Professionally, I am Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology, and have worked in integrated care throughout my career in multiple contexts including a medical school, hospital, co-location in a physician’s office, and in my own independent practice (since 1994). I work primarily with patients with chronic medical conditions, providing evidence-based psychotherapy and psychological evaluations, to assist them in managing their chronic medical condition and live the most productive life possible given their health challenges. My referrals come from multiple sources including physicians, insurance carriers, case managers, attorneys and self-referrals. I am on most insurance panels, including Medicare, as it is my belief that ALL patients should have access to adequate medical and mental health care.
I believe there are multiple challenges facing health psychology in the changing healthcare environment that we must address if we are to be a leader in healthcare and the biggest overarching challenge is health disparities. Disparities in healthcare services, research, and education and training are primarily affecting those in low SES, marginalized racial and ethnic groups, and women and children. As an association, APA needs to prioritize adequate funding for research to better understand the biological, psychological, and social factors that impact on health and wellbeing, ensure appropriately accredited education and training in health psychology to have a competent workforce to address challenges across the lifespan of individuals, and adequate and appropriate reimbursement for the services we provide. All areas hold equal importance within this ever changing and challenging health care environment. In order for us to have a rightful place it will be important for APA to have a continuously effective Center for Psychology and Health.
If we successfully grow and nurture our advocacy network, we can make a real difference in the world, including understanding and intervening in the social issues that affect our society, such as the opioid crisis. The new advocacy structure, One APA, is consistent with the mission of Health Psychology: “The Society for Health Psychology seeks to advance contributions of psychology to the understanding of health and illness through basic and clinical research, education and service activities and encourages the integration of biomedical information about health and illness with current psychological knowledge.” These next two years are crucial in cementing the priorities of health psychology into the new structure. As president-elect and president, I would ensure the rightful stance of health psychology on the Advocacy Coordinating Committee with practice (e.g. Board of Professional Affairs), education (e.g. Board of Educational Affairs), and science (e.g. Board of Scientific Affairs), and ensure that all groups would be well-represented, including those with specific public-interest focuses (e.g., Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest). I would ensure that policies regarding membership on decision-making groups demonstrate fair representation of health psychology and are ethical in their approach to making decisions. The health community must have a place at the table when any decisions about health are made. This should occur beyond my years in the presidential trio.
I have chosen two presidential initiatives: (1) focus on research, education/training and service expansion and inclusion in Integrated Care; and (2) enhancing and ensuring services and education/training and understanding/researching best practices for the Seriously Mentally Ill/Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SMI/SED). Health disparities affect both of these important arenas. APA has contributed significantly to the establishment of integrated care models, but I believe we can do a better job in coordinating the work that we do. I would like to facilitate this and hopefully Division 38 will partner with me to pursue this project.
The critical health priorities that land squarely on the shoulders of health psychologists include health disparities, appropriate and adequate compensation, telehealth, the opioid crisis, care for the seriously mentally ill, and care for our veterans. We need a president who is willing to tackle these issues and work with health psychologists and APA governance to ensure a seat at the table for our profession.
In summary, Health Service is a huge priority for APA and embedded within the strategic plan. Health service psychology encompasses a wide network of trained psychologists. Within that pool of providers, health psychologists continue to shine a light on the intersection of health care, evidence-based practice, and innovation. Those trained and well supervised in health care models and interventions play a huge role in advancing science, enhancing interprofessional care as well as team science, highlighting more cost-efficient services to a broad-based population, proving cost savings, and targeting issues related to health equity.