Author:
Pat DeLeon, PhD
Former APA president
Honor:
Norm Abeles, APA president in 1997, is a Korean War Army veteran, having served in Germany and in France during the Loren war. He has twice been appointed to the White House Conference on Aging. Wouldn’t it be lovely if our state associations would highlight their members who are veterans or whose spouses are veterans? Colleagues who have willingly placed themselves in harm’s way on behalf of our nation are too often under-recognized, and thus, underappreciated. The stories and lessons they can tell are fascinating and should never be forgotten. At the Uniformed Services University (USU), 2LT. Patricia Carreno (USU psychology student) opined, “I was so touched by CDR (ret) Everett Alvarez’s story today. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to learn from leaders with such incredible life histories and wisdom. What an honor to be able to connect with such mentors.” Our speaker was a Vietnam War POW for eight years and seven months – Hanoi Hilton. He served as deputy director of the Peace Corps under President Reagan and chair of the USU Board of Regents.
Mentor:
State psychological associations can facilitate truly unique training experiences for the next generation. “Organized by Maj. Elizabeth Belleau (USU psychology student) and CDR Eric Pauli (former USU nursing faculty), Surface Forces Atlantic (SURFLANT) in Norfolk, VA hosted a ship tour. The event afforded a rare opportunity for Naval Medical Center Portsmouth interns and USU students, staff, and faculty to learn about naval operations up close. The event attracted both civilian and military students from different services as well as professions, to include nursing, psychology, and medicine. The tour group was warmly received by CAPT Rees Lee, SURFLANT Force Surgeon, and Master Chief Kevin Goodrich. They actively engaged us in a lively and enlightening conversation, sharing their sea stories, their thoughts on mental health in the Navy, and more. We toured both the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and the USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) or the USS Wasp (LHD 1). Sailors currently stationed at the ships led the tours, showcasing the various aspects of naval operations, ranging from a preview of living quarters, overview of naval combat systems, medical operations, to management of aircrafts and flight decks. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to visit the ships and, more importantly, interacting with the sailors, getting a personal impression of the lives of those involved in naval operations” (Keen Seong Liew, LTJG, MSC USN).
Action:
Alex Siegel reports that there are 12 states which have currently adopted the ASPPB PSYPACT legislation: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Sixteen additional states have active PSYPACT legislation. In addition, DOD is a big supporter, appreciating that it will help provide access to care and continuity of care to military spouses and children. The American Telemedicine Association is also an advocate, as is the Council on State Government. PSYPACT is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of tele-psychology and the temporary in-person face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries. Upon enactment it allows electronic psychological services from one’s home compact state to a patient in a distant compact state, without having to be licensed in that distant state. It also allows one to temporarily provide face-to-face psychological services, again without having to be licensed in that distant state. The growing impact of technology on healthcare is extraordinarily significant for the future. RxP Up Date – Michael Tilus formerly of the Indian Health Service and former president of Div. 55 has become the first prescribing psychologist credentialed in Idaho. As is the case with the VA and DOD on telehealth, our federal colleagues are leading the way for the next generation. “Lots of chocolate for me to eat” (My Fair Lady). Aloha.