Current Year Award Recipients

Introduction by Georita Frierson, PhD:

It is with great pleasure and honor that I acknowledge Dr. Bernardine Pinto being the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Health Psychology Research Award. She is most deserving of this prestigious accolade. I would like to share with you why she was nominated and selected among a distinguished group of nominees. Dr. Pinto is currently Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the College of Nursing, Health Sciences Professor and Co-Director of the Cancer Survivorship Center at the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina.  She is a prolific scholar in the fields of behavioral medicine, cancer survivorship, and exercise science. I have known, respected, and admired Dr. Pinto for 20+ years, and as a result I feel privileged to talk about her career.

Dr. Pinto is an outstanding researcher with a national and international reputation as an expert in health promotion efforts after a cancer diagnosis and in exercise promotion among sedentary adults. Given her research career, Dr. Pinto has 120 publications in the top tier journals, including CA-Cancer Journal for Clinicians (Impact Factor: 292.278, Cancer (IF:5.742), Journal of Clinical Oncology (IF: 24.000), and the Society’s own, Health Psychology (IF:5.556).

With such an empirically rich and data driven background, Dr. Pinto became quickly sought after as a contributor and leader in national guideline efforts.  She co-authored the first U.S. guidelines on exercise for cancer survivors (2010) and was one of the only behavioral scientists invited to participate in the International, Multidisciplinary Roundtable on Exercise and Cancer Prevention and Control (2018).

Furthermore, an important marker of distinction in a scholar is the international awareness, inclusion, and invitations of the scholar.  For example, Dr. Pinto was a keynote speaker at the 7^th World Congress of Psychosocial Oncology (Copenhagen, Denmark; 2004) where she presented an overview of health behavior change interventions for cancer patients and provided a workshop on Cancer Rehabilitation at the Psycho-social Academy that preceded the World Congress

One area that I know Dr. Pinto is most proud of is being an exemplar mentor. The most distinguished, productive researchers are often (but not always) genuinely committed to training the next generation of scholars and researchers.  Dr. Pinto is no exception, as I was able to experience this first-hand as a mentored resident (2003-2004) and post doc in 2003-2005.  In fact, Dr. Pinto was so influential I shifted my body image research in breast cancer patients to examine physical activity and well-being in cancer patients (e.g., Pinto, Frierson, & Rabin et al., 2005).  I was no exception as she mentored other students, fellows, and junior faculty, several of which went on to receive training (K) and research (R01) awards (see pgs. 58-60 on CV).  Most recently she encouraged a group of nursing faculty to write a paper on a novel and important topic, pivoting research during the pandemic (Abshire et al., 2021).

As you can tell, how fond and proud I am of Dr. Pinto, I could go on and on. In closing, I would like to thank Dr. Pinto for her decades of research, service and commitment to improving the lives of cancer survivors, sedentary persons, and the many health psychology communities. Without your research and commitment, I have no clue where the field of health psychology would be. You have made such a great impact on me and others that have worked with you. With that being said, thank you from the bottom of my heart and congratulations on your award. It is well deserved!

Remarks:
One moment that shaped my career trajectory was: when I was accepted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center & the VA Consortium for my internship/residency, more than 30 years ago. It was a game changer for me for two reasons. First: the program required residents to spend half-day on research which was not a common feature in internship programs. This requirement allowed me to broaden my research experience to other topic areas, and by working with various mentors and teams. It also led to my learning about behavior change theories especially as they applied to behavioral medicine and health psychology. After completing my internship, I went on to a postdoc at Brown University that was primarily research focused and I discovered the world of grant writing, and getting external funding for the research ideas that I was passionate about. Second: I learned that being a full-time clinician would not be a great fit for me! Clearly, the 12-month internship was a significant directional sign post in my professional journey.

Introduction by Kathryn Kanzler, PsyD, ABPP:

My name is Kathryn Kanzler. I am a clinical health psychologist and Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

I am delighted to introduce Dr. Jeffrey L. Goodie, as the 2023 recipient of the Society for Health Psychology’s Excellence in Clinical Health Psychology Award.

I have known Dr. Goodie since 2006, and throughout that time, he has been a mentor and colleague who helped shape my own career as a clinical health psychologist. Dr. Goodie’s efforts over the past 20 years are inspiring, and demonstrate his exceptional contributions to the health of the communities he has served as a clinician, researcher, educator, and mentor.

Dr. Goodie is a Board Certified Clinical Health Psychologist (ABPP) and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and in the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). He recently retired from 22 years of active-duty service, including 9 years in the Air Force and 13 years in the U. S. Public Health Service.

Dr. Goodie has provided thousands of hours of direct clinical and consulting health psychology services to active-duty service members, their families, retirees, Veterans and diverse community members. Notably, Dr. Goodie responded in the wake of numerous national disasters and traumatic events, providing clinical health psychology interventions and trauma care with culturally sensitivity.

Dr. Goodie’s impact as a scholar is also far-reaching. He is currently co-PI of a $7.3M grant examining the effectiveness of integrated behavioral health consultants in primary care for patients with chronic pain. This research follows years of work examining interventions for a range of health-related concerns, including cardiovascular disease, sleep, weight management, physical activity and tobacco cessation.

His works, including two books, more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, and 25 book chapters, have shaped the practice of clinical health psychology and integrated behavioral health in primary care.

Dr. Goodie is also an outstanding educator, having served 8 years as the Director of Clinical Training of USU’s doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. He has mentored numerous students and professionals from a wide range of disciplines in clinical health psychology practice and in integrated primary care.

Furthermore, Dr. Goodie’s leadership in clinical health psychology is reflected in serving in several prominent national positions, including President of the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology, chair of the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Integrated Primary Care Special Interest Group, and member of the APA-Accredited Clinical Health Psychology Postdoctoral Residency-Specialty Competencies Task Force.

Dr. Jeff Goodie truly exemplifies excellence in clinical health psychology through his innovative and distinct contributions to our discipline, and to improving the health of communities he serves, making him an outstanding choice for this award. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Goodie!

Remarks:

I am both honored and humbled to be the recipient of this year’s Excellence in Clinical Health Psychology Award. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Society for recognizing my contributions to the field. This award is especially meaningful to me, as I hold the Society of Clinical Health Psychology in high esteem for its dedication to advancing research, education, and clinical practice in health psychology. I also want to thank Dr. Kathryn Kanzler, an exemplary clinical health psychologist, for nominating me. Dr. Kanzler has been a dear friend and colleague for nearly 20 years, and I appreciate her taking the time to prepare a nomination on my behalf.

One invaluable lesson for today’s health psychology students is the importance of finding exceptional mentors and colleagues, both within and outside the field. A great mentor serves as a life hack to your own growth, providing experiences and insights that can accelerate your learning curve and help you avoid mistakes while seizing opportunities you might not have seen otherwise.

Don’t underestimate the value of peer mentors. Collaboration is often the key to success in research and clinical practice, and colleagues can offer real-time feedback, support, and even constructive criticism that is incredibly valuable. Working closely with your peers exposes you to different styles of thinking, problem-solving, and communication, enriching your skills and perspectives.

Mentorship is a reciprocal relationship. As you gain experience, be prepared to guide newcomers. Both formal and informal settings offer avenues for mentorship and networking. Taking the initiative to seek out these relationships will pay off in ways you can’t even foresee now.

Additionally, participating in professional organizations, like the Society of Clinical Health Psychology, offers further opportunities for networking, learning, and leadership development. These organizations often provide mentorship programs, research opportunities, and conferences that connect you with field leaders, fostering both career and academic advancement.

In closing, I’d like to thank my mentors, particularly my graduate school mentor, Dr. Kevin Larkin, as well as my peer colleagues, some of whom have been past recipients of this prestigious award. Their guidance has been invaluable in shaping my career and helping me achieve milestones that led to this honor. I am grateful to all my mentors and colleagues for their unwavering support and for continually pushing me toward excellence.

