Kristin Sands Van Sickle, PsyD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for her innovation, energy and leadership in integrated health care and rural health.
As the first psychologist to initiate a patient-centered medical home, Van Sickle is at the forefront of providing high quality and affordable treatment to patients and training to psychologists in the critical emerging specialty of integrated care. Her innovative thinking has led to her being a consultant to a local health department in order to replicate the integrated behavioral health model at the community level. Van Sickle epitomizes integrity, kindness, generosity and both professional and interpersonal skills which transcend and permeate her professional work and relationships. She is a superb role model for psychologists and a tremendous asset to her university and to the profession of psychology. Van Sickle has demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout her career, beginning as the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students chair. This led to her becoming the first voting member of the APA Board of Directors, service on the Council of Representatives, the Implementation Work Group, the Committee on Rural Health and now chair of the Policy and Planning Board.