WASHINGTON - Newly elected American Psychological Association President-Elect, Dr. Norine Johnson, will use her office to influence the evolving restructure of the American health care system toward one which better serves the public's needs. Johnson, a full-time independent practitioner in Boston, took office as APA's president-elect in January and becomes the association's president in January 2001.
Noting that consumers have alerted policymakers that they want something done to solve the health care crisis in America, Johnson wants psychology to join with other community and provider groups to strongly influence the restructured health care system that is evolving in the United States. "I see better collaboration between the health provider professions as a critical public health issue," says Johnson.
Calling health care a "right for all people, not just employed people," Dr. Johnson vows to work toward "the restoration of the direct contract between the patient and the provider." One of her highest priorities will be to expand the public's access to psychologists and psychological services.
Dr. Johnson's presidential initiative in the health care arena will combine her professional experience providing psychological services, and teaching medical students, and her vision for more mutual appreciation and collaboration between the health professions.
Johnson brings a breadth of experience to her new office. She is the president of ABCS Psych Resources, which provides consultation to schools, families and businesses. Johnson is additionally an assistant clinical professor at Boston University Medical School.
Other priorities during her presidency will be psychologists' education and training, as well as expanding career opportunities for research, academic and practicing psychologists and within psychology.
Johnson has served on the APA Board of Directors for the past three years and on APA's Finance Committee from 1987 - 1991. She is an APA Fellow of Divisions 12 (Clinical), 29 (Psychotherapy), 35 (Women), 42 (Independent Practice), 43 (Family) and 51 (Men and Masculinity).
Johnson earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University in 1972. She also completed a Harvard Medical School postdoctoral program for Mental Health Planners and Administrators in 1977.
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 159,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 52 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 58 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.