Article archive / October 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 2. Source pages: 1, 6, 7, 8.
Who’s got power in the Louisiana psychology community?
Using an idea from the Independent News (Pensacola) the Times conducted a rough focus group to discover who is typically perceived as having power in our community. Thirty people who seemed likely to have an informed view of the topic were asked to provide ten names, a list of the most powerful individuals.
The people were asked to give their honest impression, from whatever perspective, about the “movers and the shakers,” in the community, whether liked or disliked.
Half of them responded. Despite sampling problems and silo effects, the picture that emerged was fairly consistent, with the same names showing up again and again.
Our Power List for 2012 includes those names listed multiple times by respondents, grouped in the following intuitive categories and very roughly ranked. Included is some limited narrative, and just a few of the comments by respondents.
Political
• Jim Quillin, LAMP
Dr. Jim Quillin is a medical psychologist (MP) and guiding force behind the RxP movement in Louisiana. His name appeared on the majority of the lists and more than any other person. Only a few academics missed noticing his decade long presence in the halls of Louisiana politics.
He is a leader in the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychology (LAMP) and serves on the Medical Psychology Advisory Committee (MPAC) under the state medical board. All of the MPs who participated in the focus group, and many of the other respondents, placed him first on their list.
Comments: “Managed to devise a ‘new hybrid’ profession amid significant controversy.”
“James Quillin, who has great influence with MPs and access to significant resources for lobbying legislators and public officials. But Quillin may no longer consider himself to be a psychologist, since his record suggests that he has long been more identified with the medical community than with the interests of psychologists broadly.”
“… the political mastermind behind moving medical psychology into medicine, for convincing APA to provide money for RxP, and then deftly gaining political control over the community by not telling anyone in Psychology who would oppose the move.”
Dr. Quillin practices in Alexandria, Louisiana.
• LPA Leaders
Bryan Gros, LPA President
The current president of the Louisiana Psychological Association (LPA), Dr. Bryan Gros was listed multiple times by respondents. Gros has said he is going to be open and transparent, and “welcoming” to all. He seems to be walking the walk.
Comments: “He seems to really try to be fair, to do the right thing, and to quiet the situation he was left with.”
[One of the] “Psychologists who are now trying to make a difference – the true heroes. Relatively few colleagues who have the courage to rebuild the profession within the context of the current division and apathy. It is difficult to make a silk’s purse out of a sow’s ear.”
“… has many good ideas and commitment to ethics.”
Gros is Director, Department of Psychology, Capital Area Human Services District for the Children's Behavioral Health Services.
Phillip Griffin, Past- President of LPA
Dr. Phil Griffin was one of the names that was mentioned by both those practice and academic circles. Griffin has served twice as LPA president, getting pulled in when he did not expect to win in 2009. He has endeavored to sooth both sides’ feelings within LPA. He is the Mollie Wallick Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, LSUHSC, in New Orleans.
Comment: “Quiet, dignified, conscientious, whip smart, and always persistent, he always has done what is right for our profession. Let's hope he does not retire soon.”
Wes Brockhoeft and Alicia Pellegrin – LPA officers
While Dr. Wes Brockhoeft tends to keep a low-profile, he was listed by many and noted for his past business success and general effectiveness. He lives out of state.
Comment: “… thoroughly understands how the health insurance industry interacts with mental health stakeholders, became a player in the industry.”
Dr. Alicia Pellegrin was listed multiple times also. She is a member of the current executive committee as both Secretary and Legislative Chair. She practices in Baton Rouge.
Comment: “… The success or failure of LPA as an advocacy organization rests largely in the hands of these individuals.”
• The Psychologists in State Government
Respondents tended to identify Drs. Speier, Comaty, and Lemoine together, mentioned numerous times by practitioners.
Tony Speier, Assistant Secretary, Office of Behavioral Health, DHH
Dr. Antony Speier reports to Kathy Kliebert, the Deputy Secretary, who reports to Bruce Greenstein, the Secretary of state Department of Health and Hospitals. Speier appears to work closely with many initiatives in the state services.
