From the office of APA Chief Executive Officer Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD – AUGUST 16, 2019
Last week at APA 2019 in Chicago, we witnessed firsthand the new momentum that is driving our organization forward, guided by our new strategic priorities.
As so many of our members have told us, there was a palpable excitement at this year’s meeting, which brought together 12,000 scientists, educators, health service psychologists, applied psychologists and students.
This new momentum was reflected in a fresh approach to convention, featuring powerful Main Stage events on three critical societal issues: deep poverty, suicide and gun violence. Woven throughout all three was the message that we can have more impact together when we utilize expertise across the breadth of our field and collaborate with other disciplines. Many attendees said the engaging format and compelling speakers on the Main Stage were the most inspiring programming they’d ever seen at an APA convention. (To watch the Main Stage events, visit https://convention.apa.org/2019-video.)
Of course, this momentum goes beyond APA’s convention. It’s also being reflected in exciting new partnerships for APA, such as with the U.S. Surgeon General on opioids and the psychological science underlying related issues of stigma and pain, the National Association of Manufacturers on fostering psychologically healthy workplaces, Farm Aid on addressing the stress facing farmers and increasing access to care in rural communities, and others in the works.
It’s also evident in how the media are turning to APA and psychology to inform key societal issues. That was on display in recent days when CNN asked APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, PhD, to participate in a town hall on gun violence (an appearance that was unfortunately undermined by stormy weather that grounded her plane). We also received enormous media attention when we used our science to speak out against erroneous claims of a causal connection between mental illness and gun violence—with APA mentioned in nearly 2,000 media outlets, with a potential audience of 3.9 billion people.
In addition, policymakers increasingly see us as a trusted resource on a wide range of issues. In just a few examples:
- The Inspector General’s Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sought our expertise in assessing the extent and quality of mental health care being provided to immigrant children in detention facilities.
- APA was a key partner during the House consideration and passage of the Equality Act, which seeks to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, employment and other settings.
- We met with the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which offered an opportunity to educate high-level technology executives about the breadth of our field and the many ways psychology is informing the design, use and consequences of AI.
- I testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the need for a “whole person” approach to addressing the opioid epidemic, which takes into account psychosocial interventions that fully support recovery and prevention.
Under the guidance of our strategic priorities, we have started a formidable movement, demonstrating how APA and psychology can have an impact on a wide range of issues. Our members, our colleagues and the public are taking notice.
Let’s share this new enthusiasm: I hope you are talking with your colleagues about APA’s new energy—as we know, the buzz from trusted associates is better than any public education campaign. And I hope you will continue to stay engaged as the association calls upon the expertise of our members and explores working in new and different ways to have an impact.
Thank you for all you do to support APA in this new era.
A.C.E.