The five candidates for APA’s 2017 president answer two questions of concern to psychology in the June, July/August and September issues of the Monitor. This month’s questions are:
Q5: What actions would you take to enhance the future of psychology in an era of increasing interdisciplinary education, research and practice?
APA, APAPO and psychology cannot stand alone in the increasingly globalized and interfaced world. The most obvious and critical need is in practice and, specifically, is the inclusion of psychologists in Medicare's definition of physician and obtaining a CPT code for reimbursement of integrative health care. These ideas are illustrated in the National Academies of Practice's (honorary multidisciplinary health-care organization) Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, of which I am founding co-editor. Further, we must encourage our training programs to teach interdisciplinary competencies. Examples include focusing on interdisciplinary competencies (neuroscience) and research (cognitive science). An APA for all members!
Q6: How would your presidency work to expand international perspectives within APA and facilitate the internationalization of psychology in education, research, practice and policy?
In a recent survey, APA members told us these initiatives are the most important: promoting an international perspective within APA, increasing contact and conversations across borders, bridging diversity around the world, and promoting an international perspective in graduate training. As a Fulbright scholar and life member, I believe that education across borders increases both global understanding and a more generalizable psychology. I am visiting professor at the Universidad de Granada and most of my postdocs have been from foreign countries. Finally, I will visit Cuba in December to solidify APA's prior efforts to establish formal relations with my native country.