Introduction by Rina Fox, PhD:

For the past 30 years, Dr. Vanessa Malcarne has served as a shining example of what health psychology mentoring can and should be. At San Diego State University she has chaired more than 70 theses and dissertations for undergraduate through doctoral students and has served as a committee member for countless more. From 2015 to 2022, Dr. Malcarne was the Principal Investigator for the NCI-funded Creating Scientists to Address Cancer Disparities Program, which aimed to advance the careers of underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduate students who expressed interest in cancer disparities research. Through this program, Dr. Malcarne personally supported the professional development of approximately 200 underrepresented minority undergraduate students, many of whom went on to pursue graduate study, frequently in health psychology. Dr. Malcarne’s trainees have gone on to myriad careers in health psychology spanning research, teaching, clinical practice, and advocacy work, significantly expanding the impact of her mentoring legacy. Dr. Malcarne is a warm and supportive mentor and is an outstanding role model as a woman in academic leadership. She works tirelessly to create an environment in which mentees feel safe expressing their thoughts and asking questions without fear of retribution or consequence. She has made it clear to me on many occasions that her greatest source of pride and truest personal mark of success is the success of her mentees, however they may define it. This is a testament to how Dr. Malcarne approaches mentorship. I am but one of the countless trainees who has had the distinct honor and privilege of learning from her.

Remarks:
I found unexpected inspiration for my own work through focusing on the accomplishments of my students.  It’s not that I didn’t expect to be inspired by my students – I did!  Rather, I never realized just how much my students’ accomplishments would become central to my sense of how I could make a difference in the world. When I first started my career more than three decades ago, I was focused on developing a health psychology research program, with the goal of making important discoveries that would improve human well-being.  While of course I’ve never abandoned that goal, it became increasingly clear to me with each passing year that some, perhaps much, of my own work will be eclipsed or made obsolescent by the work of future health psychologists.  That perspective may sound a bit dispiriting, but I actually found it simultaneously humbling and inspiring, and it led me to increasingly redirect my efforts toward training and mentoring future generations of health psychologists. Today, there’s nothing I find more inspiring than following the accomplishments of the students and trainees I had the privilege to mentor. They will make new discoveries, move the field of health psychology forward, and improve human well-being– and I can derive tremendous satisfaction from having played a small part in helping prepare them to make a difference in the world. 

Introduction by Steven M. Tovian, PhD, ABPP:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to offer these remarks on behalf of Ronald H. Rozensky, Ph.D., ABPP, in receiving the Cynthia D. Belar Award for Excellence in Health Psychology Education and training from the Society of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association. An excellent word to describe Dr. Rozensky would be “consummate.” He is a consummate scientist- practitioner in the field of health psychology. He has also been a consummate leader in psychology’s education and training community, making major contributions to graduate students, interns, post-doctorate fellows, and peers in health psychology locally, nationally, and internationally.

Dr. Rozensky is a Fellow of SfHP and board certified in Clinical Health Psychology (ABPP).

He is Professor and was Chair of the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, Gainesville with its APA accredited doctoral and internship programs in clinical and health psychology. He worked collaboratively with Dr. Cynthia Belar who was the program’s Director of Clinical Training as well as his Associate Chair of Education until she relocated to the APA as Executive Director of the Education Directorate. At the University of Florida, Dr. Rozensky also served as the College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Associate Dean for International Programs. He served two terms as the Division’s representative to the APA Council of Representatives serving on the SfHP Executive Committee

for six years. During his term on APA Council, he was instrumental in having APA recognize the importance of population health as part of psychology’s educational, scientific, practice, and public health responsibilities.

Dr. Rozensky has been awarded the Raymond D. Fowler Award for Outstanding

Contributions to APA and the Karl F. Heisler Award for Advocacy on Behalf of Professional Psychology. He has garnered award on numerous occasions for his undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision excellence at the University of Florida. His academic leadership resulted in his department receiving three prestigious national awards from APA for education and service in psychological science. Dr. Rozensky has also received APA Division 52’s (International Psychology) award as Outstanding International Psychologist for his outstanding work in health psychology training in the UK and Jordan.

Nationally, Dr. Rozensky was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-based Linkage of the Bureau of Health Professions. He was the first psychologist to chair that committee. He has been a tireless advocate for psychologists’ roles as team leaders in medical and mental health hospitals and through his legislative testimonies and many publications, he has supported psychologists being recognized as salient members of professional/medical staffs.

