The VA Psychologist Leaders Conference, sponsored by APA, the Association of VA Psychologist Leaders and Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service), was held in Washington, D.C. last month. The theme of this year’s conference was “Psychologist Voices Advancing Veteran Mental Health.”
With over 200 VA psychologist leaders in attendance—many of whom were first time attendees, early career psychologists, and trainees—the conference served as a unifying space for professional education, camaraderie, and growth. A highlight of the conference was the keynote address by the Honorable Denis McDonough, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. During this, his second address to the conference in two years, the secretary expressed support and appreciation for VA psychologists and the special care they provide for our nation’s veterans, while also acknowledging current challenges of increased demand for those services.
Also presenting were APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD, and APA Deputy CEO Jim Diaz-Granados, PhD, who each focused on the importance of the VA to the field of psychology and the need to protect the sustainability of the VA for years to come.
There were also two key panel presentations. The first featured several Veteran Service Organizations, including representatives of the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Wounder Warrior Project. The second was a legislative panel with key committee staff from both the House and Senate Veteran Affairs Committees.
Much of the conference programming provided opportunities for VA psychologists to share their research and experiences. The conference closed with a continuing education workshop on ethics led by VA psychologist Mike Martin, PhD; Webster University Professor Linda Woolf, PhD; and APA General Counsel Deanne Ottaviano, JD.
For more information, contact K. Conwell Smith.