Thank you for the opportunity to present my candidacy for APA President.   

• I am a licensed ABPP psychologist, 
• I serve as an officer on the executive committee of the Foundation of the American Board of Professional Psychology. 
• I’m also a Fellow and Board-Certified Physician in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 

For over twenty years, I’ve been a firm supporter of expanding the role of psychologists to include prescriptive authority.

• I published a paper in the American Psychologist in which I presented this case.
• I’ve testified at public hearings and worked to develop appropriate APA-vetted training and testing materials, to insure both quality and safety. 
• Over this period, the role of independent prescribing has dramatically expanded among other healthcare professionals, such as Nurse Practioners and Physician Assistants 
• In fact, more than 60% of psychotropic medications are prescribed by mid-level primary care practitioners. 
• To date, fewer than ten states have adopted a path for prescribing for psychologists.
• Research tells us that the psychiatrists are less likely to engage in psychotherapy, and there are typically onerous waiting times for appointments, particularly with underserved populations. 
• I believe well trained psychologists would be able to safely provide less disjointed mental health care, including the authority to “deprescribe” when appropriate.

If elected, my first mission will be to advance this cause.

• My plan is to work with a selected cadre of thought leaders to develop a sustainable plan for action in concert with the APA Advocacy office. 
• I would present a plan for the development of uniform training in APA accredited programs for those psychologists who choose to pursue acquisition of these additional skills.

• I believe that now more than ever that there is a need to develop a more comprehensive model to meet the growing mental health crisis.  

• Given our psychology foundation, there will also be significant opportunities for more meaningful research in this space.

If elected, another focus of my presidency will be board certification. 

• Although the true value of board certification related to outcomes remains difficult to assess, while almost 90% of physicians are board certified, less than 5% of practicing psychologists are board-certified. There is growing awareness of a need for action to address consumer confusion regarding professional competence. 

• The fact is that the hurdle for ABPP certification remains an obstacle for most practicing psychologists. I will propose that ABPP certification be recast to function as equivalent to Fellow Status in medicine, and a more achievable board-certification process be developed for psychologists. 

One additional overarching focus will be to advocate for increased reinsurance reimbursement, including for clinical services provided by psychology trainees. 

I’d also like to mention that I also have an MBA and have managed large multi-discipline staffs. I would bring this managerial experience and skill to the position, as well as my passion for the profession of psychology. 

Joe Pachman, MD, PhD, ABPP
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