Timothy Fjordbak, PsyD, was shot and killed on Jan. 6 by an Iraqi war veteran at the El Paso Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems Clinic at Fort Bliss in Texas, where he was chief psychologist. He was 63. The shooter was a former clerk at the clinic and his motives were unclear, investigators said.
Fjordbak was a member of Div. 40 (Society for Clinical Neuropsychology) and had recently completed his master's degree in psychopharmacology in December at New Mexico State University (NMSU). He was an advocate for prescription privileges for psychologists, which are available in only three states, and had recently convinced several other psychologists in the VA system to study psychopharmacology, says Stephen Colmant, PhD, a colleague at the clinic.
"He was going to be an exemplar for us, because he was a chief of psychology in the VA system, had a background in neuropsychology, and was perhaps days away from getting his license to prescribe," says Elaine LeVine, PhD, former director of the NMSU psychopharmacology program.
Fjordbak earned his doctoral degree at the University of Denver. Before leaving to work with veterans, he had a private practice for decades in Georgia. Colleagues and friends describe him as humane, caring, perceptive and dedicated, with a gentle demeanor that he brought to his work.
He did his prescribing practicum at Mescalero Public Health Service Indian Hospital in New Mexico, where his kindness "made a tremendous impact on our staff and our patients," said Robert Chang, PhD, a colleague there, on a virtual memorial wall.
Known as "F.J." to his colleagues at the veterans' clinic, Fjordbak was exceptionally knowledgeable about neuroscience, they say, including traumatic brain injury. He was "a great guy who really cared about the veterans. He would go above and beyond to make sure we provided humanistic care. Although we focused on exams, he was sensitive to making sure veterans got into treatment when they needed it," Colmant says.
A new NMSU Foundation scholarship in Fjordbak's name will support a psychologist studying for prescriptive authority who works or plans to work in public service.
"Tim was a brilliant clinician who was kind, compassionate, and dedicated. He worked hard to make sure our veterans got the benefits they deserved," LeVine says. "To honor him is first to recognize and celebrate his deep humanitarian spirit and accomplishments, and also to reaffirm what he and all of us are trying to accomplish."
Contributions may be made onlineopens in new window or mailed to College of Education, Office of the Dean, Tim Fjordbak Scholarship Fund, MSC 3AC, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-9984.
— Stacy Lu
