Introduction to the Special Issue: Psychology in Academic Health Centers

Abstract

Articles in this special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings (JCPMS) are adapted from invited papers and symposia presentations organized by the Association of Medical School Psychologists (AMSP) and presented at the 2003 American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto. The Journal enjoys a longstanding special relationship with AMSP. Members of AMSP receive a subscription to JCPMS as a benefit of AMSP membership, and the Journal has published articles in the past that were based on presentations at AMSP meetings. For example, the JCPMS special issue that was published in June 1999 (Vol. 6, No. 2) contained papers from an AMSP conference and dealt with employment trends and salaries of medical school psychologists, the future of psychology in academic health centers (AHCs), as well as administration and governance in AHCs. The articles in this special issue of JCPMS are an expression of the ongoing collaboration between the Journal and AMSP. The issue contents reflect the mission of AMSP, which is to promote psychology in AHCs and medical school settings, and to foster leadership roles for psychologists in all facets of training, clinical practice, research, and administration in those settings. AMSP strives to articulate the priorities of psychologists in AHCs, facilitate networking, and advocate for psychology and psychologists in AHC and medical school settings. AMSP was first established in 1983. The