Dr. Rozensky has written five textbooks, over twenty book chapters, and eighty-five peer reviewed journal articles on the science and practice of health psychology, health psychology education, and health policy. He was founder and editor for thirteen years of the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings which is approaching its thirtieth year of publication.

In summary, Dr. Rozensky has received numerous prestigious and distinguished national and professional awards for his teaching, academic scholarship, practice, and advocacy for health psychology. He was recognized by an APA Presidential Citation for being “a tireless advocate on behalf of psychology’s contribution to health care.”

Last but not least, Dr. Rozensky is a consummate friend and trusted colleague to so many…as well as a superb sailor second to none. Dr. Rozensky has made a tremendous positive impact on our profession in so many, many ways and embodies all that the Cynthia D. Belar Award for Excellence in Health Psychology Education and Training represents.

Thank you.

Remarks:

I would like to thank the members of The Society for Health Psychology for your kind recognition of my contributions to education and training in health psychology. I sincerely thank my colleagues Drs. Sharon Berry, Rick Seime, and Steve Tovian for nominating me for this wonderful award. And to my good friend, Dr. Cynthia Belar, thank you for your leadership as the role model for building the future of education and training in psychology.  Best wishes to my fellow 2023 Division 38 awardees; a truly accomplished group of friends and colleagues.

To students and trainees, I offer this lesson regarding the future of health psychology – be bold, learn everything that is necessary to assure both your own professional autonomy and the independence of health psychology in all education, training, research and healthcare settings – community colleges, colleges, universities, academic health centers, hospitals, clinics, and the community. Build independent departments of psychology wherever you can.  Be truly interprofessional colleagues but be competent psychologists first. Remember, we work with patients, not clients, in our research and practice and across all settings and populations. Be leaders who are proud to call yourselves psychologists and base your competencies as scientists, clinicians, and colleagues on psychological science and those personal characteristics that make you a compassionate individual.

Introduction by Ravi Prasad, PhD:

It is impossible to summarize the accomplishments of Dr. Kelley in one minute or less, so I will walk you through only a few of the highlights of her distinguished career.

Dr. Kelly began working with individuals living with chronic pain at a time when few psychologists were even aware of this field. She held a role in academia before entering the private sector where she has run her own practice for nearly 30 years.

Many individuals would be content with a career that included a successful private practice, board certification, and involvement with education and teaching at a national level; however, this only begins to describe Dr. Kelly’s lifetime of achievements. She is actively involved with the Georgia Psychological Association where she has held many roles, including president. She is a Fellow of six APA Divisions and has had leadership positions on multiple boards, task forces, and committees. She served as APA president and oversaw the Council of Representatives as they passed three landmark resolutions that highlight APA’s current stance on systemic racism and health equity as well as acknowledge the organization’s own complicity in promoting racism and discrimination. Her efforts have been recognized through countless awards that she has won at the state and national levels.

And it is with these few words that I could not be more proud to introduce my colleague, my friend, and the winner of the Nathan W. Perry Jr. Award, Dr. Jennifer Kelly.

Remarks:

I would like to thank the society and the awards committee for this recognition.  I would like to recognize two colleagues whom I worked with over the years, in addressing the opioid crisis, Drs. Daniel Bruns and Ravi Prasad.

My primary 2021 presidential initiative was psychology’s role in achieving health equity. Addressing this issue was one of the highlights of my professional career. I am thankful for having a dedicated task force to work with, co-chaired by Drs. Keisha Holden and Geoffrey Reed.

To students and trainees, it is important to set goals that will make a difference and have an impact on society.  As you move towards achieving your goals, keep your eyes on the prize. Keep your goals consistent with your values as that can help you deal with the challenges that will arise. Have a mentor and support network, of colleagues who will support your work and help you manage the obstacles and barriers. I had an amazing team working with me as I pursued my goals.  We were able to pass the Psychology and Health Equity resolution with 100% approval from the APA governing body.  APA has continued to embrace Health Equity.  Health is one of the four domains of the newly developed racial equity action plan.  There is a health equity ad hoc committee, that continues to move forward with the action steps from the resolution.  Again, thank you for this recognition.

