Shawna L. Ehlers, PhD, ABPP

I am deeply honored by the nomination for President-Elect of the Society for Health Psychology (SfHP), my professional home for 25+ years. My SfHP service started as a student abstract reviewer and grew to include many different roles, including serving as Program Chair (Presidential Service Award) and member of our Board of Directors, Health Research Council, Clinical Health Services Council (Chair), Long Range Plan Task Force (Section Leader), and APA Interdivisional Healthcare Committee (IHC). In these roles, I have collaborated with colleagues to ensure SfHP has representatives on the APA Science Directorate and IHC, funded trainee research, and translated best-evidence science into healthcare (CE, dissemination, reimbursement). My institutional leadership roles reflect my passion for translating our science into practice: Behavioral and Social Science Director and Postdoctoral Programs Co-Director within a NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Center, Division Chair, the first Director of Behavioral Health for Oncology and Hematology, and Co-PI of a grant testing culturally-affirming care.

As President, I would drive further advancement of science, policy, and practice. Collectively, we are experts in theory, basic science, intervention development, trials, translation to real-world settings, and practice. I would channel this expertise within focused task forces to publish models such as:

• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Affirmation (IDEA): Modeling the next step of affirming identity and pride

• Burnout mitigation: Moving from individual to system factors

• Translating best-evidence science into real-world settings: Feasibility, adaptation, and effect size.

I would be honored to build upon our accomplishments in pursuit of these advancements as your President-Elect.

Elizabeth K. Seng, PhD

I’m thrilled to be running for President-Elect of the Society for Health Psychology (Division 38), my professional home. I am currently serving as Member-at-Large on the Society’s Board and have served in multiple leadership roles in the Society including Chair of the Early Career Council and member of the Health Research and Membership Councils.

As President, I would continue the work I have begun as Member-at-Large, fortifying the Society for the future through modern tools to facilitate collaboration and growth. The Society is outgrowing its current resources. We need to prepare for the future through tools to connect members to the Society, manage and distribute content, and automate information systems such as member onboarding, feedback, and job postings to reduce staff and member busywork.

President Vogel has focused on further defining training pathways for health psychology. During this work it became clear to me that even leaders in the field hold multiple definitions of “health psychology,” which can interfere with our ability to clearly and forcefully advocate for health psychology at the clinic, health system, and population health levels. As President, I would continue the work that President Vogel has begun by facilitating discussions to work toward an updated operational definition of health psychology, recognizing that health psychology is relevant across the spectrum of human health.

Finally, I would grow and strengthen our membership through higher-touch engagement, prioritizing cross-organization programming, meet-ups and intensive training opportunities strengthen Society engagement and visibility.

Antu Segal, PsyD, ABPP

It is an honor to be a candidate for the Diversity and Inclusion Officer position.  As an ECP, I am excited to further my opportunities to lead and be a part of a dynamic leadership group.  When I joined SfHP, I was yearning to find a group of health psychologists who would welcome me as a new professional.  I carry minoritized and intersecting identities, and entering new professional spheres can be sometimes challenging.  My life experiences have influenced my thoughts, behaviors, and values; these experiences are what motivate me to seek out leadership roles where I can impact others in a positive, inspirational manner and create space for all voices to be heard.

I currently work as an embedded clinical health psychologist within the Transplant Institute at Henry Ford Health in Detroit.  Often, I am confronted with the push-pull between patients and providers.  In my role, I serve as both a patient advocate and consult-liaison for my transplant team. My childhood-honed set-shifting skills facilitate bridging gaps between patient preferences and provider expectations. My participation in the hospital's Quality/Safety Committee has highlighted the importance of creating a high reliability organization and psychologically safe spaces for better patient outcomes and provider well-being.

If elected, I will strive to foster SfHP as an equitable space where health psychologists are welcomed and future leaders of consequence, who value the diversity of individuals’ viewpoints/choices, are heard.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve SfHP and its members!

