American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy
Division 55 of the American Psychological Association
Division Documents
(Bylaws, Agendas,
Minutes)
Training Programs
Continuing Education
Meetings and Links
of Interest
Reflections On
DIVISION 55's FOURTH ANNUAL MID-WINTER CONFERENCE:
"NATIONAL UNITY FOR RxP
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER FOR MISSOURI AND BEYOND IN 2008"
January 9th – 12th, 2008
Concluding Remarks
Beth N. Rom-Rymer, Ph.D., Chair
Division 55 Midwinter Conference
“National Unity: Putting it all Together for Missouri and Beyond in 2008”
Kansas City, Missouri
January 12, 2008
They said we couldn’t do it – but, in the Show Me State, we showed ‘em what we could do!
Our strength
Our commitment
Our presence
We sure showed ‘em what we can do!
We’ve been beaten down. Costs of practice have risen. Remuneration has plummeted. Yet, the ways in which we care for and provide for our patients, the ways in which we integrate psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, have been demonstrated to be exceptionally effective.
More than 40 prescribing psychologists. More than 40,000 prescriptions written.
No complaints.
Last night, I heard from the State legislators that our timing was exquisite, that if we had waited one more week to lobby and to put on our dinner, we would have been competing with 6 – 8 other groups every day.
And, so it is our time, NOW, for RxP in Missouri and Beyond! Throughout the country!
How do we do it?
We go as a team: APA leaders, Division 55 leaders, State leaders.
We show them who we are and what we can do.
This is only the beginning and we have miles to go before we sleep.
I want to thank my team:
Mario Marquez
Mark Skrade
Marci Manna
Elaine LeVine
Carolyn Talboys Smith
Ellen McLean
Kelly Lora Franklin
The Division 55 Board
MOPA
The Forest Institute
for their collegiality, the shared vision, the creativity, the commitment, the financial support, day in and day out, for an entire year, to pursue our goals.
And, I want to thank YOU for your commitment, your energy, your sacrifices.
We may all fly home, today, but our hearts will never leave Missouri. We will all go home with a renewed spirit and passion for growing the practice of psychology and we will continue our work until every state in the country achieves RxP.
We can’t do it alone.
“We are strong, prepared, and ready. We NOW are on our way … Turn the tide, Missouri!”*
*Original Lyrics from Cal Robinson’s “Turn the Tide, Missouri” to the melody of “Oh Shenandoah!”
Oh Shenandoah
("Turn the Tide, Missouri")
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Here we are, in Kansas City
Away you rolling river
U-ni-ted YES to-gether,
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Come join us friends, we’ve come a long way
Away I’m bound away,
New Mexico, Guam & Louisiana,
Cross the wide Missouri.
Turn the tide Missouri.
Oh Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you
Alone and weary won’t work any longer
Away, you rolling river
We are strong, prepared and ready
Oh Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you
Which state is next..we won’t give up YET,
Away, I’m bound away, (6)
We NOW are on the way
Cross the wide Missouri
Turn the tide Missouri
Pre-Conference Anticipation:
"On behalf of the Missouri Psychological Association please allow me to express how thrilled we are that Division 55 leadership decided to hold its Midwinter Conference in Missouri. We are even more excited that you will be joining us in the "Show-me" state! Kansas City is a beautiful host city and all the more so during the holidays. Kansas City's public campaign of "Harmony in a World of Difference" serves as a reminder that together we can make a difference. Missouri has a rich history of battles, divisions, of brother fighting against brother and of overcoming. The theme of "unity - a national strategy" is appropriate and provides the backdrop for what promises to be a great 2008 Conference.
Missouri psychologists look forward to seeing you in KC soon!"
....Mark Skrade, PsyD
President, Missouri Psychological Association
"As far as the excitement that you mentioned, for me, personally, I think that this comprises the single most important conference for psychologists that has occurred during my lifetime. We desperately need a national strategy."
....Norm West, Ph.D., Sewanee, TN
"At the current rate, a state by state, province by province, effort may take another 50 years. A national strategy is a viable alternative. We need to decide what the legal and political tasks are that will accomplish this goal. Psychologists are being discriminated against in the marketplace and this should stop and it is up to us to make this happen."
....Brian Bigelow, Ph.D., C. Psych., ABPP, FSICPP, FPPR
Ontario, Canada
"I think our mid-winter conference is exactly what we need to successfully move us forwrd in obtaining RxP in MT. I really liked the idea of developing a regional network and strategy. There are so few of us out here in the rural west that we could all benefit from sharing resources."
....Earl Sutherland, Jr., Ph.D.
Montana
"This is one of those conferences that you do not want to miss, and in fact, your support and presence will clearly reflect how much you believe in the need for prescriptive authority for appropriately trained psychologists."
....Cal Robinson, Psy.D., FICPP
MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology
Medical Psychologist
Brain and Spine Institute
Eau Claire, Wisconsin