Introduction by: Nancy Ruddy, PhD:

I am so happy to introduce my life long mentor and friend  Susan McDaniel, Ph.D. as she receives the Society for Health Psychology Nathan W. Perry, Jr. Award for Career Service to Health Psychology.  I cannot imagine a psychologist more deserving of this award in the context of her professionals and academic contributions, governance roles, and history of mentoring and educating others.

Susan has made valuable contributions in the fields of psychology, family therapy, family medicine and healthcare professional education.  These contributions and achievements have been widely hailed both within the field of psychology and by other professional groups.  Within the long list of awards, the fact that The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine not only awarded Susan a Career Achievement Award, but decided to name the Career Achievement Award after her, says it all.  It is an understatement to say that Susan has well represented the field of health psychology across a range of healthcare professional organizations.  The Nathan W. Perry Award finally brings her this level of recognition from her own sub-discipline, as well.

Susan’s academic achievements are clear, given the pages and pages of publications and presentations on her vita.   What makes Susan’s achievements all the more impressive is how she has woven her passion for helping families cope with health and illness and her academic pursuits.  She literally created two new subfields based on needs she identified through the clinical practice of psychology and family therapy in primary care.  First, with the publication of her seminal book, Medical Family Therapy, and subsequent work, Susan defined the conceptual structures and clinical techniques of the now robust field of medical family therapy. In so doing, she melded health psychology and family psychology in a manner that has benefitted psychologists and those they serve for decades.  Second, she worked tirelessly to promote the integration of behavioral health and psychology into primary care settings.  This work helped to set the stage for a national wave of primary care practice transformation in which psychologists work side by side with primary care medical providers.  This transformation not only meets clinical needs of the patients we serve, but has created a whole new set of opportunities for psychologists in primary care settings.

She has achieved all of this while holding high level administrative positions at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.  No surprise, she has used her position to create dozens of roles for psychologists in primary care specialty care.  She has developed a physician coaching process and practice that applies psychological science in communication and leadership.  She has developed robust interdisciplinary training opportunities for trainees and early career professionals.  Throughout this time, she has somehow managed to maintain a continuous patient practice to ground her work in the needs of the public we serve.

Susan’s level of service to the field of psychology is unparalleled.  I bore witness to her time as APA President and was continually amazed at her wiliness to truly sacrifice her own personal and professional well-being to help the organization navigate the challenges of the Hoffman Report and subsequent disruption.   The three year arc of her presidency was a grueling capstone to her service.  Yet, as this arc ended, Susan continued her service as the Council Rep for the Society of Health Psychology.  She also currently serves as the President of the Clinical Practice Division of the International Association of Applied Psychology.  I continue to be truly amazed by her willingness to maintain engagement despite the ongoing challenges.

On a more personal level, I have had the honor and privilege of working with Susan since the early 1990’s.  I have personally and professionally reaped the rewards of her mentorship, as have countless others.  Susan always makes time to support other professionals, always seeks developmental opportunities for others, knows when to push and when to give space, and values long term relationships.  I feel blessed that I have had her as a mentor, and I know that I would not be where I am without her support and guidance.

Remarks:

Good Afternoon, fellow Health Psychologists!  First, I want to thank the Society for this wonderful recognition.  To have an award named after one of the founders of our discipline, Nathan Perry, makes it especially meaningful.

I want to share 2 moments that shaped my career trajectory and influenced my receiving this award.  The first came early in my career when I was an intern and then a postdoc, with Harry Goolishian and Harlene Anderson at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Harry and Harlene turned me on to systems theory and the importance of paying attention to the effect of relationships on health outcomes, and of health on relationships.  Working with them was incredibly exciting and inspiring. 

When I went to one of my first APAs with Harry, he asked me if I would like to go to a Division 43 Board meeting with him.  He was representing the Division on Council.   Harry was a one of the pioneers of family therapy, a brilliant clinician who could tell me more about my patient just walking by him in the waiting room than I could after 4 hours of psychological testing.  That’s a true story!  He was gifted but patience was not one of Harry’s virtues.  So when I went to this Board meeting, which lasted all day, I was shocked to sit through one of the most boring things my young ears had ever experienced.  I could NOT believe that brilliant, impatient Harry was spending his time on this stuff (not that I really understood what was going on, but I had my opinions nonetheless!).  So at the end of the day, I said: “Harry, that was SO boring.  Why in the world do you do this?”  And he said something I’ve never forgotten. He looked right at me and said:  Susan, if we don’t do it, who will?  I knew that minute that Harry was giving me a life lesson, passing on some responsibility that was important. Did I want to be a change agent, or not?   I honestly had NO ambitions for any kind of political office.  But when Nate Perry’s wife, Suzanne Bennett Johnson, a great health psychologist and great APA President, started working on me, saying, “We need another health psychologist as President of APA and it should be you,” I heard Harry’s voice in my ear:  Susan, if we don’t do it, who will?

