover, an essential component is personal competency for evidence-based decision-making, which should rely on qualitative and quantitative research. In other words, the psychol-ogist must internalize formal behav-ioral science or academic training so that all functions and services done in the name of “professionalism” will be supported scientifically. My viewpoint does not negate any psychological the-ory; it reflects my endorsing science as a dimension of theory building. Every psychologist should be able to docu-ment qualifications, competency, and performance to the satisfaction of the prevailing standards of the profession. Given the evolutionary of psycho-logical services, a permanent list of skills is not appropriate. Knowl-edge and skills must be determined and justified by the state of research, needs of society, and professionalism. 5. How do you plan to promote and implement the APA Action Plan for Diversity to move APA and the Di-visions toward becoming multicul-tural and diverse organizations?

Continued on page 109

Robert “Bob” H. Woody, Ph.D., Sc.D., J.D.

Fall 2009

Within the APA Action Plan for Di-versity, there are many ideas that I have been espousing for years. For example, I encourage organizations to be culturally competent and inclu-sive, and infuse multiculturalism into policies and practices. Neither an or-ganization nor an individual should be hesitant to proclaim a multicultural commitment. Personally, I strive to au-thentically and persuasively confront organizational policies and practices that might hamper cultural diversity. The concept of diversity is a sine qua non of modern psychology. Its es-sential nature for research, education, training, and practice is irrefutable. An

APA cornerstone is pursuing psycho-logical benefits for ALL people. There-fore, APA should reject exclusion and discrimination by any source of an in-dividual or group because of personal characteristics and, in addition, should promote affirmation of diversity. To move APA and the Divisions toward becoming multicultural and diverse organizations, I will seek to identify global influences that, rightly or wrongly, impact or should impact on U. S. public policies and laws. APA and the Divisions must embrace multiculturalism and work to bridge schisms between cultures. Psychological knowledge and in-

terventions should address natural di-sasters, chronic illnesses, disabilities, infectious diseases, hunger, poverty, ter-rorism, war, unemployment, and crime. APA and the Divisions should encour-age the dissemination and integration of accurate information and research about diversity in learning experiences for all people—not just profession-als—throughout the lifespan, whether by informal communications, school curricula, or messages in the media.

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Newsletter Editors: Jacqueline Remondet Wall, PhD jwall@uindy.edu &Margie Keaton, PsyD keatonma@uindy.edu

School of Psychological SciencesUniversity of Indianapolis1400 East Hanna AvenueIndianapolis, IN 46227317.788.3353 (office)

For more information on my quali-fications and views about critical issues, see my website: www.Bob-WoodyHelpsPsychology.com.