Candidates for APA President
How will you support and broaden the science agenda at APA?
Psychological science is the basis for our work as psychologists: Science and practice need to work together more effectively. Over 50 percent of health problems are caused by psychosocial factors, yet less than 7 percent of the NIH budget is spent researching these. This must change. APA, in concert with other organizations, needs to gain increased funding for psychological science and for new and minority scientists. We need to protect our peer-review process and fight undue restrictions through encroachments from the government and media. It is time for APA and APS to work together for the benefit of all psychologists.
What do you view as the most pressing challenges and opportunities for public and private practice in the next decade?
Our greatest challenge is making a reasonable living through psychological practice. The continued cuts in reimbursement for psychological services and funding cuts for public service undermine our profession. Two great opportunities are to expand our practice into primary care and gain prescriptive authority. Primary-care providers treat over 60 percent of mental and behavioral health problems, without psychologists' help. We can become full partners in the health-care arena and particularly in primary health care. We can effectively prevent and treat the major health problems of our nation-but we need to be there. See my Web site for more information: www.bcm.tmc.edu/familymed/jbray.