Now you may be wondering why I’m talking about Harry Goolishian, a pioneering family psychologist, when getting such a wonderful award from the Society of Health Psychology.  It’s because I credit Harry and Harlene with teaching me systems thinking. 

When I went to U of Rochester just after completing my postdoc, I had the good fortune of working with, and being inspired by, George Engel, the father of the biopsychosocial approach. I understood the connection between the biopsychosocial approach and family therapy, since they both have roots in the general systems theory that swept much of science in the early 20^th century.  But other than the relationship between the physician and patient, and psychology and biology, George did not really focus on interactions between the various levels of the biopsychosocial approach.  So when I asked George why, specifically, he didn’t attend more to family relationships, as they clearly affect health outcomes, he said:  Susan, that’s for you to do.  There it was:  another moment, just like that from Harry, where I felt the responsibility clearly being passed on to me.  The combination of systemic approaches and biopsychosocial medicine represent my life’s work, and it’s why I said yes to Nancy Ruddy about joining her to write a book on Systemic Integrated Care, which will be published by APA in January.

So I say to you now, when it comes to our Society and our discipline:  If we don’t do it, who will?  What needs to be done next, that’s for YOU to do?  I look forward to finding out!

Introduction by William Chopik, PhD:

Dr. Eric Kim is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan and before spending time at Harvard as a research fellow, associate, and scientist for five years. His program of research aims to identify, understand, and intervene upon the dimensions of psychological well-being that reduce the risk of age-related conditions. Underlying this description is a commitment to maximizing human wellness and health, with a particular eye towards public health considerations and identifying malleable characteristics that move us closer to this goal. I’ve known Eric for nearly 15 years, so it is my pleasure to introduce and congratulate him on receiving Division 38’s 2023 Excellence in Health Psychology Research by an Early Career Professional. Thank you.

Remarks:

In my first year of college year at the University of Michigan, I met my first mentor, Christopher Peterson. He ignited my fascination around the concept of purpose in life and introduced me to the transformative works of Viktor Frankl and Carol Ryff. These texts were my “Rosetta Stone,” and shed light on the experiences of older relatives who seemingly lost their sense of purpose after retirement, which in turn might have led to declining interest in taking care of their health.

Under Chris’s guidance, I pursued a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and the topic purpose in life was a recurring focus of our discussions. His untimely and tragic death during my Ph.D. journey was a deep loss for everyone. Yet, over time I found solace and guidance in the collective wisdom of wonderful mentors like Jacqui Smith, Carol Ryff, Vic Strecher, Rich Gonzalez, and Toni Antonucci, who fostered my personal and professional growth. Their influence shaped my dissertation, which examined how a sense of purpose might influence health behaviors and outcomes.

After graduating, I pursued a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and had the wonderful opportunity to expand my perspectives further under the guidance of another team of tremendous mentors including Laura Kubzansky, Tyler VanderWeele, Ichiro Kawachi, and Fran Grodstein. I hold a deep sense of gratitude towards each of them and will always cherish the insights and guidance they provided.

Introduction by Thomas Kamarck, PhD:

Dr. Rebecca Reed, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, is this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Health Psychology Research by an Early Career Professional award.

Dr. Reed investigates the links between psychological stress, psychosocial resources, and biological aging. She has shown, for example, that stress is associated with inflammation and lymphocyte senescence, and that social support is associated with a slower pace of epigenetic aging in midlife and older adults. Dr. Reed has published 30 refereed journal articles and book chapters, and she is the recipient of 4 research grants, including a Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institutes of Aging.

