Upfront
Psychologists discuss ways to improve veterans’ care
Enhancing mental health
services within the Department
of Veterans Affairs is a national
priority, according to William
C. Schoenhard, deputy
undersecretary for health for
operations and management
of the VA Central Office. In his
keynote address at the 15th
annual VA Psychology Leadership
Conference, held April 11–14 in
San Antonio, Schoenhard also
recognized the integral
importance of mental health
to the VA’s health-care
system and the broad roles
psychologists play.
The annual conference,
sponsored by APA’s Practice
Directorate, the Association
of VA Psychologist
Leaders and APA’s Div. 18
(Psychologists in Public Service),
gives psychology leaders a
forum to discuss the best ways
to improve care for the nation’s
veterans.
This year’s conference
highlighted new developments
in technology-assisted mental
health service delivery and the
importance of evidence-based
treatments. APA President
Suzanne Bennett Johnson, PhD,
presented a keynote address on
the move many psychologists
are making from the exclusive
provision of mental health
services to work on integrated
health-care teams. Johnson
spoke about the VA’s leadership
in developing and disseminating
models of integrated care and
providing training models
and opportunities for inter-
professional practice. She also
discussed the obesity
epidemic among
members of the military
and their dependents.
Conference chair Dr. Manuel
Garcia (left) and Association
of VA Psychologist Leaders
Conference co-creator
Dr. Russell Lemle (right)
presented the Patrick DeLeon
Advocacy Award to APA
Deputy Executive Director
for Professional Practice Dr.
Randy Phelps (center) for
his 15 years of advocacy on
behalf of veterans and VA
psychologists.
Photos by Lalo Garcia
In his keynote address, William C. Schoenhard, deputy
undersecretary for health for operations and management
in the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, talked
about the importance of enhancing the VA’s mental health
services.
APA President Dr. Suzanne Bennett Johnson spoke about
how the discipline can help those psychologists who are
interested in transitioning their practice from the exclusive
provision of mental health services to work as part of an
integrated health-care team.
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MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY • JULY/AUGUST 2012
