In this edition of the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) Update, we interview Commissioner Elizabeth Louis, MA, mental health counseling. Louis is pursuing a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University of Georgia, located in Athens. Louis currently serves on the CoA in the Graduate Student Consumers of Education and Training seat as nominated by the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS).
What was your motivation to participate in the accreditation process for health service psychology programs?
As a first generation college student, my Haitian immigrant parents continually remind me that avec edykasion tout bagay se posib (with education all things are possible). My parents came to the United States seeking a better life after fleeing the Jean Claude Duvalier dictatorship. They did not have the opportunity to pursue an education but they implanted the value of an education in me. The value that I have for education propels my dedication to stay informed about policies and concerns that affect my colleagues and the field of psychology.
As an APAGS member, I welcomed the opportunity to become part of the team that evaluates doctoral, internship and postdoctoral programs in Health Service Psychology. As the only student representative on the commission, I recognized the unique position I was in and welcomed the opportunity to use my voice in a significant way.
What sparked your interest in joining the CoA?
As a graduate student, I was not entirely aware of accreditation, but I knew of its importance. This opportunity intrigued me as it would allow me to gain additional knowledge about the accreditation process, but also about policy development from a commissioner perspective.
When did you join the CoA and how has your experience been so far?
My term commenced in January 2017, and I will serve a one-year term as a student member. My experience has been a positive one, and has challenged me to learn as much as I can about the accreditation process. I’ve found my own pace and routine, and have learned more about the functions and processes of the commission. As a student representative, I’ve learned to strike a balance between being the voice of the students while understanding my role as a commissioner.
What is your passion?
My passion is service. I have an interest in working internationally to bring mental health services to areas in crisis. I believe the opportunity to serve as a commissioner will inform my future work abroad as I hope to bring the value of accreditation to underserved areas.
What will your future hold after your time on the CoA?
I’m the 2017 recipient of the Boren Fellowship. The Boren Fellowship is an initiative of the National Security Education Program, and provides unique opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and in geographic areas that are underrepresented through study abroad.
For the Boren program, I will travel to Haiti for approximately 10 months to study Haitian Creole and work with nongovernmental organizations providing healthcare, mental health services and disaster prevention training. Beginning in September 2017 until June 2018, I will work with Partners In Health (PIH), which has responded to disasters such as the 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew by supporting Haitian professionals and integrating mental health approaches. After PIH’s first internal review of their medical education programs, one of their findings depicted the need for a wellness program for their Haitian residents and faculty, many of whom are exposed to trauma and patients’ mental health needs as they work in a disaster-prone region.
Using my past experiences of training Haitian professionals across different disciplines, I plan to work with Mary Clisbee, EdD, at PIH’s teaching and research hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti. I will help develop a mental wellness program for Haitian doctors who experience, witness and work in a setting where they are in constant contact with different forms of trauma and stressors. Physician wellness is a valuable initiative in the U.S., but it is not discussed in Haiti. I will evaluate the current ways Haitian healthcare professionals cope in complex trauma settings, examine the impact of their patients on their mental well-being and assess for post-traumatic stress disorder.
When I return from Haiti, I will continue to use and study Haitian-Creole by enrolling in language institutes and will collaborate with domestic and international professionals within the disaster field. I will complete my doctoral program in counseling psychology, volunteer for disaster prevention and response agencies, and lead mental health training programs designed to address post disaster distress in the U.S. and abroad. As an American Psychological Association minority fellow, my commitment to serving underserved communities will expand by working for the federal government through agencies within Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, such as Federal Emergency Management Agency, to support disaster prevention and response programs.