PRIVILEGE IS HERE, AND WITH PRIVILEGE GOES RESPONSIBILITY

Honoring Those Who Went Before: One of the truly wonderful benefits of being actively involved within the APA governance is the opportunity to get to know, on a very personal basis, those visionaries who created and/or intimately shaped the development of the profession. When Joe Matarazzo was elected our 1989 President, I was fortunate to be able to assume his seat on the Board of Directors. Joe is now in his early 90s and undoubtedly can reflect with pride upon creating the field of health psychology which today significantly contributes to integrated and holistic care, both of which were very high priorities within the Obama Administration and the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

A World War II U.S. Navy Veteran, Joe was appointed one of the original members of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Board of Regents. For those aware of the early days at USU, he single handedly created the Department of Medical Psychology; notwithstanding the rather strongly held adverse view of the first University President. The Department has now graduated 138 doctoral level psychologists, many of whom are still on active duty serving those who willingly place themselves in harms' way. Perhaps of equal importance, over 6,000 Medical Corps Officers have been exposed to the concepts related to the psychology of illness and being a patient; thereby improving the care of literally millions of DOD beneficiaries, both those deployed and those supporting, either professionally or personally, those deployed. For those colleagues supportive of the psychopharmacology (RxP) agenda, USU played a major role in demonstrating for the nation (and as Steve Ragusea keeps emphasizing, for psychology) that our practitioners could learn to provide safe and effective (i.e., quality) psychopharmacological care.

1995 APA President Bob Resnick: "It is hard not to notice Joe and since he is more than a decade and a half my senior, I always listened when he pontificated one-on-one on the current status of American Psychology. At the end of each mini-lecture, he would look me in the eyes and say 'You'll do OK Resnick.' His compliment when I was successful in the antitrust suit against Blue Cross/Blue Shield was 'Most thought you would lose.' In 'Joe speak' that was a compliment. It should not be forgotten that Joe advanced psychology in ways few could or even tried. He was the founding chair of the Department of Medical Psychology at the Oregon Health Sciences University – an independent department on par with surgery, pediatrics and, of course, psychiatry. He founded and named the burgeoning field of health psychology. We had this ongoing 'battle.' His jacket always needed pressing and he always called me 'Resnick' even up close and personal. I always think of Joe as a mentor and tormentor."

Joe is one of several of our senior colleagues who were interviewed for the Hoffman report. Ever the optimist and strong proponent of military psychology, he recently noted: "Since 2009, a small group of psychologists has attempted to associate me, and some seven other former presidents of the American Psychological Association (APA), with a so-called 'CIA torture program.' I have repeatedly denied such as association, and this has been confirmed by a number of individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the events…. I will end by sharing my belief that, in time, the damage the issue of 'torture' has wrought on a number of American psychologists and the APA will have been corrected. Herd mentality on an even larger scale has occurred before in our country. As an example of why I am optimistic, I note that the passage of time has restored the reputations of many individuals who were falsely accused during the 1950s by Senator McCarthy. I firmly believe that restoration also will happen for those of us who have been unfairly portrayed in the media and in the Hoffman report [Health Psychology Open, July-December, 2018, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2055102918798235]." We would rhetorically ask: When will APA do the right thing?

Maturing Professions: Major Kimberly Finney, USAF, (Ret.): "I entered the military as a biological scientist and retired as a military psychologist providing and overseeing mental health services for thousands of people in need. During my tenure, I served as a prescribing psychologist which was the highlight of my career. This gestalt allowed me to provide comprehensive mental health services to service members and their family when mental health services for family members were scarce with a waiting time of three or more months.

