History

A History of the Association of Medical School Psychologists

The role of psychology in medicine extends back to the early Greeks and continued through the Middle Ages and Renaissance into the modern era. However, the formal involvement of psychologists in U.S. medical schools is relatively recent. While a small number of psychologists held medical school appointments as early as 1910, substantial growth did not occur until after 1950. By 1953, 255 psychologists were working in medical schools. That number increased to 583 by 1959, 993 by 1964, 1,300 by 1969, and 2,336 by 1976. By 1993, the number was estimated to exceed 3,500. This rapid expansion reflected the growing recognition of psychology’s essential role in research, education, and clinical care within academic health centers.

Despite this growth, psychologists in academic health centers faced significant professional challenges. In the early 1980s, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations determined that psychologists should be excluded from the definition of medical staff. This decision created widespread concern among psychologists working in academic health centers and prompted collective action.

In response, psychologists convened at the 1981 American Psychological Association convention. That meeting led to the formation of a task force charged with developing a national organization to support psychologists in academic health centers. This effort resulted in the creation of the Association of Medical School Psychologists, later known as the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers. In 1982, the organization received provisional approval from the American Psychological Association as Section 8 of Division 12, the Society of Clinical Psychology.

From its inception, APAHC has held a distinctive position among professional organizations. It maintains dual affiliation with psychology through the American Psychological Association and with medicine through its academic society membership in the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Faculty and Academic Societies. This dual alignment reflects the unique professional identity of psychologists working at the intersection of academic medicine and psychological science.

The founding Executive Committee included leaders such as Reuben Silver, Ivan Mensch, Joseph Matarazzo, and Sidney Orgel. Early APAHC leadership focused on educating the broader field of psychology about the distinctive roles, responsibilities, and structural challenges faced by psychologists in academic health centers.

Currently, APAHC operates under bylaws that outline membership categories (Member, Trainee Affiliate, and Emeritus), elected leadership positions, and governance structures. Its Board of Directors includes a President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Representative to Division 12, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Representative, and two Members-at-Large. The Presidential track is a six-year leadership commitment, reflecting continuity and sustained governance within the Association.

APAHC has also played an important role in scholarship and professional recognition. The Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings (JCPMS), founded in 1994, became formally affiliated with APAHC in 2005. The journal provides a scholarly forum dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research, training innovation, clinical practice, and leadership in medical settings. This partnership reflects APAHC’s longstanding commitment to academic rigor and the dissemination of psychological science within healthcare environments.

Across its history, APAHC has responded to evolving healthcare landscapes, including workforce challenges, telehealth expansion, faculty development, and psychologist well-being. Recent initiatives have highlighted burnout, capacity strain, leadership development, and the growing integration of artificial intelligence and technology within academic health centers. Through conferences, research initiatives, committee work, and interdisciplinary collaboration, APAHC continues to advocate for the essential role of psychologists within complex healthcare systems.

Today, APAHC remains a vital professional home for psychologists working in academic health centers. Its enduring dual identity—anchored in psychology and embedded in medicine—continues to shape its advocacy, scholarship, and leadership. The Association stands as both a historical response to professional challenge and an ongoing platform for innovation, integration, and intentional growth within academic healthcare.

For recent accounts of APAHC’s history and evolution, please enjoy the articles linked below.

  • Bradford, A. (2024). The Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings at thirty: All grown up. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 31, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-024-10008-6

  • Cash, E., & Tran, A. G. T. T. (2016). Introduction to the special issue: Invited papers from APAHC award honorees, 2013–2015. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-016-9476-5

  • Cubic, B. (2007). Passing the torch: The future of psychology in academic health centers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 14, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-007-9053-z

  • Leventhal, G., Seime, R. J., Wedding, D., & Rozensky, R. H. (2005). The 2003 survey of academic medical center psychologists: Implications and outlook. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 12, 209–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-005-5740-9

  • Rozensky, R. H. (2006). Clinical psychology in medical settings: Celebrating our past, enjoying the present, building our future. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 13, 343–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-006-9045-4

  • Shaffer, L. A., Robiner, W., Cash, E., Hong, B., Washburn, J. J., & Ward, W. (2020). Psychologists’ leadership roles and leadership training needs in academic health centers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 28, 252–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-020-09707-7

  • Sheridan, E. P., & Silver, R. J. (1999). A history of the Association of Medical School Psychologists. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 6, 155–170. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026201724027

  • Silver, R. J., Carr, J. E., & Leventhal, G. (2005). History of the Association of Medical School Psychologists (AMSP), 1982–2005. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 12, 235–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-005-5742-7

  • Williams, A. M., Reed, B., Self, M. S., Robiner, W. N., & Ward, W. L. (2020). Psychologists’ practices, stressors, and wellness in academic health centers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 27, 818–829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09678-4

  • Williams, A. M., LaGrotte, C. A., Bullock, A., Dowd, S. M., Robiner, W. N., Yozwiak, J., & Allen, M. (2023). How are we (really) doing? Well-being of psychologists in academic health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers.