VOTE FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023
This spring, look for the email ballot to vote for the following Division 54 2023 slate of candidates: President-Elect, Member at Large--Student/Trainee Development, Member at Large--Diversity, Secretary, and the APA Council Rep. Ballots are generally sent around mid-April, deadline is May 14th.
Note that only non-student SPP members will receive a ballot from APA.
PRESIDENT ELECT
Cynthia A. Gerhardt, PhD
Cynthia Gerhardt is a Professor at The Ohio State University (OSU), Director of the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), and the Morrow Endowed Chair in Pediatric Behavioral Health. She received her undergraduate degree from OSU and her PhD from the University of Vermont, and then completed her internship and fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As an APA fellow and SPP member for almost 25 years, Dr. Gerhardt has been active in research, clinical care, training, and leadership. In 2016, she received the Dennis Drotar Distinguished Research Award and has mentored numerous students, trainees, fellows, and faculty members. As SPP Treasurer, Dr. Gerhardt served on the board from 2016-2019. She is also a member of the editorial board for JPP and CPPP, the JPP and SPP Mentorship Programs, and several SPP SIGs. As a mixed-race, first-generation scholar, Dr. Gerhardt has been an ardent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is Co-Director of the SPP Anti-racism in Research Working Group and Director of the OSU Integrating Special Populations program.
Candidate Statement
It is an honor to be nominated for SPP president, I am committed to service and believe it is important that we promote the value of pediatric psychologists worldwide. SPP is such a special organization. Having just returned from SPPAC, I loved the excitement of seeing old friends and meeting so many new trainees poised to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
If elected, I would enjoy continuing to work with our dedicated board to fulfill our division’s mission. We are now one of the most successful and financially stable divisions in APA. This has allowed us to focus on strategic initiatives that support our students and trainees; increase diversity, equity, and inclusion; generate and share our knowledge; advocate for evidence-based practice; and expand globally. I am especially grateful for the efforts to promote inclusion in SPP.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to SPP and the future of our field. It has been rewarding to mentor and work with so many new and accomplished members during my career. I hope I can continue to make a valuable and positive impact through my service to the organization. It is truly an exciting time for us!
Thank you for your consideration and support. It would be a great privilege and great fun to serve you as SPP president.
APA Statement
I am truly honored to be nominated for SPP President. As an APA fellow and SPP member for almost 25 years, I have been active in research, clinical care, training, and leadership. I am currently a Professor at The Ohio State University (OSU), Director of the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), and the Morrow Endowed Chair in Pediatric Behavioral Health. In 2016, I was honored to receive the Dennis Drotar Distinguished Research Award, and I have enjoyed mentoring many students, trainees, fellows, and faculty members. As SPP Treasurer, I served on the board from 2016-2019, and I am also a member of the editorial board for JPP and CPPP, the JPP and SPP Mentorship Programs, and several SPP SIGs. As a mixed-race, first-generation scholar, I am an ardent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. I co-direct the SPP Anti-racism in Research Working Group and direct the OSU Integrating Special Populations program. SPP is a special organization. Having just returned from SPPAC, I loved the excitement of seeing old friends and meeting so many new trainees poised to make a difference in the lives of children and families. If elected, I would welcome the opportunity to continue the work of our incredible board on strategic initiatives that support our students and trainees; increase diversity, equity, and inclusion; generate and share our knowledge; advocate for evidence-based practice; and expand globally. I believe it is important that we continue to promote the value of pediatric psychologists worldwide.
Jessica M. Valenzuela, PhD
Jessica Valenzuela is Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical & School Psychology at Nova Southeastern University where she coordinates the Clinical Health Psychology concentration and directs pediatric psychology services at Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital. Her clinical work and research focus on health disparities for underserved youth and families, and she is passionate about training.
Candidate Statement
I am truly honored by this nomination to serve my professional home of over 20 years as SPP President. My active participation in SPP has included a range of roles from Student Advisory Board member to the first SPP Diversity SIG chair and a 3-year term as the board’s Member-At-Large for Diversity. I’ve had the privilege of contributing to SPP’s Workforce Study Task Force, Science and Practice committee, and the editorial board for Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, and was humbled to be awarded the SPP Award for Distinguished Contributions to Diversity.
My longstanding commitment to serving SPP and our community of pediatric psychologists stems from a firm belief that our work makes a difference in the lives of children and families. If elected President, I especially look forward to the opportunity to continue supporting initiatives that result in representation of diverse voices and leadership, that foster the development of the next generation of pediatric psychologists, and that ensure we are advocating for the needs of the communities we serve. SPP is well positioned to make a meaningful impact in these critical areas, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve.
MEMBER AT LARGE, Continuing education
Nicole J Fleischer, PsyD.
Candidate Statement:
I am running for Member at Large, Continuing Education, as a means to increase collaboration throughout Division 54 and the Society of Pediatric Psychology. While CE credits are a requirement for many of us, what we choose to take reflects our career and personal interests. My goal in this position is to increase access to continuing education opportunities across special interest groups, affinity groups, and other communities within SPP to increase access to innovative, unique content. As a member of several SIGs and groups in SPP, I understand the importance of dissemination of information and increasing training opportunities to the psychological community. I have participated in conference planning initiatives through other organizations, providing me with the skills to plan virtual and in-person educational events. Through this role, I would appreciate the opportunity to work across SPP groups to increase access to new and emerging themes within pediatric psychology.
Kristen R. Hoskinson, PhD.
Candidate Statement:
I am honored to have been nominated to serve as the Division 54 Member at Large for Continuing Education. SPP has been my academic "home" since my graduate training, and I sincerely value having an opportunity to give back. For many years, I have served on review committees for SPP conference abstracts and funding programs, with the goal of supporting conference programming that is timely and relevant to attendees.
If elected, my primary aim is to make sure both SPPAC and year-round CE offerings meet the evolving needs of the SPP membership. In particular, I will work closely with the board and programming committee to ensure our mission, strategic plan, and conference theme are reflected in CE activities that are thought provoking and energizing to those involved in clinical service, programmatic research, and advocacy efforts. I will also collaborate with SPPAC chairs and MALs for Membership, Diversity, and Student/Trainee Development to promote opportunities for legacy building for senior professionals, establishing and strengthening professional connections, and valuable teaching and dissemination experiences for trainees and early career professionals, including through conference activities and year-round webinars and workshops. I will continue the great strides made recently on web-based attendance, evaluation, and certificate generation, to minimize post-event labor required to obtain CE credit - certainly appreciated by myself and others! Finally, I will network with those in similar roles in other associations, where CEs are offered for things like book and article reviews, and assess feasibility of these activities for members of SPP.
Sunnye Mayes, PhD, ABPP
Sunnye Mayes, PhD, ABPP is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine/Norton Children’s Hospital. She is the Director of Psychosocial Services for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and the Director of Research for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology. She is a supervisor for the pediatric psychology internship and fellowship and pediatrics medical training programs. Clinically, she provides services for families of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and disorders of blood and bone marrow.
Candidate Statement:
It is an honor to be nominated for SPP’s Member at Large for Continuing Education position. SPP was the first professional organization I joined as an undergraduate student and has always been my professional home.
This is a very exciting time to consider opportunities for this position! With a more comprehensive and engaged virtual SPP community, there are more options than ever to connect with members and to provide learning and networking opportunities throughout the year. Under Dr. Jensen’s leadership, we have seen greater access to webinars between conferences and improvements that have significantly simplified the continuing education procedures for conference attendees. If elected, I plan to continue this process of enhancing accessibility and providing access to programming relevant to our community.
As an active member of SPP, I served on the Editorial Board of JPP, and am a frequent reviewer for SPP grants, awards, and symposia. I have numerous relevant experiences in continuing education review processes and educational conference offerings for psychologists, including currently serving as co-chair for the 2023 Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers biannual conference and participating on multiple national, regional, and local continuing education events as a conference planner, educational and scientific reviewer, and moderator.
