Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Behavioral Medicine
By Alyssa Wilson
The mission of the Behavioral Medicine SIG is to promote clinical applications and evidence-based treatments in the area of behavioral medicine. The SIG has sustained this mission by supporting a journal, presenting workshops and clinical symposia, and hosting annual meetings for SIG members at the annual ABAI convention. We believe in the dissemination of behavioral science through the support of current evidence-based treatment approaches. Staying true to our mission, the SIG will be taking on new roles this next year, one of which is the support of a new journal.
There are currently 48 active members, ranging from clinicians to graduate students. All ABAI members are welcome to join free of cost (go to http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABA-B-Med-SIG/members to join). This year the SIG hosted workshops and clinical trainings for members and interested nonmembers at the annual ABAI convention in Denver. The SIG was grateful to Becky L. Nastally, Ph.D., for her commitment to the annual SIG-supported workshop entitled, "Contemporary Behavioral Perspectives on the Treatment of Obesity." The workshop focused on acceptance-based and control-based treatment approaches to weight loss. Additionally, the SIG hosted its annual meeting for SIG members and interested nonmembers at the annual convention. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss future activities, expand the leadership roles of the SIG, and discuss general states of affairs for the SIG. This year the SIG elected two new committee members and expanded its council.
Future Directions
With the growth of the SIG and the new committee members, the SIG will begin to expand its online discourse on behavioral health and medicine. These new elected officers will assist in creating a more up-to-date website and internet community, serve as discussion leaders for web-based forums, and help establish and publish a newsletter for members. One of the primary goals for the SIG this upcoming year will be to sponsor a student research paper contest and distinguished speaker series. The student paper contest will be available to any interested ABAI member, and all students are encouraged to submit their research. The distinguished speaker series will be an ongoing series throughout the year, with varying topics from across the behavioral medicine spectrum. We will also be establishing a monthly newsletter for SIG members, to serve as a reference for behavioral research on health and medicine related topics. Finally, the SIG will also be adding a new web-based space for students and clinical practitioners to dialogue and perhaps collaborate to disseminate behavioral applications to health and medicine. As part of the mission, the SIG will soon serve as a catalyst in bridging the gap between researcher and clinical practitioner—project to publication.
Now is the time to join the SIG! We hope that this year we will continue to see growth and interest from ABAI members.