Please vote for
Robert “Bob” Woody, PhD, ScD, JD
For President-Elect of the American Psychological Association

About September 15, 2010, each APA member will receive an election ballot. I will appreciate your support. Please consider the information below and cast your vote for me to become your President-Elect.

If elected, my presidential initiative will promote:

Psychology is science for developing a healthy and productive society.

The practice of psychology is composed of science and scholarship to benefit ALL people.

There must never be a schism between science and practice.

science and practice: Psychology is composed of science and scholarship applied to benefit ALL people. There must never be a schism between science and practice.

Being a professor and practitioner, I know that efficacious learning, assessment, and treatment require allegiance to the scientist-practitioner model. We must continue the efforts to better integrate the results of research and scholarly thought with the wisdom that comes from practice.

Among other things, the scientist-practitioner model can persuade third-party payment sources to accept the value-added results of psychology in health care. With psychologists following this model, along with professional ethics in everyday practice, there is less need for actions by governmental regulatory agencies.

multicultural and diversity Issues: As a professor of social psychology, I teach that every person represents multiple cultures. Everyone should be aware of and live by the unifying research on cultural diversity. Throughout the life span, research and education should bolster cultural identities by exposing bias, prejudice, and discrimination, and elevating appreciation of the uniqueness of individuals and groups.

Global multicultural influences impact U. S. public policies and laws. APA must bridge cultures. Around the world, psychological knowledge and interventions should address natural disasters, chronic illnesses, disabilities, infectious diseases, hunger, poverty, terrorism, war, unemployment, and crime. The international psychology community must become relevant and influential through collaborative activity in research, education, and social/health service programs.

Psychological knowledge about cultural factors should be integrated into all academic subjects, reinforcing individual and collective values that honor humanity. APA should persuade government, education, and mass media sources to espouse socially responsible messages about multiculturalism and diversity.

Every psychologist should accept our profession’s values and ethical principles that require conduct and behavior that respect the dignity and rights of ALL people and help ALL people experience healthy and productive lives

strategic planning: Because of my interdisciplinary training (psychology, law, public health, and education) and diverse professional experiences, I can help accomplish the three goals proposed in the forthcoming APA strategic plan:

Maximize Organizational Effectiveness (e.g., financial stability, membership engagement and value);

Expand Psychology’s Role in Advancing Health (e.g., “within the possible reshaping of our health care system”); and

Increase Recognition of Psychology as a Science (e.g., “the many applications of psychological science and evidence-based practice to improving daily living and human welfare”), which “connects with all aspects of the Association including practice, public interest, education, publications, public communications, advocacy and others.”

maximize organizational effectiveness: APA is dedicated to organizational efficiency and prudent fiscal management; however, new challenges will continue as will the need for wise and creative decision-making.

When it comes to finances, I support authoritative, transparent, and persuasive communications to the total membership. I will solicit members' ideas about solutions for improved cost control and increased revenues. I live by fiscal prudence.

Society benefits from supporting APA's contributions to research, education, and social/health services. I would initiate and promote efforts to secure federal and state funding for international research collaboration and communication about research that will create universal benefits.

Distance learning programs and technology relevant to psychology should be available everywhere. APA should be the world’s leader for psychological science and services, and influence global, societal, governmental, and domestic relationships, priorities, and ethics.

advancing health: My doctoral training in health services research/administration and extensive experience in a variety of health care programs (public and private) strengthen my understanding of and commitment to assuring a rightful role for psychology in health care reform. I believe:

(1) a reformed health care system should provide comprehensive services to ALL people;

(2) psychological research leads to quality health care;

(3) psychology should be a mainstay in the education and training of all health care providers;

(4) primary care, including prescription authority, is part of modern psychology; and

(5) a reformed health care system should deliver the full range of psychological services in preventive, crisis, and tertiary programs, and deal with public health issues (e.g., epidemics/pandemics, natural disasters).

