Psychologists sought for three positions on Clinical Practice Guideline Advisory Steering Committee

Deadline for nominations is Dec. 17, 2018.

Nominations are invited for three positions on the Advisory Steering Committee for Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the American Psychological Association. The Advisory Steering Committee (ASC) oversees APA's process for clinical practice guideline development, including selection of topics for guidelines and recommendations of members for guideline development panels. The terms for new positions will begin in early 2019, and the deadline for submitting nominations is Dec. 17, 2018. Self-nominations are encouraged.

It is preferred, though not required, that psychologists filling the open positions have substantial background in at least one of the following areas:

  • Child-focused clinical or research expertise.
  • Behavioral medicine.
  • Health insurance/third-party payor perspective.
  • Use of guidelines within systems or by direct providers.
  • Direct provision of clinical treatment or services in the areas of mental health, physical health or health behaviors.
  • Expertise in dissemination or implementation research.
  • Primary care work experience.
  • Expertise in intervention research.

Psychologists from a variety of perspectives and orientations (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, family systems, humanistic, psychodynamic) are welcome and encouraged to consider applying.

Two clinical practice guidelines in the areas of PTSD in adults and obesity in children and adolescents have been adopted by APA. An APA clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression has been drafted, and a call for nominations for members of a guideline development panel on treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain will be released.

Over the next several years, the ASC will select new topics for guideline development and recommend members of guideline development panels for those topics. The ASC will also be engaged in designing strategies for disseminating APA guidelines, encouraging their implementation by health care providers and organizations, and evaluating their impact. Finally, the ASC aims to build relationships with other organizations to collaborate in developing and disseminating clinical practice guidelines.

The current membership of the ASC is:

  • Jamile Ashmore
    Baylor Scott & White Medical Center — Plano
  • Francisca Azocar
    Optum
  • Anthony Chambers
    Northwestern University
  • Claire Collie
    Veterans Affairs Central Office
  • Kimberly Hepner
    RAND Corporation
  • Jacqueline Persons
    Oakland Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center
  • Glenn Smith
    University of Florida
  • Bethany Teachman (Chair)
    University of Virginia 
  • Gregory Aarons (continuing as implementation science advisor) 
    University of California, San Diego

All future work of the ASC is contingent on APA policy and funding.

The detailed call for nominations can be found below. Questions about the call and about APA's development of clinical practice guidelines can be directed to APA Associate Executive Director for Practice Research and Policy Lynn Bufka, PhD, via email.

Call for nominations

APA Advisory Steering Committee for Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines 

Nominations of psychologists are invited for three open positions on the Advisory Steering Committee for Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the APA, with terms beginning in early 2019. Based on the expected needs of the committee over the next several years, nominations of psychologists who have substantial background in one or more of the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:

  • Child-focused clinical or research expertise.
  • Behavioral medicine.
  • Health insurance/third-party payor perspective.
  • Use of guidelines.
  • Direct provision of clinical treatment or services in the areas of mental health, physical health or health behaviors.
  • Expertise in dissemination or implementation research.
  • Primary care work experience.
  • Expertise in intervention research.

Psychologists from a variety of perspectives and orientations (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, family systems, humanistic, psychodynamic) are welcome and encouraged to consider applying. 

The work of the ASC includes: 

  • Design and assessment of the policies and procedures by which APA develops clinical practice guidelines.
  • Selection of topics for development of clinical practice guidelines.
  • Recommendations to the APA Board of Directors of individuals to serve on clinical practice guideline development panels.
  • Formulation of policies for commissioning and utilizing independent systematic reviews of empirical research to inform the development of clinical practice guidelines.
  • Planning of the structure and format of guideline documents and related products.
  • Designing strategies for enhancing the dissemination and implementation of clinical practice guidelines.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness and impacts of clinical practice guidelines.
  • Provision of progress reports to the board of directors and other APA governance groups. 

The ASC provides direction to APA's overall efforts in clinical practice guideline development but does not itself engage in the writing of guidelines or the conduct of systematic reviews. It reports to the board of directors, with additional oversight by the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and Board of Scientific Affairs (BSA). Staff from the APA Practice Directorate and Science Directorate support the ASC's activities.

As currently authorized, the ASC has positions for nine individuals. Each member serves for a term of three years, with the possibility of renewal for a second term. All future work of the ASC is contingent on APA policy and funding.

ASC members are expected to travel to Washington, D.C., or other cities for no more than three meetings per year (one or two ASC meetings and one or two guideline development panel meetings if serving as a liaison), participate in monthly conference calls and commit additional time and effort to the ASC as needed. Travel expenses are paid by APA.

All nominees should have 10 or more years of professional experience in clinical practice or clinical research (or combination thereof) and documented expertise in the general arena of clinical practice guidelines or evidence-based treatment development or implementation. Additionally, nominees should be nationally recognized via publications, professional awards, advanced credentials or involvement in professional organizations. Nominations of individuals who will enhance the diversity of the ASC are encouraged. Nominees should be members of the APA. However, current members of the board of directors, BPA and BSA are not eligible to serve on the ASC.

In addition to the areas noted above, candidates should have a strong background in one or more of the following areas:

  • Clinical practice guidelines development.
  • Direct provision of psychological care in diverse practice settings or with diverse populations.
  • Systematic reviews.
  • Federal agency policies and programs related to guidelines.
  • Contemporary methods for evaluation of psychotherapy and assessment processes.
  • Experience applying clinical practice guidelines in clinical settings.
  • Experience applying evidence-based practices in clinical settings.
  • Dissemination/implementation research.
  • Evaluation research.
  • Health care systems finance or administration.
  • Relevant expertise in research design and statistical analysis.
  • Public health issues and settings.
  • Experience with clinical trials.
  • Comparative effectiveness research.

Nominees' materials will be reviewed initially by the ASC and by BPA and BSA. A list of candidates will be submitted to the board of directors for it to make final selections and appointments. 

Review will include attention to nominees' areas of expertise, as well as their experience working with diverse patient populations (across race, ethnicity, language, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, class status, education, religious/spiritual orientation and other cultural dimensions, as well as adult, adolescent and child patient populations) and within various clinical settings. 

Nomination materials should include: 

  • Letter from the nominee indicating willingness to serve a three-year term.
  • Brief statement of the nominee's expertise and qualifications related to the criteria described above.
  • Nominee’s current curriculum vitae.

Nomination materials should be submitted by the nominees themselves. Endorsements from other individuals or groups are not expected. 

Nomination materials should be sent via email by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 17, 2018. In the event of questions or difficulties regarding email transmissions, please contact Program Manager for Clinical Practice Guidelines, Jacob Marzalik, MA, at (202) 336-5872.