“I SAW HER AGAIN LAST NIGHT”
The 2018 APAPO Practice Leadership Conference: The APAPO State Leadership Conferences are always the highlight of the year. Former APA Presidents James Bray and Carol Goodheart were present, joining an impressive cadre of Early Career Psychologists and APAGS graduate students. This was Katherine Nordal’s final hurrah – the enthusiastic standing ovations she received for her decade of passionate service to APA were well deserved. Psychology’s future is extraordinarily bright. The next generation is dedicated to serving the nation in a transformative manner.
“Thanks to the invitation by Dr. Dan Abrahamson, I attended the Practice Leadership Conference discussion group, ‘Social Justice & Advocacy Matters: Navigating ‘isms’ and Building Allies in SPTAs and Other Professional Settings’ hosted by the Diversity Delegate and facilitated by Dr. Charmain F. Jackman, the current Diversity Delegate Liaison. As a sixth year doctoral candidate at the Uniformed Services University who studies health disparities, I have spent a great deal of time learning and practicing from a culturally-informed framework through classes, conferences, clinical work, and my own research. However, this session was, by far, the best session I have ever attended at PLC and at any other class or conference I have ever attended. Dr. Jackman used what is called the ‘fish bowl protocol’ to facilitate an authentic dialogue on social justice advocacy, navigating ‘isms’ (e.g., racism, sexism) and discrimination in the workplace, incorporating social justice into professional practice, and the roles of allies and ally-ship.
“Within this protocol, there is an inner circle that consists of six chairs and an outer circle surrounding the inner circle. At any given time, there are five members in the inner circle and everyone else sits in the outer circle. There is one chair left empty in the inner circle so that someone from the outer circle can join the inner circle at any point. Only five people can be in the inner circle at one time, so when someone joins the inner circle, one person must leave to maintain the five-person inner group. Dr. Jackman presented several prompts throughout the 90-minute session to spur discussion that occurred amongst the people in the inner circle while the attendants in the outer circle listened. Although, prior to starting, I was a bit nervous about how this protocol would function, it (along with her excellent prompts) made for one of the most intimate, authentic, eye opening, inspiring, empowering, and engaging discussions around personality identity, cultural identity, navigating ‘isms,’ and discrimination I have ever witnessed.
“There were three prompts, but the first was, by far, my favorite and the one that was continuously woven throughout the others. She asked the first set of discussants to share how they identify themselves and how their identities inform their professional practice. Although the question might have been a simple one, the range, variety, passion, and history of the responses was far from it. To respect the ‘Vegas rule’ we all agreed to prior to beginning the discussion, I will not go into detail about the responses. I will only say that I was deeply moved by the complexity and depth of the responses, the surprises, the willingness to be authentic and brave, and the genuine and respectful curiosity exhibited by everyone in attendance. As an African American woman who grew up in the South, I have always been aware of the racial and cultural tensions that exist and have certainly been on the receiving end of racism and discrimination. However, I was still struck by the stories of people coming from so many races, cultures, religions, socioeconomic statuses, and backgrounds who have had similar and even more extreme experiences.
“The paradox that exists within the human experience of having so much in common and yet being so different was ever present, and dare I say, beautiful to witness in its full glory. Indeed, hearing and understanding people’s stories in this way was what initially drew me to the field of psychology. The 90-minutes went by in a flash. I felt like I could stay in that room forever. I’m sure I wasn’t alone in that feeling. At the end of the session, with just a couple of minutes left, our facilitator asked everyone to share what they got out of the session in one word. Again, I wasn’t sure if this would work, but boy was I wrong. Not only was it easy, it was powerful. The diversity in discussion was matched by the diversity in what everyone’s response was to this request – all the discussants and those of us who didn’t participate but were there to bear witness and honor their stories. The one-word descriptions were endless, with very few repeats. We all got something a little different from the session – all beautiful, powerful, and valid. My word was ‘empowering’ because I left feeling even more confident in the personal and professional work I am pursuing and the personal work I encourage my clients to pursue. Dr. Jackman (and her team) did a fabulous job putting together this session, and it will undoubtedly inform the way I see others forever” (Omni Cassidy).
