The “Distinguished Service and Contributions to the American Board of Professional Psychology” recognizes a Certified Specialist who has made significant contributions to the development and operation of the American Board of Professional Psychology by way of publications about or advocacy for board certification, involvement in ABPP administration or policy development, or other service to ABPP and its affiliated boards. The focus of this award is specifically focused on the individual’s contributions to ABPP and do not require recognition of a broad impact upon the profession as a whole.
ABPP is pleased to announce the 2024 award recipient:
Christina A. Pietz, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Christina A. Pietz worked as a Forensic Psychologist at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners for almost twenty-five years. In January 2015, she retired from the United States Medical Center, and she now works privately. She is board certified in forensic psychology.
Dr. Pietz has testified and/or consulted as a forensic psychologist in almost all fifty states. She has qualified as an expert witness in federal court, state court, military court, and juvenile court. In this capacity, she has conducted competency, insanity, death penalty, IME, child custody, fitness for duty, disability, and parenting capacity evaluations. Some notable cases include Jared Loughner (attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords), Auburn Calloway (federal express pilot who assaulted flight crew members in an attempt to hijack the plane), William Merriweather (charged with three counts of murder while robbing a bank), Lisa Montgomery (charged with murder and sentenced to death), Edward Gutting (murder and found NGRI) and Madison Russo (cancer scam on go fund me page).
She is a former President of the Board of Trustees, American Board of Professional Psychology. She is a past President of the American Board of Forensic Psychology and served on the faculty of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. Currently, she is co-chair of continuing education for the American Board of Forensic Psychology.
Dr. Pietz has authored several papers and published a book entitled Violent Offenders: Understanding and Assessment. Throughout her career, Dr. Pietz has conducted workshops on forensic topics. She presents to the local law enforcement community, i.e., sheriff’s department, police department, and local county jail, on topics such as recognizing mental illness, substance abuse issues, and prevention of suicide in law enforcement. She has also presented to attorneys and judges in various jurisdictions about competency issues, insanity issues, and mitigating circumstances in criminal cases.
