Dr. James Quillin passed  away May 25 after a short battle with cancer. He died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loved ones, according to the authors of the online obituary.

Dr. Quillin was the undisputed leader of the movement to provide specially trained  psychologists with “prescriptive authority” or RxP. In 2004, many viewed him as the mastermind that behind an almost impossible achievement––the political maneuvering that gave Louisiana  medical psychologists, and the state psychology board, the right to prescribe medication.

The achievement of Louisiana becoming the second state for psychologists to prescribe was  applauded by national groups including the American Psychological Association.

In 2009 Dr. Quillin led a second and successful effort to give medical psychologists more  autonomy by moving them under the medical board, known as Act 251. This Act is being  renamed in honor of Dr. Quillin in the current 2021 legislative session.

Dr. Quillin was the leader of the Louisiana Academy of Medical Psychologists, commonly  referred to as LAMP, and had also served as president of the Louisiana Psychological  Association and as the legislative chair for that organization for many years.

Dr. Quillin was a resident of Pineville Louisiana and attended Louisiana College and  Northwestern State University. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Southern  Mississippi and was a member of the first class of graduates to obtain advanced training in  psychopharmacology.

Memorial article is to follow next month.