Author
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
44 articles
Pat DeLeon is the Distinguished Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (DoD) in the School of Nursing and School of Medicine. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in 2008 and served as President of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2000. For over 38 years he was on the staff of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) retiring as his Chief of Staff. He has received numerous national awards including the Order of Military Medical Merit; Distinguished Service Medal, USUHS; National League for Nursing Council for Nursing Centers, First Public Policy Award; Sigma Theta Tau, Inc., International Honor Society of Nursing, First Public Service Award; Ruth Knee/Milton Wittman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Health/Mental Health Policy, NASW; Delta Omega Honor Society Award for Outstanding Alumnus from a School of Public Health; APA Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology Award; American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Practice of Psychology; and Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Hawaii. He has been awarded three honorary degrees. He is currently the editor of Psychological Services. He has over 200 publications.
“I’ve seen it rainin’ in the sky”
Advocating for Youth Mental Health Research and Stronger Protections for Children on Social Media Alix Ginsberg, Senior Director of APA Congressional & Federal Relations – “On June 15th nearly 60 APA member psychologists participated in 150 meetings with their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to advocate for youth mental health research and stronger protections […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
October 27, 2023
“Heard A Sound, Turned Around, Looking Up, Looking Down”
The Politically Divided 118th Congress: NBC News recently noted that more than 50 years ago, two female lawmakers led a Congressional Committee for the first time: the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Beauty Shop. This Congress, women will hold all four of the top positions on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
April 9, 2023
“We’ve Been Standing on Your Shoulders, Pete, for Oh, So Many Years… There’s a Banjo Ringing Somewhere and a Yodel in the Air”
“Blue Sky” Thinking – Emerging Trends, Priorities, and Opportunities: The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) released its Special Publication Priorities on the Health Horizon: Informing PCORI’s Strategic Plan in 2021. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was established as a component of President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with the mission of identifying […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
January 5, 2023
“I once did know a president. Away down south, in Texas”
Perhaps more than ever before, this Administration has highlighted for the nation the critical importance of mental and behavioral health. Last year, U.S. Public Health Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released his Advisory — Protecting Youth Mental Health. “(T)he challenges today’s generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate. And the effect […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
September 1, 2022
“The Voice of the Sandpiper is Soft and Sweet”
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra proffered: “Budgets are about more than dollars. They’re about values. And the President’s budget is a reflection of our values as a nation. From addressing health disparities to strengthening behavioral health to investing in our children, this budget will help turn hardship into hope for millions […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
June 1, 2022
“Where Once it Never Rained til After Sundown”
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) provides an intriguing view of the multitude of forces influencing our nation’s health care system, from the broad interprofessional perspective of the behavioral sciences, law, engineering, nursing, medicine, etc. Some of the timeliest topics recently addressed include: Health Disparities, Global Warming, Advances in Technology (including Telehealth), Disinformation regarding COVID-19, […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
March 24, 2022
“These are the Days of Lazers in the Jungle”
Five years ago, at the 2016 State Leadership Conference, Expanding the Practice Spectrum, Governor Ted Strickland was the APAPO-PAC Honoree, and if I recall correctly, Representative Tim Murphy also attended. Katherine Nordal, Executive Director for Professional Practice, enthusiastically welcomed the attendees to the 33rd annual conference: “It’s been quite a year for APA. I know […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
December 2, 2021
“Oh then I saw her face”
Visionary Leadership One of the surprisingly positive aspects of the COVID-19 experience has been society’s growing awareness of the importance of quality mental health services and the adverse consequences of our traditionally reactive, individual-oriented approach. On a personal level, we have been very pleased with the recent increase in media attention to this critical aspect […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
November 15, 2021
“The Future’s in the Air. Can Feel it Everywhere.”
An Exciting Vision for the Future — Senior Administration Today the Veterans Administration (VA) provides care at 170 Medical Centers and 1,074 outpatient sites. The 2018 VA Projection Model developed estimates there were 19.5 million Veterans in 2020 and that by 2048 the number will be 13.6 million, a 43% decline. This year, 2021, there […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
June 1, 2021
“How Does A Ragtag Volunteer Army In Need Of A Shower, Somehow Defeat A Global Superpower?”
The last major legislation which President Trump signed was the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L.116-260). This legislation provided $1.4 trillion for the Fiscal Year 2021 federal government funding and $900 billion for the provisions to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Aimee Grace, formerly on the staff of Hawaii’s U.S. Senator Brian Schatz: “It has been […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
March 1, 2021
Sunrise Doesn’t Last All Morning
Since having retired from the U.S. Senate staff after 38+ years, I have had the very rewarding opportunity to be actively engaged with the graduate students at the Uniformed Services University (USU), thereby experiencing higher education from an entirely different vantagepoint. Our colleagues in the health professions represent society’s educated elite. Accordingly, we have a […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
December 1, 2020
I’m Going Back to My Plough
Over the years, we have come to appreciate that the public policy/political process is a highly personal one in which those who successfully engage possess vision, long-term commitment, and perhaps most importantly, enthusiasm. There are always unexpected opportunities to be discovered – creative ways to accomplish one’s underlying objectives. Accordingly, I have been very pleased […]
Pat DeLeon, Ph.D.
August 27, 2020