After serving 23 years in the USAF, I left active duty service and was hired as a clinical associate professor at USC, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. One key factor in hiring me was to contribute to the academic development of their military social work program. As such, I became the chair of the military program. I also created a psychopharmacology course for social workers, which led to the writing of my newly published book: Basic Psychopharmacology Principles: A Quick Guide for Mental Health Professionals. I wanted a book that discussed neurobiology and laboratory medicine, along with psychotropics within a biopsychopharmacological-model. I now serve as the lead professor in psychopharmacology, clinical practice for service members and Veterans, and assessing wellness and health." An historical note: At the beginning of psychology's RxP quest, the NIMH provided funding to social work to explore developing an appropriate RxP curriculum.

Within the accreditation world one cannot help but notice the traction gained by the newest accreditation system in psychology, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), including at DOD. PCSAS was started by those clinical psychology directors who wanted a system with more flexibility and a greater concentration on science than in the APA accreditation system. Its stated purpose is to create a system "that increases the quality and quantity of clinical scientists contributing to all aspects of public health and extends the science base for mental health care." As of today, PCSAS accredits nearly 40 prominent clinical programs, and has been recognized by the Veterans Administration (VA), the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), NIH, a large number of psychology and mental health groups and is starting on a state-by-state effort to gain licensure recognition that has had success in 6-7 states already.

PCSAS Executive Director Alan Kraut (who formerly was on the APA staff for many years and then the founding Executive Director of APS [the Association for Psychological Science]) says that he now is hoping to work with the DOD to gain recognition. "We've had good preliminary conversations with military psychologists, the Congressional Committees with jurisdiction, and others in leading positions in the Armed Forces, all around allowing PCSAS graduates to treat service members and their families. The discussions have been very positive and we hope that relevant regulations recognizing our organization will be considered and adopted, just as they were in the VA." Their efforts got a significant boost this year when the House of Representatives included in its 2019 DOD legislation that it "encourages the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) to review its regulations regarding employment of clinical psychologists who graduate from schools accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System." Over the years, we have personally come to appreciate the public policy benefits of encouraging competition. Unprecedented change is coming. Aloha, (JFK: The Last Speech. October 26, 1963.)

Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 19 – January, 2019



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Division 19 - 01/19

“PRIVILEGE IS HERE, AND WITH PRIVILEGE GOES RESPONSIBILITY”

            Honoring Those Who Went Before:  One of the truly wonderful benefits of being actively involved within the APA governance is the opportunity to get to know, on a very personal basis, those visionaries who created and/or intimately shaped the development of the profession.  When Joe Matarazzo was elected our 1989 President, I was fortunate to be able to assume his seat on the Board of Directors.  Joe is now in his early 90s and undoubtedly can reflect with pride upon creating the field of health psychology which today significantly contributes to integrated and holistic care, both of which were very high priorities within the Obama Administration and the landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

A World War II U.S. Navy Veteran, Joe was appointed one of the original members of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Board of Regents.  For those aware of the early days at USU, he single handedly created the Department of Medical Psychology; notwithstanding the rather strongly held adverse view of the first University President.  The Department has now graduated 138 doctoral level psychologists, many of whom are still on active duty serving those who willingly place themselves in harms’ way.  Perhaps of equal importance, over 6,000 Medical Corps Officers have been exposed to the concepts related to the psychology of illness and being a patient; thereby improving the care of literally millions of DOD beneficiaries, both those deployed and those supporting, either professionally or personally, those deployed.  For those colleagues supportive of the psychopharmacology (RxP) agenda, USU played a major role in demonstrating for the nation (and as Steve Ragusea keeps emphasizing, for psychology) that our practitioners could learn to provide safe and effective (i.e., quality) psychopharmacological care.

            1995 APA President Bob Resnick:  “It is hard not to notice Joe and since he is more than a decade and a half my senior, I always listened when he pontificated one-on-one on the current status of American Psychology.  At the end of each mini-lecture, he would look me in the eyes and say ‘You’ll do OK Resnick.’  His compliment when I was successful in the antitrust suit against Blue Cross/Blue Shield was ‘Most thought you would lose.’  In ‘Joe speak’ that was a compliment.  It should not be forgotten that Joe advanced psychology in ways few could or even tried.  He was the founding chair of the Department of Medical Psychology at the Oregon Health Sciences University – an independent department on par with surgery, pediatrics and, of course, psychiatry.  He founded and named the burgeoning field of health psychology.  We had this ongoing ‘battle.’  His jacket always needed pressing and he always called me ‘Resnick’ even up close and personal.  I always think of Joe as a mentor and tormentor.”

