Message from the President and President-Elect

Message from the President

 Another year has passed or more optimistically, another year is beginning.  This year marks the first year of my presidency for the Nebraska Psychological Association.  As such, I thought this would be a good time to introduce myself to members and prospective members.  As a native Nebraskan, I grew up in the Scottsbluff area, (Gering to be exact) and moved to Lincoln when I started college.  I graduated from the University of Nebraska Clinical Psychology Training Program in 2004.  Upon completion of my degree, I began working at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and continued in that role until 1999 when I took my current position as the Clinical Director of the Nebraska State Patrol Sex Offender Registry.  I have also maintained a private practice since 1996.  I am married with 3 step-children, the youngest of which is 21years old.  My husband, Scott and I have a 4 year old son and 2 grandsons; one is 8 and the other is 1. 

I originally joined NPA in 1995, paying dues, but not being involved beyond attending CEU conferences.  In 1999, I was approached by Dr. Mario Scalora to be public practice chair.  Needless to say, I had no idea into what I was getting myself.  Quite frankly, I was quite naïve about the numerous issues facing our profession and what was happening “behind the scenes”.   From 2002 to 2004, I served as secretary and for the last two years as president-elect. In that time, I have become more versed in a wide range of issues and the politics of it all.  There are “battles” that some of you may be unaware are being fought on our behalf and threats to the profession that you may not be aware.  Some of these issues include parity, scope of practice, changes in licensure requirements, fees and reciprocity.  This does not include the impacts on behavioral health in general through budgets and standards of practice.   These issues are on-going and not all against the practice of psychology.  We have taken some proactive steps to positively impact behavioral health and maintain the professionalism of our field.    I have learned from those that have gone before me and from those of you in the field. 

However, it is not enough.  I have seen NPA become a smaller group of individuals working to better the position of psychology in our state and beyond.  We need you.  There are now more licensed psychologists than ever.  The need and emphasis nationwide to use evidence based practice mandates that clinicians and academicians work together or at a minimum educate each other to best respond to the changes in our society.  It is that interaction that will be critical to sustain psychology.   I know that we have well-educated people in our state and want to tap those resources.  We desperately need people to be involved from the rural and metro areas, clinicians and academicians, males and females, people who research or treat infants to geriatrics, across the range of diagnoses and throughout the range of practice types.  If you are new to Nebraska, this is a great opportunity to connect with psychologists in the state, impact practice and policies in Nebraska based on your experiences in other states and learn your way through the Nebraska systems.   If you are new to the profession, this is a great opportunity to consult with people who have been practicing and researching for many years as well bring the newest educational experiences to the table and keep us up to date.   There are various committees developed outside of NPA that affect psychology.  Having NPA members on those boards allows us a front seat to policy decisions that affect us all.  Without those voices, we will be left.  Bottom line, I want to encourage and beg not only your membership but your INVOLVEMENT in NPA.   At this time, we need membership committee members and CEU committee members.  And most importantly, we need your input on issues facing you and your agency and we need your expertise.  You may submit your interest, your ideas and/or your dilemmas to NPA central office or to any of the board members.  We welcome you to attend board meetings and be involved. 

For those of you already on the board, I would like to remind you that this is a commitment to which you agreed.  The board cannot function as effectively without your attendance and involvement.  I would ask that you renew your commitment to your position within NPA and help the board make a difference and represent your area.  We need to re-examine our by-laws and the way in which we are doing business to insure that we are keeping up and acting not just reacting. 

Message from the President-Elect

For those unfamiliar with me, my name is Dan Ullman.  I from a rural area in Kansas and completed my undergraduate education at Washburn University in Topeka, and a M.S. degree in clinical psychology at Fort Hays State University.  I obtained my Ph.D. degree at UN-L in 1988 and soon began working at the Lincoln Regional Center in forensic services.  I have continued working at the LRC and recently became director for an adolescent sex offender program.  I have been director of psychology services at LRC for several years.  I maintain a limited private practice and teach a course in the UN-L Psychology Department.  I have supervised a large number of UN-L graduate students in their practicum placements at the LRC.

I have been active in NPA for many years.  I have been involved in state association activities that included hospital practice, public policy, and continuing education programs for psychologists.  I have enjoyed organizing continuing education programs that focus on evidenced-based practice for psychologists.  I joined other NPA members in filing a federal lawsuit after many failed attempts to get the regional centers to follow state law and allow psychologists to have meaningful membership on the medical staff, and privileges as an independent practitioner.  The federal lawsuit ended up with a settlement before going to trial.  I am an active member of the medical staff at LRC, function as an independent practitioner, and supervise the care of the residents in our adolescent treatment program.  While the lawsuit was progressing, I earned a postdoctoral masters degree in psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.       

For the past 9 years I have served on the Board of Psychologists, and recently served as chair of that board.  My term with the licensing board ends in December of 2007.  I decided to run for president-elect of NPA for many reasons.  In particular, I want to assist the growth of NPA membership and maintain involvement in important policy issues involving the behavioral health of Nebraska citizens.  In addition, I am interested in our state association pursuing prescription privileges for properly trained psychologists.

My wife, Rose Esseks, is a licensed psychologist and a graduate of UN-L.  She is much more talented than her husband, but many of you already noticed that discrepancy.  We have a wonderful daughter, Katie, who provides us much joy.