Candidates for APA President
What specific psychology scientific initiatives would you promote during your presidential year?
Recent international (WHO) and federal (Surgeon General) reports emphasize the costs of failures to address mental illnesses. NIMH (Translating Behavioral Science into Action) notes that the toll of mental illness "includes more than $148 billion a year in direct and indirect costs, and an incalculable amount of suffering for a sizeable proportion of our population"; it goes on to say, "A public health challenge of this magnitude demands the best science we can offer." I support this emphasis on translational research as it is critical to ensure that our best science reaches the clinic where it can directly help people.
How would you enhance resources for the APA Practice Organization?
One of the most exciting ventures for the new APA Practice Organization is the development of the Web-based portal, which will provide a variety of electronic services for practicing psychologists. This portal offers exciting opportunities for professional development and may spur new collaborations across APA. I support efforts to develop similar techniques to permit individuals from science, education and practice with common interests to identify one another and to identify sources of support for their common interests. For example, publicizing the availability of funds for translational research will encourage diverse groups to provide such research and integrate it into practice.
