Upfront
Members have elected Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, as APA's 2014 president. Kaslow is a professor, vice chair for faculty development and director of postdoctoral fellowship training at Emory University School of Medicine department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and chief psychologist at Grady Health System in Atlanta, Ga.
"I am a combination of ecstatic, thrilled and humbled," says Kaslow. "Being APA president is an achievement that I never really thought would come to be. I am excited about the opportunities to partner with many colleagues and friends on key initiatives that will bring us together and advance psychology."
Kaslow has chosen "uniting psychology for the future" as her presidential theme. "My overarching priority is to bring together diverse constituency groups and individuals to work collaboratively on advancing APA's strategic plan for the good of all psychologists and especially for the people we serve," she says.
More specifically, as a scientist, practitioner, educator and social activist, her initiatives are to:
- Advocate for psychologically informed child- and family-centered health care that is accessible for all.
- Enhance the pipeline for students and early career psychologists (internships, jobs).
- Engage early career scientists and retain mid-career and senior scholars in APA.
Kaslow currently serves on APA's Board of Directors and is an APA fellow. In addition, she has served as past president of three APA divisions: Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology), Div. 29 (Psychotherapy) and Div. 43 (Society for Family Psychology). She has also been president of the American Board of Professional Psychology and American Board of Clinical Psychology. Kaslow is a former chair and board member emeritus of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers and former chair of the Council of Chairs of Training Councils. Kaslow has had 20 years of funding from the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Her research focuses on culturally competent assessment and treatment of suicidal behavior and family violence in African-Americans, with a focus on women, youth depression, family systems medicine, and education and training.
Kaslow is also board-certified in clinical psychology, clinical child and adolescent psychology, and couple and family psychology, and serves as a private practitioner through the Emory Clinic and as the psychologist for the Atlanta Ballet. In addition, Kaslow works at Grady Health System, an inner-city hospital serving economically disadvantaged and primarily minority populations. She learned about policy as a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Primary Care Public Policy Fellow. She received a Karl F. Heiser Award for Distinguished Contributions in Advocacy in Psychology for her efforts working with members of Congress to include psychology in the Health Care Fairness Act.
Kaslow is the daughter of Florence Kaslow, PhD, who has also been highly active in APA. "Some have said that occupation is a sex-linked gene in the Kaslow family, as my father and brother are both financial planners and my mother and I are both psychologists involved in APA governance. Whether it is genetic or environmental, psychology is in my blood, my heart, my mind, my psyche and my soul. That is why I am honored to be president."
Overall, she says, she hopes her presidency will be "one in which all members of the organization experience more engagement in APA." She welcomes feedback and involvement from all members.