Dr. Reed brings an impressive collection of skills to bear on her work, with her extensive background in physiology, human development, emotion science, and longitudinal quantitative methods. She is also a compelling teacher, a dedicated mentor, and a generous colleague. She is richly deserving of this honor in recognition of her exciting and innovative work.

Remarks:

I’m very honored to receive the 2023 Excellence in Health Psychology Research by an Early Career Professional award. I want to express my sincere thanks to the Society for Health Psychology and its members.

As part of our remarks, we’ve been asked to describe one moment that shaped our career trajectories; mine was taking Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) course at the University of Arizona during my PhD program. Light bulbs went off for me in this course, where I discovered the world of PNI! It’s been thrilling to contribute to this area and integrate in aspects of aging and quantitative methodology to study how biopsychosocial factors affect immune aging and health over time. I’ve had wonderful mentors, collaborators, and students along the way; in particular, I’d like to acknowledge my late graduate mentor Dr. Emily Butler, other pre-doctoral mentors including Drs. Mary-Frances O’Connor and Chuck Raison, my postdoc mentor Dr. Suzanne Segerstrom, and my outstanding colleagues and mentors at Pitt, including my nominator Dr. Tom Kamarck, as well as Drs. Anna Marsland, Steve Manuck, and Pete Gianaros. Finally, I’d like to thank the members of my Psychoneuroimmunology Research Lab at Pitt, who I look forward to working with every day to continue contributing to the PNI field. Thank you very much.  

Introduction by Joanna Yost, PhD, ABPP:

I have the distinct privilege of speaking about a truly exceptional individual, Dr. Casey Cavanagh. Dr. Cavanagh is a board-certified clinical health psychologist and an early-career professional whose passion and dedication have been instrumental in improving the lives of countless individuals, especially within underserved populations. Since joining the UVA School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2019, Dr. Cavanagh has made a significant and meaningful impact within our institution.

Her efforts have spanned three critical areas: Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine, Transplant, and Consultation-Liaison. Within Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine, Dr. Cavanagh has spearheaded the development of inpatient and outpatient health psychology services for cardiovascular disease patients. Dr. Cavanagh has also played a pivotal role in significantly expanding the services offered to transplant patients in the acute and intensive care units. Her dedication also extends to patients with alcohol use disorders preparing for liver transplants, ensuring their access to crucial health psychology services. Dr. Cavanagh also serves as co-director of the Behavioral Medicine Consultation-Liaison (CL) service and has played a critical role in helping secure funding and significantly enhancing the hospital’s capacity to provide essential services. Her leadership in this area has not only benefited UVA but has also informed the development of similar models at other institutions.

Beyond her clinical contributions, Dr. Cavanagh has engaged in quality improvement projects and research endeavors that reflect her commitment to patient-centered care. In the face of challenging times, Dr. Cavanagh has risen to the occasion. She rapidly developed and implemented services during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided critical support to the UVA community following the UVA shooting in November 2021. Dr. Cavanagh has demonstrated her leadership at the broader level, holding key positions in prestigious organizations such as the Society for Health Psychology and the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s CVD Special Interest Group.

In recognition of these outstanding contributions, I am thrilled to present Dr. Cavanagh with the Society for Health Psychology’s Excellence in Clinical Health Psychology by an Early Career Professional award. Her record of achievement, dedication, and her vision for the future make her a shining example of excellence in clinical health psychology by an early career professional.

Remarks:

One lesson I would offer to today’s health psychology students or trainees is:

After completing a Clinical Health Psychology Fellowship I elected to pursue a 2-year research fellowship. I’ve been eternally grateful for the research opportunities, the mentorship, and the collaborations I established during this fellowship. This additional fellowship enabled me to further develop critical skills that have contributed to my success and enabled me to navigate challenging professional situations. I strongly encourage health psychology students and trainees to look for opportunities that will challenge them and help them grow as successful future health psychologists.

Introduction by Barbara Keeton:

Three years ago, I suggested that the Society for Health Psychology needed a mechanism to recognize leaders who go “above-and-beyond” the excellent volunteer service in our Councils, Committees, Interest Groups and Task Forces.  Two years ago, I was humbled and delighted to have the SfHP Volunteer of the Year Award named for me, and now have the honor of introducing the 2023 recipient:   Dr. Ali A. Weinstein.

