Ohio Psychological Association A Great OPA Convention

A Great OPA Convention

I received numerous positive comments from the location; to Quest facilities and staff; to Polaris Grill food; and, to the CE programming.

Here’s a wrap-up.

Convention kicked off on Wednesday with APA Practice Organization Executive Director Dr. Katherine Nordal’s Keynote Address on the "Future of Psychology." It is always nice to hear that OPA is on the forefront of what APA is addressing. One highlight from Dr. Nordal’s presentation for those members not in attendance was APA’s newly revamped Practice Central web page. Check it out; there are a lot of great resources there.

At lunch, we honored our Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award (PHWA) Winners. Congratulations to Don Joseph, Inc. of Kent, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Boeing Company, Heath. Good luck to the Columbus Zoo and Boeing who will compete for the national PHWA at State Leadership Convention in March, 2010!

Wednesday evening’s festivities began with the Champagne and Cake Reception where I was fortunate to cut the 60th Anniversary Cake with 1971-72 Past President Dr. Vytautas Bieliauskas. The presidential parade that followed included over 20 past presidents and staff, many of whom are still active in shaping OPA. Wednesday concluded with dinner and a special CE Panel presentation titled “Looking Back to the Future of Professional Psychology” that generated a lively discussion between the panel and audience members addressing psychology’s role and practice in the future. I say we take the stairs, Dr. Arnold!

Thursday morning started with a bang. And, when I say bang, I mean Dr. Vivian Ota Wang delivered a plenary session that not only was lively and entertaining, but thought provoking and truly contemporary. Dr. Wang presented on, “What Race and Genomics Are and Aren’t in Meaning and Measurement.” She challenged the recent research that came out of the human genome project and debunked some of the data and how it’s used in popular genetic marker tests. In essence, she challenged results based on where you start with your research question. Bottom line…reliability isn’t validity. We need to bring her back!

Thursday evening kicked off with the Professional Practice Committee’s Mentor Event where about 30 members introduced themselves and their interest in the program as a mentor or mentee. It was great to see so many people invested in the future of psychology through mentorship.

Following this reception was the Newly Licensed Psychologist Dinner and Swearing in Ceremony. State Board of Psychology Executive Director Dr. Ron Ross presided over these festivities. It is always a hoot to hear Ron!

We then enjoyed “OPA’s Got Talent." Who knew we had such a versatile bunch! The program started with the comedic stylings of Dr. David Schwartz; I’m still reeling from the Jewish Buddha top 10 list. Members were then treated to DSM-IV, a vocal quartet consisting of Drs. Jim Broyles, Angela Ray, Priscilla Kingston and David Hayes, that harmonized their way through several delightful numbers including an audience participation tune about OPA. Not to be out talented by licensed members, Angela Harris, a student from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology, recited an original slam poem about Carl Jung as a final project. All I can say is snap…snap…snap.

Dr. Ross stuck around and participated in the OPA’s Got Talent Night and showed off his musical ability by playing banjo with fellow bandmates, Drs. Thomas Heitkemper, David Krauss, and Bob Walker as the group "Experimental Psychologists." I must point out these folks never played together before this live performance and they were so good the audience requested an encore! What a fabulous end to a fun program. Many who attended suggested we have an OPA talent night every at every Convention.

On Friday, we welcomed over 75 students to the Convention and we had 54 poster presentations. I would like to thank the participants and judges. How encouraging it is to see so many bright and talented individuals involved in psychology. I feel confident in psychology’s future in the hands of these capable young professionals. It does my heart good to know that there is a new generation of such caring individuals out there who want to make a difference. Friday’s lunch began with our annual Awards Ceremony and ended with my Presidential Update and included a little personal background and details about why my three initiatives are important to me and where OPA will focus our efforts in the next year. Hopefully, those in attendance felt it was engaging, inspiring and encouraging.

In this month of Thanksgiving, I’d like to recognize the many student volunteers who help during Convention as well. Your efforts and involvement did not go unnoticed!

My final thanks are for a state psychological association that is organized, efficient, creative and receptive to its members' needs. The rejuvenation that I received attending the Convention is just what I needed. I hope it met your needs too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Craig S. Travis, Ph.D.
OPA President, 09-10