Eboni C. Winford, PhD, MPH

The promotion of D&I initiatives over real, systemic change and internal exploration of origins and impact of bias and discrimination is concerning. The phrase “diversity” it implies difference. Things that are not the same. Variety. However, simply having diverse people, whether in thought, appearance, actions, identities, etc., is not enough. Intentional efforts must be implemented to enhance cultural humility and to reduce the tendency to place “diverse” people into situations where they continue to be in the minority. These “diverse” people may then be more likely to feel “othered” or feel as though they must educate those in the majority about their lived experiences.

To be included means that someone who holds power to grant access into a space must first recognize that those who are missing are, in fact, missing. It further suggests that the ones who have been excluded cannot earn their entry into those spaces without the majority’s help, and they do not belong in those spaces in the first place.

Knowing these nuances, a D&I officer has the responsibility to challenge the D&I status quo. Such a position engenders an obligation to facilitate questioning of norms, deep reflection of biases, and the infusion of equity throughout all tasks undertaken by a group. This is a big ask and one that I do not take lightly. If elected, I would prioritize systemic change over box-checking and work to push our fellow psychologists into spaces where real, authentic change and growth are possible.  

Ali A. Weinstein, PhD

It is an honor to be nominated to serve as Member-at-Large for the Society of Health Psychology (SfHP). I have been an active and proud member of SfHP, my professional home, since my time as a graduate student. I was a co-chair of the Student Council while I was a graduate student. I received my PhD in Health Psychology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and am currently a Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

My strong commitment to SfHP is demonstrated in my long-term participation and commitment to the Society. In 2023, I was acknowledged for my service to SfHP with the Barbara A. Keeton Volunteer of the Year Award. I was the Secretary for the SfHP Health Research Council from 2011-2013, Vice-Chair from 2013-2017, and was the Chair of that Council from 2017-2023. In addition, I have been an ad hoc member of the nominations committee, participated in the long-range planning process, and contributed articles to The Health Psychologist E-zine among other activities. I am proud of the various initiatives that the Health Research Council undertook in the time that I have served and lead the Council, particularly the addition of graduate student funding on research that specifically addresses health disparities and awards to support student researchers from underrepresented groups.

I hope to have the opportunity to continue my service to the SfHP, thank you for your consideration.

Joanna (Joey) Yost, PhD, ABPP

It is an honor to have been nominated to serve as a Member-at-Large for the Society for Health Psychology. I am a board-certified clinical health psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine. At UVA, I serve as the Director of the Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Co-Director of the Behavioral Medicine Consultation-Liaison service, and the Assistant Director of UVA Threat Assessment.

I have been a member of Division 38 since 2017 and previously served on the Diversity Task Force for Division 38. I was also recognized with the 2022 Excellence in Clinical Health Psychology by an Early Career Professional Award from the Society for Health Psychology. In addition to my engagement with the Society for Health Psychology, I am actively involved in APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology) and serve on the Board of Directors as the Section 8 (Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, APAHC) Representative and as a co-chair of the Division 12 Programming Committee for APA 2023 and 2024.

My identity as a clinical health psychologist is always at the foremost of my practice across settings and roles and I look forward to the opportunity to serve SfHP and its members by continuing to advocate for health psychology.

Jennifer Ferrand, PsyD, ABPP

I started my career in 2005 as a staff psychologist providing consultative services to two medical programs in one hospital, and helped grow a health psychology service line that now boasts 20 psychologists and clinicians supporting 15 programs across Connecticut in our integrated healthcare system. In 2020 I accepted a role as Hartford HealthCare’s Director of Well-Being, facing the challenge of structuring and resourcing a new department tasked with promoting well-being in the midst of a pandemic. As Director of Well-Being, I lead the development and deployment of strategic initiatives to advance well-being for all who work in our system, and lead the team’s program development, research and educational activities.