Everyone everywhere should receive health care, with no bias or discrimination. In rural and urban areas, APA should pursue health care for the mentally ill and rehabilitation for a host of limitations. Promoting legislative remedies should be a priority. Governmental funding for research, training, and community programs must be consistent and increased.

psychology as a science: The APA Presidential Task Force on Psychology is charged with identifying and developing strategies for psychology to possibly be a STEM discipline (i.e., to be comparable to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). As mentioned earlier, science and practice provide reciprocal strengths that are essential for benefits for society and the profession. I believe that psychology should progress towards STEM discipline status. The purpose of science is, of course, to promote humanistic ideals.

professional advocacy and leadership by every member: APA is blessed with seasoned members who unselfishly give expertise and time, such as in governance roles. However, I want every member to be active in organizational governance and public/governmental advocacy and communications. As APA President, I would encourage feedback about the organization from EVERY MEMBER.

For every APA member, I will model leadership in teamwork, open-mindedness, critical analysis, strategic planning, and effective communication. Relying on my interdisciplinary training and experience in both the “ivory tower” and the “practice world” and high energy and fortitude that do not waiver in the face of adversity, as your APA President, I will pursue and accomplish initiatives that promote science, scholarship, ethics, and quality services for modern psychology.

With credentials in psychology, law, health services research/administration, and education, I offer authoritative advocacy of excellence in research and practice to benefit society and psychologists. I believe that: science, scholarship, and ethics provide the bases for modern psychology; and professionalism requires putting the needs of others over self-interests.

leadership: I have served on the APA Council of Representatives (two terms), Ethics Committee, Division 12 Board of Directors (Treasurer), and numerous division-level committees. I am an APA Fellow of Divisions 12, 16, 17, 18, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 and a Member of Divisions 1, 31, and 49.

I support the linkage between APA and state psychological associations. For the Florida Psychological Association, I have been President and on the Board of Directors and various committees.

At the national and state levels, I promote changes by advocating legislation and agency policies that assure practitioners fairness from third-party payment and governmental regulatory services.

science: I believe that neither science nor practice can thrive without the other. Within the scientific-practitioner model, I teach social, family, forensic, school, clinical, counseling, and administrative (leadership/organizations) courses as a Professor of Psychology (and former Dean for Graduate Studies and Research) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

My teaching embraces research-based advances and technology. The past is but a springboard to modern ideas. I seldom use the same textbook twice.

practice: For years, I engaged in clinical-forensic-family practice in accord with the scientist-practitioner model. Also I help psychologists apply psycholegal strategies to avoid/resolve ethical and legal dilemmas. I urge psychologists to develop new roles and income streams, including by psychopharmacology/prescription authority. On the behalf of my psychologist-clients, I interface with governmental sources about legislation, policies, and regulatory complaints.

academic training: My university degrees include: PhD (Michigan State), ScD (Pittsburgh), and JD (Creighton). I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Clinical Psychology at the University of London (Maudsley Hospital) and earned the Certificate in Group Psychotherapy at the Washington School of Psychiatry.

Professional Licensure: I am a licensed psychologist in Florida and Michigan, and an ABPP Diplomate (Clinical and Forensic). I am admitted to the Florida, Michigan, and Nebraska Bars.

Publications: I have expressed my scholarship in thirty-four books and over two hundred articles. I consider my edited Encyclopedia of Clinical Assessment important because of its early examination of avoiding bias and undue subjectivity in clinical practices. My publications tend toward standards and ethics, children, families, assessment, interventions, rehabilitation, and practice strategies.

health care: Given my Doctor of Science in health care services (research/administration), I have worked with a variety of health care organizations (independent practices, mental health clinics, community agencies, and hospitals). Because psychology can provide benefits to ALL people, I assert that psychology is a first-class citizen and has a critical role in every health care setting.

personal character: I pursue being open-minded, prudent, logical, and lawful. To accomplish constructive change, I rely on authoritative and tactful communications. I will appreciate support of my candidacy for APA President-Elect.

Site Visitors: 12185