Valeria Martinez-Kaigi, PhD, MS
Clinical Health Psychologist
Spine Wellness Center
Ayer Neuroscience Institute
Institute of Living, Hartford Healthcare
Welcome to the Summer Issue of The Health Psychologist! This issue highlights some of the impactful clinical contribution’s health psychologists have made and will continue to make as we continue to navigate a pandemic. It also features fantastic interdisciplinary work in medical education and a must-read on introspection and self-compassion for personal and professional development.
Dr. Helen L. Coons highlights the great work and leadership the members of the society have displayed this past year as she concludes her tenure position as our President.
Dr. Christina Rowan authors an insightful, candid, practical, and beautifully written piece on perfectionism and cultivating self-compassion for both personal and professional development in the Voice of Early Career Psychologists column.
Health psychologists have played such fundamental roles during this pandemic era and the work continues to be pivotal for patient’s health and wellbeing. Dr. Erin Hall discusses her unique and critical role in treating patients in the ICU with COVID-19 in the Clinical Highlight column. She highlights the invaluable and positive impact a mental health professional can have treating patients at bedside in the ICU by potentially mitigating an extremely traumatic experience. The impact of COVID-19 globally has undoubtedly been traumatic for many people. In this issue’s Conversation Corner, Dr. Kristina Pecora digs deep in self-exploration and applies her work in trauma informed evidence-based practice to optimally approach the complexities of navigating a pandemic. These two pieces are thoughtfully written to inform our clinical practice and highlight the beautiful essence of our work as health psychologists.
Part of the beauty of our work is our collaborative approaches to research, treatment, and education. In this issue’s Interdisciplinary Corner column, Dr. Allison Verhaak shares the fantastic interdisciplinary work she is doing in neurology titled “HEADucation.” Click the link and read about an innovative approach to a headache medicine curriculum.
Also, check out the SfHP news to and find out whose work was recognized this year with awards and peruse the schedule breakdown of health psychology curriculum for the virtual 2021 APA Convention.
Enjoy the Summer Issue and I hope to see you in-person at next year’s convention!
Valeria Martinez-Kaigi, PhD, M.Sc.
Editor-in-Chief, The Health Psychologist