My professional background equips me to understand and represent the interests of our SfHP members. As a former health psychology program manager, I recognize the challenges of developing and sustaining health psychology roles. My current role as the well-being director for our large system allows me to understand the stressors facing psychologists and other members of the healthcare workforce, as well as the challenges of implementing effective system-wide well-being programs and initiatives. As a Member-at-Large my goal will be to promote the well-being of health psychologists, primarily through the continued development of education and mentorship programs. Consistent with SfHP’s 2023-24 Presidential Initiative to Address Health Psychologist Health and Well-Being through Connections, I will support efforts to bring health psychologists together both formally and informally, to collaboratively address issues that impact us all.

Philip J. Fizur, PsyD

I am grateful to be nominated for of Member-at-Large and, if chosen, will passionately serve the Society in this capacity.

I am the Lead Psychologist for Integrated Psychological Services and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cooper Health and the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University respectively. Here, I serve Camden, New Jersey’s traditionally undeserved Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in primary care through assessment and intervention, in administrative duties to continue to expand services and programming, and in the training of medical students and residents alongside psychology trainees at all levels. Together we collaborate as clinicians, researchers, and advocates to extend access to the benefits of health psychology, all toward helping people to live their most valued and healthiest lives.

The Society has been an integral part of my professional development since 2012. The influence of my peers has been of the utmost importance in building the knowledge, skills, and insights that are at the core of what I do every day. Most recently, my role on the Early Career Professionals Council has allowed me to connect with my colleagues to continue the division's efforts to expand our specialty and has served as an invaluable source of support.

This statement can only begin to describe the longstanding impact the Society has had on me as a professional and a person. Again, I am thankful to be considered for this opportunity and pledge to work diligently on behalf of all of the membership, and all of those we seek to help.

Julie Radico, PsyD, ABPP

It has been an honor to serve as one of the Society for Health Psychology’s (SfHP) APA Council Representatives for the past 3 years. During that time, I have worked alongside SfHP and APA colleagues to generate and enact meaningful policies for our profession. This includes APA’s policy on Psychology’s Role in Advancing Population Health (https://www.apa.org/about/policy/population-health-statement.pdf). If I am afforded the opportunity to continue in this role, I promise dedicated action to advance policy and continue advocacy with a health-focused lens.

A bit more about me, I have a decade of experience in Family Medicine, as an associate professor and behavioral health faculty. I continue to work with residencies and those in the healthcare profession through my independent practice. In addition to SfHP, I currently serve in leadership roles for APA (CODAPAR), American Academy of Clinical Health Psychology (President), Pennsylvania Psychological Association (Board of Directors), and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (Planning Committee).

I appreciate your thoughtful consideration and the opportunity to continue good work on behalf of SfHP.

Ranak B. Trivedi, PhD

I am a clinical and health psychologist, health services researcher, and Associate Professor at Stanford University and VA Palo Alto. My mission is to improve self-management for people with chronic and serious illnesses and their family caregivers by developing culturally attuned dyadic behavioral interventions through research, practice, policy, and education. My 100+ published manuscripts and book chapters have informed practice and policy for Veterans and family caregivers. I have co-authored the only clinical psychology handbook summarizing evidenced-based approaches to treat family caregivers. I advise the preeminent national caregiver advocacy organization to ensure that their federal caregiving policy recommendations are based in science. I have raised awareness of health psychology as a science outside of academia through community-facing presentations, podcasts, blogs, and media interviews, many at APA’s invitation. I mentor the next generation in conducting impactful research as Director of three advanced fellowships and faculty for VA Palo Alto’s clinical psychology residents.

As your Representative on Council, I will be a strong advocate for health psychology in research, practice, policy, and education across APA. I have served the Society as member and Web Liaison of SfHP’s Early Career Professional Council, our Health Policy Council, and our Branding Task Force. I serve as a Consulting Editor for our flagship journal, Health Psychology. These roles have helped me develop a deep understanding of SfHP’s governance and the needs of our members. My extensive Society contributions and expertise uniquely positions me to be an unrelenting voice for health psychology and health psychologists on Council.