Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Institutional Practice: Lisa K. Kearney.

Abstract

This award is intended to recognize outstanding practitioners in psychology. "Lisa Kearney is a deeply deserving recipient of the 2024 APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Institutional Practice. Her efforts in program development, administration, and policy have contributed hugely to patient care provided by the Veterans Health Administration, to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and to health care in the United States generally. She has played key roles in implementing Veterans Health Administration mental health policy, leadership of the Veterans Crisis Line, and implementing VA's National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the White House Strategy for Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide. She is currently in a direct advisory role to the secretary of VA, ensuring implementation of VA's top priorities in health care through coordination across the system, other federal agencies, and the White House. Dr. Kearney plays an unprecedented role in guiding VA mental health care, its integration in overall health care, and improvement of the system of care. She displays impressive leadership skills, including critical, timely vision, and the ability to guide senior colleagues to work collaboratively together. Her efforts have been vital in VA's steady transition toward team-based, patient-centered primary care, with steady integration of mental health and behavioral health care into primary and specialty care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).