Joe Comaty, Office of Mental Health, DHH; Previous Chair LSBEP
Dr. Joseph Comaty has been listed as Chief Psychologist & Medical Psychologist, and Director-Division of Policy, Standards, & Quality Assurance, for the Office of Mental Health. He has served on the LSBEP. He is a member of LAMP.
Comment: “Given his position in DHH, he serves as an advisor to many regarding psychological practice.”
Randy Lemoine, Office of Behavioral Health, DHH
Dr. Randal Lemoine has been involved with DHH, and in the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), as psychologist and in business intelligence. He recently retired after 35 years with DHH. He is also in private practice in Baton Rouge and is a member of LPA.
Tiffany Simpson, Children’s Cabinet, Office of the Governor
A UNO graduate, Dr. Tiffany Simpson is the Executive Director for the Children’s Cabinet under the Governor’s Office. The Cabinet has the goal of coordinating children’s policy across departments in the state government, including recommendations for the Children’s Budget. Dr. Simpson was mentioned several times.
• The Chairs
Paul Frick, Chair of Psychology, UNO
Dr. Paul Frick was listed numerous times by those inside academic circles but also by practitioners. He is Chair at University of New Orleans, one of the few University Distinguished Professors, and has an international reputation in the area of adolescent behavior. He worked on the DSM-V for ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.
Comment: “He is the area's hidden gem, … His PhD students are literally all over the world ….”
Robert Mathews, Chair of Psychology, LSU Baton Rouge
Dr. Bob Mathews was listed multiple times. He is Chair of the psychology department at LSU Baton Rouge and Co-Director of the Office of Applied Cognition. He is in charge of a large department at LSU with connections to a variety of state programs. He was listed more often by academics but also by practitioners.
Comment: “Has led the department through difficult periods …”
Stacy Overstreet, Chair of Psychology, Tulane
Dr. Stacy Overstreet is the new Chair at Tulane and involved in the school psychology community. She has served as Director for the APA-accredited School Psychology Doctoral Program for Tulane. She was one of the academics listed by those outside her silo. She took over the duties of the Chair only in July.
• The State Psychology Board
Lee Matthews, Chair of LSBEP
Dr. Lee Matthews was listed multiple times as the current Chair of the state board. He practices clinical and neuropsychology in the New Orleans area and is married to Janet Matthews. He jokes, “I’m the other Dr. Matthews.“ He filled one of the vacancies on the LSBEP when medical psychologists resigned. He is a member of LPA.
Comment: A “Veteran … with excellent ethics and exposure at APA.”
John Courtney, Vice Chair- LSBEP
Dr. John Courtney serves on the board and will take over chair next year. He is Director of Psychology at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. In the past he has been involved in key meetings for LAMP. Courtney has taken the lead in the LSBEP effort to put forth legislation regarding behavior analysts.
“A prominent mover and shaker in LAMP, as well as Vice Chair of LSBEP.”
Marc Zimmermann, LSBEP
While listed less often than Matthews and Courtney, Dr. Marc Zimmermann was mentioned several times by focus group respondents. He serves on the psychology board and is a medical psychologist. A member of LAMP and he has also retained his membership in LPA. He practices in Baton Rouge.
Gary Pettigrew, Lead Investigator for LSBEP
Long-time community member who is associated with Dawson Psychological Services in Baton Rouge. Pettigrew helps the psychology board with their investigations. Listed less than others but still mentioned a number of times by the practitioners.
• The Professors, Researchers & Scientists
George Noell, LSU Professor, Expert to Board of Regents
Dr. George Noell is a Professor at LSU, Baton Rouge, who also has been key in a Board of Regents project to improve schools and teachers throughout the state. His work guided redesign of multiple levels in state education. He is a school psychologist and has received national recognition for his research on behalf of the Regents.
Comment: “… for his pioneering work in educational assessment and its relationship to teacher performance. Not only an academic, but served in the department of Education.”