Presidential Citations: One of the most enjoyable moments of serving as APA President is having the opportunity to publicly recognize colleagues who have made a significant difference in the lives of our nation’s citizenry. This year two of the pioneering visionaries behind the prescriptive authority (RxP) movement were so recognized: former APA Practice Directorate State Association guru Mike Sullivan by Jessica Daniels and former APA and Division 55 President Ron Fox by Tony Puente. Unfortunately, Ron passed away this March; however, during his final days, Tony was able to visit him at home and personally present his Citation, which was Tony’s last official act as our national President. For so many years, Mike was APA’s state advocate – traveling across the country to visit and encourage those seriously considering RxP legislation. It was most fitting, therefore, that at this year’s APAPO Practice Leadership Conference Jessica was able to honor him. Without question, but for the efforts of these two dedicated colleagues, the Division and our prescriptive authority quest would never have come to life. Those of us who believe that obtaining this clinical authority is in the best interest of our profession and our patients owe each of them so much, and yet they asked for so little in return. Mahalo.
Mike Sullivan: “Dr. Michael Sullivan is recognized with this APA Citizen Psychologist Presidential citation as an examplar of sustained activities in his community and across the lifespan. From his time volunteering in the Peace Corps and later doing alternative civilian service as a conscientious objector in the 1960’s to his current volunteerism 50 years later, Dr. Sullivan brings the same passion and commitment to his community as he did in his many years of service to the State Advocacy Office in the APA Practice Directorate. Dr. Sullivan has dedicated many volunteer hours to the Meals on Wheels program within Senior Resources, Inc. in support of improving the lives of seniors in Columbia, South Carolina. He initiated a volunteer recognition initiative within the program to ensure that those who cared for others are also cared for.
“Dr. Sullivan also applies his psychology advocacy skills as a spokesperson for the Meals on Wheels program addressing the benefits of community engagement for volunteers. He sees volunteerism as a noble calling which provides him meaning and purpose in retirement by giving back to his community. By providing meals to homebound and disabled citizens in the Richland County area of South Carolina, Dr. Sullivan appreciates the importance of enabling seniors to live at home rather than in an institution and how human interaction and wellness checks are equally as important to ensuring the safety and well-being of seniors.
“Dr. Sullivan volunteers in other capacities in his community to include his work at Howlmore Animal Sanctuary exercising special-needs dogs and teaching line dancing with his wife through various local organizations, including a local homeless shelter. His church has also recognized Dr. Sullivan for his leadership, social justice, and social action work.”
Ron Fox: “On the closing of the American Psychological Association’s 125th anniversary, I, Antonio E. Puente, as President of our venerable society bestow upon Ronald E. Fox this APA Presidential citation on December 31, 2017. From humble beginnings to being President of our great association, Ron Fox has been driven with a vision of making our world a better place through making the profession of psychology a central change agent. His long and illustrious career has spanned several decades and various settings including as a clinician, a professor, and an advocate for the profession of psychology. Starting early in his career, Dr. Fox stood firmly for ethnic-minorities, for women, and for the poor, when such advocacy was considered unimportant.
“Within APA, he has held numerous governance positions from committee member to being President, and a trustee of the Insurance Trust. Dr. Fox has been a pioneer in so many venues that it is impossible to list them all. But here are some important illustrations: key in establishing the APA Practice Directorate, Division 29 (Psychotherapy), Division 55 (Psychopharmacology), and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). He advocated in Ohio for the founding of one of the first Doctor of Psychology programs in the U.S. Dr. Fox was instrumental in establishing one of the first psychology licensing boards in the U.S. (Ohio). In addition, he is considered the ‘grandfather’ for prescription authority in psychology.
“Ron Fox has been a calm, steady, and reasoned voice for all of psychology for almost half a century. For his efforts, his resiliency, his vision, and the many results that have made the profession of psychology what it is today, on this last day of APA’s 125th anniversary, let it be known that Ronald E. Fox is presented this APA Presidential Citation.” Aloha,
Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 55 – March, 2018
