I left the APA Convention energized and inspired by outstanding convention activities with our Division 31 colleagues. Thank you to our convention Co-Chairs Peter Mikoski and Chris Townsend.
At the Division 31 Board meeting, we had substantive discussions about the state of professional practice including the decline in referrals reported by several practices, with Lynn Bufka, PhD, and Marnie Shanbhag, PhD, from the APA Practice team. We also learned about new APA state advocacy toolkits and healthcare financing updates with Katherine McGuire, Alix Ginsberg, MPH, and Stephen Gillapy, PhD, from the APA Advocacy team. I am grateful to Alex Siegel, JD, PhD, from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards for joining the conversation. He reported that the new Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology® will be live in the third or fourth quarter of 2027 and shared the ASPPB Model Licensing Act is out for public commentopens in new window. Colleagues from the National Register of Health Service Psychology also participated in discussing the National Register’s State Advocacy Awards and our shared work through the Coalition of Psychology Practice Organizations.
Division 31 offered excellent CE programming and co-hosted the Karl F. Heiser Awards on Friday, August 7, with APA President Wendi Williams, PhD. The 2026 Heiser Award recipients—Alan Hack, PhD; Jinsoon Lee, PsyD; R. Patrick Savage, Jr., PhD; and Julie Wolter, PsyD—were exceptional, and Williams’s remarks about each honoree left us inspired and deeply appreciative of their volunteer advocacy. Thank you to Elena Eisman, PhD, for her dedication and hard work coordinating the Heiser Awards. The evening continued with the Division 31 Annual Awards Ceremony and Social Hour—wonderfully attended, warmly collegial, and, frankly, delicious.
A special thank you to our generous sponsors:
- Platinum: Advocacy Office, American Psychological Association; Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards; National Register of Health Service Psychologists; New York State Psychological Association
- Friends: American Board of Professional Psychology; Hampden Behavioral Health; Hawaii Psychological Association; Illinois Psychological Association; New Hampshire Psychological Association; New Jersey Psychological Association; North Carolina Psychological Association; Pennsylvania Psychological Association; Rhode Island Psychological Association; Ray Folen, PhD; Danna Fowble, CCM, IOM; Gail Karafin, EdD; Anne Klee, PhD; Nanci Klein, PhD; Peter Oppenheimer, PhD; Mayra Zoe Ortiz, PsyD; Connie Paul, PhD; Jeanne Slattery, PhD
It was a privilege to honor and recognize several outstanding colleagues and SPTAs. We also recognized several Division 31 members whose Fellow status was newly conferred by the APA Council of Representatives. Thank you to Bruce Bobbitt, PhD, Division 31 Fellows Chair, for going the extra mile to support and guide four members through the process.
Congratulations to our new Division 31 APA Fellows: Evelyn Burrell, PsyD; Mayra Zoe Ortiz, PsyD; and David Susman, PhD. Congratulations as well to Terrence Koller, PhD—an APA Fellow whose initial divisional affiliation is Division 42.
We also celebrated APA Excellence in Rural Health Award recipient Catherine Carrico, PhD, and recognized the National Register of Health Service Psychologists Advocacy Awards recipients: the Illinois Psychological Association, the Nebraska Psychological Association, and the Ohio Psychological Association.
To date, Division 31 Summer Series has been well attended. Many of the sessions were recorded or slides are available. Please use the links below. We are planning some excellent programming for the coming fall months so stay tuned!
- June 12: Division 31 as part of the Coalition of Psychology Practice Organizations offers: Chiles v. Salazar: Implications for Psychology and Licensingopens in new window with Steve Smith, JD (presenter) and Nan Klein, PhD (discussant)
- June 25: Rapid Response Forum: Protecting NSF Social and Behavioral Science Funding with Krysta Jones and Juliane Baron
- July 8: Town Hall: Managing Outside Lobbyists: Best Practices for Building Effective Advocacy Partnerships with Alexandra Ginsberg, MPH
- July 23: Town Hall: Meet the APA Presidential Candidates
- July 30: Rapid Response Forum: Key Practice Advocacy Priorities for the CY27 CMS Proposed Physician Fee Schedule with Stephen Gillaspy, PhD
- August 26: Town Hall: Reinventing the Doctoral Psychologist: Leading the Market, Not Chasing It with Kate Brown, PhD, Pat DeLeon, JD, PhD, Chuck Hollister PhD, and Larry James, PhD
Thank you to Peter Oppenheimer, PhD for leading our monthly SPTA Liaison Meetings (first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.) where we have been hearing from SPTAs about issues affecting their states and discussing concerns as well as best practices and growing connections. All are welcome! Zoom information is shared on the Division 31 listserv.
I am so grateful to Connie Paul, PhD, our Executive Director, the Division 31 board and committee chairs and members for all your work supporting the division’s mission of providing political advocacy, leadership resources, and vital support to State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Associations.
Thank you, our members, for your continued engagement and support of Division 31. We welcome collaboration with our members and SPTAs to tailor programming, strengthen communication, support student and early career development, and advance advocacy efforts that meet your SPTA’s needs. Please reach out with feedback and suggestions!