Johnny Matson, LSU Professor and Distinguished Research Master
Dr. Johnny Matson is a significant international figure in psychological science and Director of Clinical Training at LSU in Baton Rouge. A prolific writer (over 38 textbooks) and he has a strong influence in the scientific community in the area of autism spectrum disorders. Matson also has PhD students all over the world.
Jeffery Lockman, Tulane
Dr. Jeffery Lockman is a Professor at Tulane and was listed several times in the focus group for his scientific contributions, and work that is drawing attention of those in the scientific community. His research centers on cognitive development.
Tiffany Stewart, Pennington Biomedical, Inventor
Dr. Tiffany Stewart works at Pennington and is leading a 5-year grant with female athletes, collaborating with LSU Athletics. She has also developed and is marketing digital technology applications for eating disorders.
Comment: “… does research on eating disorders and recently co-founded a company to use digital technology to assist in treatment efforts.”
• LAMP Leaders
Glenn Ally, LAMP leader, MPAC
Dr. Glenn Ally has been involved in LAMP, LPA, and the American Psychological Association (APA), and in a number of divisions as well as a member of the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Psychology. He is a medical psychologist from Lafayette and was LPA president in ’98. He has served on the LSBEP and is now on MPAC. He is no longer a member of LPA.
Warren Lowe and John Bolter, LAMP, MPAC
Listed a little less frequently in this sample than Quillin and Ally, Drs. Lowe and Bolter were acknowledged by respondents as having power in the medical psychology community and LAMP. They both serve on the MPAC and Dr. Bolter has been on the faculty of the California Professional School Baton Rouge Campus for training in psycho- pharmacology. Bolter has retained his membership in LPA.
Comment: “ … There is simply too much to say about the power wielded by these … in the past and to this day. They continue to quietly control …”
• Others, Independents
Julie Nelson, The Psychology Times
Uninvolved in the community before Act 251, but created a community newspaper that has caught on with some.
Comment: “… is dedicated to the proposition that a free press should inform the public about the actions of those who are elected or appointed to represent them.”
John Simoneaux, Professional Training Resources
Dr. John Simoneaux received multiple mentions. He is viewed by many as a moral leader in the community. He served in LPA until he dropped to run for the LSBEP. While winning with a very high number of votes, he was not confirmed. Since that time he has focused on his popular and multi-disciplined mental health education business, Professional Training Resources. He did not remain in LPA.
Comments: “A person who holds to his very high standards.”
“… providing integrity in education for the mental health community.”
Janet Matthews, Loyola, APA
Dr. Janet Matthews has been strongly involved in the APA governance and community, over many years, including on the Board of Educational Affairs and a number of division leadership roles. Husband Lee and she are supportive of the state association and remain members. Listed multiple times.
Darlyne Nemeth, LPA Delegate to APA
A Baton Rouge medical psychologist who has long-time connections to many in the community. Past LPA president and LSBEP board member. Listed by several. She is member of both LAMP and LPA.
Comment: “An MP who has tried to stay true to psychology. Tireless at helping students.”
Tom Hannie, LPA member
Listed by several. Dr. Thomas Hannie is the straight talking Emeritus member of the psychology community who speaks his mind on the LPA list serve. He has been president of LPA and served on the board.
Comment: “Can always be counted on to say it like it is, so rare with psychologists.”
Interesting notes
Magellon Governor Jindal CoursonNickel- LAMP Lobbyists LPC community Robert Marier, MD, ED of medical board The New DSM Bruce Greenstein, Sec of DHH
Dr. Warren Lowe (L) and Dr. Jim Quillin at MPAC meeting.
Dr. Phillip Griffin reads over notes during the last LPA Convention.
U. of New Orleans Chair of Psychology, Dr. Paul Frick (L) and DHH psychologist Dr. Randy Lemoine at last years LPA Fall Conference. Both were listed often.
Dr. Lee Matthews is Chair of the psychology board.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.