Those of you who have been in positions where you ask others to give of their valuable “free” time know that reasonable people must occasionally decline your invitation-to-serve. . . yet there are some rare folks who are consistently willing to say “yes”!  Dr. Weinstein is one of those people.

Since joining the SfHP Board of Directors for the first time in 2005 as Student Council Chair, Dr. Weinstein has actively participated in nearly every aspect of Society service and leadership.

After many years as a Council member, she spent the past six years as Chair of the Health Research Council – coordinating not only general Council management, but also annual programming at APA, webinars, and Graduate Student Research Awards.   She has also served on the Nominations & Elections Committee.   Simultaneously, she agreed to lead the “Board and Membership” Pillar of the 2021 Long Range Planning Task Force and to serve as HRC representative to the Awards Committee.

Meanwhile, Dr. Weinstein performed her professional duties as Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health and as a Senior Scholar at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being in the

College of Public Health at George Mason University – where, by all reports, she is a valued mentor, collaborator, and colleague.  Her scholarship and impact have been recognized by APA and SfHP with Fellow status.

The Society for Health Psychology thanks Dr. Weinstein for her remarkable professional generosity and achievements, and we look forward to her continuing participation in the years to come.

Remarks:

Volunteer service to the Society for Health Psychology has benefitted me professionally in many ways. First, it has allowed me to interact and work with amazing people. I have been able to extend my network of colleagues exponentially with my volunteer service to the society. In addition, I was able to meaningfully contribute to enhancing the supports available to our next generation of health psychologists. Finally, with my interactions and time with the society, I was able to find my professional home with people that I am honored to call colleagues.

Thank you for this extremely meaningful honor. Barbara Keeton is a wonderful, thoughtful, and caring individual. The idea that my name is connected to hers is an honor beyond words. Thank you again.

Introduction by Barbara Ward-Zimmerman, PhD:

I am delighted to announce that our esteemed colleague, Dr. Daniel Bruns, received the prestigious Karl F. Heiser APA Award for Advocacy from APA President, Dr. Thema Brant, at the recent APA Convention.  The award places Dr. Bruns among the ranks of psychology’s most influential leaders, and we are immensely proud of his achievement.

For context, the Heiser Award honors psychologists who have given voluntarily of their time to define and advocate for the discipline of psychology.  Karl Heiser was a visionary who translated his ideas into reality, and the same can be attributed to Dr. Bruns.

Leveraging his vast expertise and influence to drive positive changes in health care, his successful advocacy work has been executed in collaboration with local, state, and national organizations. Dr. Bruns is the consummate interprofessional collaborator.

More specifically, his advocacy efforts have resulted in policy changes informing and promoting best practice by both the medical community and fellow psychologists.  His exceptional ability to communicate complex psychological concepts to policy makers has been instrumental in shaping evidence-based medical treatment guidelines incorporating a biopsychosocial framework at their core.  Dr. Bruns facilitated the use of Health and Behavior CPT codes by psychologists – allowing billing for services involving the assessment and intervention of behavioral, psychological, and social factors impacting an individual’s health.

Importantly, Dr. Bruns was instrumental in advocating for bills addressing the opioid epidemic, establishing guidelines for prescribing and managing opioids in workers’ compensation cases to reduce the risk of addiction and improve patient safety.  Serving as a template, his work has been used nationally by workers’ compensation systems and by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Dr. Bruns is currently advising the American Medical Association on integrating psychometric methods into their protocols, for example, standardizing assessment of functioning in electronic health records.

In light of Dr. Bruns’ commitment to advancing the field of psychology through advocacy, he is so richly deserving of the Karl F. Heiser APA Award.  His outstanding and effective advocacy efforts, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of society and the profession of psychology make him an exemplary awardee.  Few psychologists have achieved the level of advocacy impact reached by Dr. Bruns.

Remarks:

Receiving the Heiser award for advocacy is a great honor for me, and was quite a surprise. I want to express my sincere thanks to Barbara Ward Zimmerman and the 2023 SfHP Presidential Trio who nominated me for this award. 

Looking back, ironically my primary goal has not been advocating for my own agenda. I sought instead to be an agent of change that tried to make things better. That seemed more helpful.