            Joe is one of several of our senior colleagues who were interviewed for the Hoffman report.  Ever the optimist and strong proponent of military psychology, he recently noted:  “Since 2009, a small group of psychologists has attempted to associate me, and some seven other former presidents of the American Psychological Association (APA), with a so-called ‘CIA torture program.’  I have repeatedly denied such as association, and this has been confirmed by a number of individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the events….  I will end by sharing my belief that, in time, the damage the issue of ‘torture’ has wrought on a number of American psychologists and the APA will have been corrected.  Herd mentality on an even larger scale has occurred before in our country.  As an example of why I am optimistic, I note that the passage of time has restored the reputations of many individuals who were falsely accused during the 1950s by Senator McCarthy.  I firmly believe that restoration also will happen for those of us who have been unfairly portrayed in the media and in the Hoffman report [Health Psychology Open, July-December, 2018, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2055102918798235].”  We would rhetorically ask: When will APA do the right thing?

Maturing Professions:  Major Kimberly Finney, USAF, (Ret.):  “I entered the military as a biological scientist and retired as a military psychologist providing and overseeing mental health services for thousands of people in need.  During my tenure, I served as a prescribing psychologist which was the highlight of my career.  This gestalt allowed me to provide comprehensive mental health services to service members and their family when mental health services for family members were scarce with a waiting time of three or more months.

After serving 23 years in the USAF, I left active duty service and was hired as a clinical associate professor at USC, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.  One key factor in hiring me was to contribute to the academic development of their military social work program.  As such, I became the chair of the military program.  I also created a psychopharmacology course for social workers, which led to the writing of my newly published book: Basic Psychopharmacology Principles: A Quick Guide for Mental Health Professionals.  I wanted a book that discussed neurobiology and laboratory medicine, along with psychotropics within a biopsychopharmacological-model.  I now serve as the lead professor in psychopharmacology, clinical practice for service members and Veterans, and assessing wellness and health.”  An historical note:  At the beginning of psychology’s RxP quest, the NIMH provided funding to social work to explore developing an appropriate RxP curriculum.

            Within the accreditation world one cannot help but notice the traction gained by the newest accreditation system in psychology, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), including at DOD.  PCSAS was started by those clinical psychology directors who wanted a system with more flexibility and a greater concentration on science than in the APA accreditation system.  Its stated purpose is to create a system “that increases the quality and quantity of clinical scientists contributing to all aspects of public health and extends the science base for mental health care.”              As of today, PCSAS accredits nearly 40 prominent clinical programs, and has been recognized by the Veterans Administration (VA), the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), NIH, a large number of psychology and mental health groups and is starting on a state-by-state effort to gain licensure recognition that has had success in 6-7 states already.

            PCSAS Executive Director Alan Kraut (who formerly was on the APA staff for many years and then the founding Executive Director of APS [the Association for Psychological Science]) says that he now is hoping to work with the DOD to gain recognition.  “We’ve had good preliminary conversations with military psychologists, the Congressional Committees with jurisdiction, and others in leading positions in the Armed Forces, all around allowing PCSAS graduates to treat service members and their families.  The discussions have been very positive and we hope that relevant regulations recognizing our organization will be considered and adopted, just as they were in the VA.”  Their efforts got a significant boost this year when the House of Representatives included in its 2019 DOD legislation that it “encourages the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) to review its regulations regarding employment of clinical psychologists who graduate from schools accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System.”  Over the years, we have personally come to appreciate the public policy benefits of encouraging competition.  Unprecedented change is coming.  Aloha,  (JFK: The Last Speech.  October 26, 1963.)

Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division 19 – January, 2019