Candidate response: James H. Bray, PhD

James H. Bray, PhD, is associate professor of family and community medicine and psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and adjunct psychology professor at the University of Houston. His PhD in clinical psychology and applied methodology is from the University of Houston. He was on the faculty at Texas Woman's University for six years. He teaches psychology students, resident physicians and medical students, and directs the faculty-development program. He conducts research on developmental and family factors in divorce, remarriage, adolescent substance use; applied methodology; and collaboration between physiciansand psychologists. In addition to his internationally recognized research, he maintains a clinical practice specializing in children and families and behavioral medicine. He has been active in APA governance for more than 15 years focusing on science, practice, education and state issues. For more, visit www.bcm.tmc.edu/familymed/jbray.

Effective leader within psychology: APA Council of Representatives; President, Div. 43 (Family); Chair, Board of Educational Affairs Awards Committee; Chair, APA Rural Health Committee and Task Force; 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; Board of Scientific Affairs Observer; Primary Care Task Force; State Leadership Organizing Committee; President's Mini-Convention Program Task Forces; treasurer for four APA Divisions; member at large, Div. 39; chair of Family Therapy in Independent Practice Task Force, Div. 42. Fellow of Divs. 7, 12, 29, 31, 37, 42, 43, 46 and 55. Member Divs. 5, 21, 30, 34, 38 and 50.

Strong advocate for all of psychology: Federal Advocacy Coordinator for Texas and Divs. 12 and 43; APA Public Policy Advocacy Network; APA Education Advocacy Network; Fundraiser for Association for Advancement of Psychology; Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Child Support and Child Visitation; National Health Policy Council, Steering Committee.

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

Research recognized by national media: Research featured on "20/20"; "Today"; "Good Morning America"; CNN News; USA Today; The New York Times; Los Angeles Times; The Washington Post; Time Magazine; and National Public Radio.

Bray's candidate statement

I am honored to run again for APA president. As an active member of APA governance, I will work tirelessly to enhance psychology through expanding opportunities in science, practice, education and public interest for all psychologists. This broad commitment previously earned endorsements from diverse groups of psychologists representing all aspects of our field. We need to address the economic viability issues for science, education and practice; continue to create a culturally expanded profession; and do a better job at member communication and retention.

Through our science and practice we 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 in primary care.

APA has many effective programs that I strongly support: Making APA a more attractive place for our young scientists/academics; gaining prescriptive authority for psychologists; protecting us against managed care; enhancing psychologists' roles in women's health and business leadership; increased funding for the Science and Education Directorate programs; and expanding opportunities for our minority colleagues and clients.

How will we accomplish these goals? We need to work together to support all psychologists through:

Advocacy at all levels to increase psychological science funding; enhance consumer access to psychological services; protect the peer-review process; and end managed-care practices that harm patients.

Public education. Increase our public presence through the media to increase public understanding of psychological science and services and to reduce mental health stigma.

Building bridges with other organizations to enhance psychological science, eliminate managed care, and create new opportunities for science and practice.