Candidates for APA President
What specific psychology scientific initiatives would you promote during your presidential year?
An APA president can serve the diverse scientific interests of members best by promoting psychological science as a whole. To that end, I will emphasize multidisciplinary approaches to scientific problems, and I will ensure that psychology is included in all legislation that benefits basic research in the life and physical sciences and convince policy-makers that psychological research is essential to inform public policy, including welfare, education, defense, immigration and health. I will raise the level of understanding and value of psychological research, and perhaps most importantly, use psychological research to promote a healthy, peaceful world.
How would you enhance resources for the APA Practice Organization?
APA's Practice Organization can enhance resources by forming coalitions. With over 44 million Americans with diagnosable mental disorders, growing anger over managed care, support from President Bush for mental health parity, and landmark legislation on prescription privileges, the Practice Organization has many powerful allies. We can convince cancer survivors, diabetics and others to join us in lobbying for legislation that is favorable to psychologists based on scientific data showing that psychotherapy/behavioral techniques improve their quality of life. Psychology saves health-care dollars-a metric that politicians understand. APA's Practice Organization can improve the lives of psychologists and the people they help.