As an SPP member, pediatric psychology educational offerings are always a highlight. I appreciate the significance of this task and am thrilled to be under consideration for this member at large position. I very much appreciate your consideration and support.
Karen E. Weiss, Ph.D.
Candidate Statement:
I am excited to run for Member at Large, Continuing Education (MAL CE) for the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP). I am currently a pediatric pain psychologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor at the University of WA. I am passionate about understanding psychosocial influences of chronic pain and using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in treatment of youth with chronic pain.
I have been a member of SPP for 20 years and consider SPP my professional home. I have learned so much via the listserv, The Journal of Pediatric Psychology, and SPPAC. I have passion for continued learning, both for expanding my research and clinical knowledge, but also paying it forward by presenting research and giving workshops. I would be thrilled to contribute to our society by serving on the board in this role.
I have previously served as the Clinical Chair of the SPP Pain SIG (2015-2017) as well as the Co-Chair of the Pain SIG (2019-2021). While serving as the Clinical Chair, I worked with several colleagues on a project that examined pain assessment and interventions used by pediatric psychologists (Junghans-Rutelonis et al., 2017). As Co-Chair, I enjoyed working with the SIG board members to put together newsletters, webinars, and the national fellowship didactic series. I am grateful the previous MAL CE worked to enable SIGs to offer CEs for webinars. If elected I’d be happy to continue efforts to offer continuing education on pediatric psychology in various forms, especially virtually, in order to increase access.
Treasurer
Jason E. Boye, PhD, ABPP
Jason E. Boye, Ph.D., ABPP is a board-certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist at Nemours Children’s Health specializing in integrated pediatric primary care and pediatric obesity and a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Dr. Boye completed his internship at Hennepin County Medical Center and his fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Candidate Statement:
I am honored to be nominated for Treasurer of SPP. SPP is my professional home and I’ve had the privilege of growing up in the Obesity SIG as a member and serving as secretary and currently as chair. I was appointed as SPP’s APA Program Chair (2021) and Co-Chair (2020) allowing me to organize and highlight all the great work of SPP members at the APA Convention.
My goals, if elected, are to align the financial planning with the strategic planning work the board has completed over the past few years. Specifically, I will 1) ensure our budget and spending are aligned with the mission and vision of SPP by prioritizing spending across our four pillars and each of the cross-cutting imperatives, 2) continue the history of past Treasurers by ensuring our division remains financially secure, and 3) establish benchmarks for reserve funds to balance appropriate savings while promoting intentional, targeted spending to actively further the mission of SPP. I am dedicated to SPP and would be privileged to serve as Treasurer. Thank you for your consideration.
Gayle L. Chesley, Ph.D.
Candidate Statement:
I am motivated by a passion to make things better. Small- and large-scale forces are necessitating change within Pediatric Psychology. This change can be incidental, occurring as a reaction without thoughtful preparation, or as an intentional plan to move towards an optimal state. If elected to the Board, I will thoughtfully and proactively work to address large-scale problems with large-scale solutions to improve patient and family care and the wellness of our workforce. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to progress. After hearing concerns from early career staff in my department, I developed and implemented an early career mentoring program. As Director of Pediatric Psychology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, I oversaw overhauling our productivity requirements to ensure consistency with best practice expectations (e.g., allowing time to liaison with interdisciplinary colleagues). By way of APA’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology advocacy training, I came to see that our efforts can lead to significant change when directed thoughtfully and proactively at the right systems level (or levels, as is so often needed!). Some opportunities include advocacy for telehealth and reimbursement, efforts to expand high quality pediatric psychology training opportunities, and initiatives to increase diversity amongst the Pediatric Psychology workforce. I am honored to be nominated for the position of Treasurer. My attention to detail and budgeting experience as a longstanding fundraising co-chair have prepared me for this office. I am committed to ensuring our finances are well aligned with priorities. Thank you for considering my candidacy.