Candidate response: James H. Bray, PhD

James H. Bray, PhD, is director, Family Counseling Clinic, and associate professor of family and community medicine, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Houston in 1980. Bray was on the faculty at Texas Woman's University, Houston Center, for six years. He teaches psychology students, resident physicians and medical students and directs the faculty development program. He conducts research on divorce, remarriage, adolescent substance use, applied methodology and collaboration between physicians and psychologists. In addition to his internationally recognized research, he maintains an active clinical practice specializing in children and families, behavioral medicine and child custody issues. He has been active in APA governance for over 15 years, involved in practice, science, education and state issues.

Effective leader within psychology: Chair, APA Rural Health Committee and Task Force; APA Council of Representatives; president, Div. 43 (Family); chair, Board of Educational Affairs Awards Committee; chair, Texas PSY-PAC.

Internationally recognized scholar and researcher: Over 100 publications ("Multivariate Analysis of Variance" with Scott Maxwell, SAGE; "Stepfamilies: Love, Marriage and Parenting in the First Decade," Broadway Books).

Four National Institutes of Health grants: Developmental issues in stepfamilies and a longitudinal study of stepfamily development (two RO1s from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development); alcohol, psychosocial factors and adolescent development (two RO1s from National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse); Center for Substance Abuse Treatment contract on alcohol and other drug abuse linkages project with rural psychologists and physicians.

Consultant to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Consortium on Families and HIV/AIDS research program and planning committee for annual conference, role of families in preventing and adapting to HIV/AIDS. NIMH SRCM-D Review Group and ad hoc reviewer MHAI-1 Initial Review Group; National Science Foundation grant reviewer.

Active in APA governance: Board of Educational Affairs; Primary Care Task Force; State Leadership Organizing Committee; President's Miniconvention Program Task Forces; Board of Scientific Affairs observer; treasurer, Divs. 37 (Child, Youth and Family Services) and 43; member at large, Div. 29 (Psychotherapy); chair, Family Therapy in Independent Practice Task Force, Div. 42 (Independent Practice).

Strong advocate for all of psychology: Federal Advocacy Coordinator for Texas and Divs. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) and 42; APA Public Policy Advocacy Network; APA Education Advocacy Network; Fund-raiser for Association for Advancement of Psychology; Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Child Support and Child Visitation; National Leadership Coalition for Health Care Reform; National Health Policy Council, Steering Committee.

Recognized for achievements: Elected Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academies of Practice for Psychology; Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy on Behalf of Professional Psychology; Federal Advocacy Award from the APA Practice Directorate; Family Psychology and Health and Distinguished Service awards from Div. 43; Psychologist of the Year, Houston Psychological Association.

Recognized by the national media: Featured on ABC 20/20; TODAY Show; Good Morning America; CNN News; USA Today; New York Times; Los Angeles Times; Washington Post; U.S. News and World Report; Time, National Public Radio and many others.

Bray's candidate statement

As your president, I will work tirelessly to enhance the profession of psychology through expanding opportunities in practice, education and science for all psychologists. I have been a strong and effective advocate for psychology throughout my career as a scientist-practitioner-educator and it is this passion that motivates me to run for APA president.

Over 50 percent of health problems are caused by psychosocial and lifestyle factors, yet less than 5 percent of the NIH budget is spent on researching these factors. Primary-care practitioners treat over 60 percent of mental health problems, usually without consulting psychologists. This must change. Psychologists can provide solutions to effectively prevent and treat the major health and mental health problems of our nation. We are the profession that knows the most about human behavior and how to change it. It is time for psychologists to become full partners in the health-care arena and particularly in primary health care.

APA has many effective programs that I strongly support: protecting us against managed care, gaining prescriptive authority for psychologists, enhancing psychologists' roles in women's health initiatives, increased funding for Science and Education Directorate programs, and expanding opportunities for our minority colleagues and clients. I spend a significant amount of my professional time working with the homeless and underserved. As president, I will work to develop new possibilities for our underserved families and children.

How will I accomplish these goals? I have extensive experience within APA, established working relationships with governance and APA staff, and broad experience in the public policy arena. I am a seasoned media person and can be an effective spokesperson for our programs. And most importantly, when APA focuses on a problem, we get results.