Specialists in the Public Service

• Tell us about your current professional roles:

I am currently the Clinical Psychologist at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I play a key role in providing comprehensive mental health care to military personnel, their families, and retirees. As a Board-Certified Group Psychologist through the American Board of Professional Psychology, I am dedicated to developing and implementing multiple evidence-based group therapy protocols designed for our military population. I also serve as a board member for the American Board of Group Psychology (ABGP), contributing to the advancement of group psychology practice and certification standards. Simultaneously, I serve as a Commissioned Corps officer in the United States Public Health Service, supporting various public health efforts and crises. These dual roles allow me to work at both the individual level in mental health care and the community level in public health interventions, applying my expertise in both military and civilian contexts. These broad responsibilities allow me to make significant impacts at both the individual and systemic levels in serving our nation’s military and the broader American public.

• What are you most proud of or excited about in your service as a Department of Defense (DOD) psychologist in public service?

As a Clinical Psychologist at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), I am thrilled and immensely proud of how multifaceted my ability to serve our military has been. As a Board-Certified Group Psychologist by the American Board of Professional Psychology, I have led the innovation of group therapy initiatives that have significantly improved patient satisfaction and benefited countless service members and their dependents. This specialized approach has been particularly effective in addressing the complex needs of our military personnel, fostering peer support, shared learning, and collective resilience. We also enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration by maintaining consistency in patient care across the different Defense Health Agency (DHA) healthcare systems, which is a source of great pride for me. Furthermore, the standardization of intervention protocols has increased consistency in patient care across all specialties, enhanced quality, and fostered strong interdepartmental collaboration. I have also mentored and supervised postdoctoral fellows, doctoral interns, and junior staff to ensure high-quality psychological care throughout the DoD, with these standards expected to remain in place long after these service members transition out of the service.

In addition to my role as a DoD psychologist, I am incredibly proud of my service as a United States Public Health Service (USPHS) officer. Together, these positions have provided me the opportunity to serve public health beyond the scope of military healthcare services. As a USPHS officer, I have had the honor of being involved in critical public health actions, including numerous deployments to national emergencies and health crises. These experiences have significantly contributed to my growth as a psychologist and deepened my understanding of the compatibility between mental health and public health. This part of my career has been especially rewarding, as it allows me to serve both our military and the broader American public by protecting, promoting, and advancing health and safety.

• What would you like other psychologists to understand about your role and how it has fostered your growth as a professional?

I want other psychologists to recognize the unique opportunities these dual roles offer for professional growth. Over the past several years, working within the Department of Defense (and within the Veterans Health Administration previously) as a Clinical Psychologist and as a Commissioned Corps officer in the United States Public Health Service has been dynamic due to the diverse service environments. This has required me to continuously acquire new skill sets and adapt my approaches to care for complex mental health challenges. As one of the few Board-Certified Group Psychologists, I have developed and implemented group therapy protocols for both military and public health crises, which have enhanced patient outcomes and opened new avenues for research. Collaborating with these teams has broadened my perspectives and increased my capacity to provide full-spectrum care.

My previous leadership roles as Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) in the VA and within the USPHS Asian Pacific American Officers Committee have not only developed a high degree of competence in program management, policy formulation, and strategic planning but have also trained me to navigate complex health systems and implement large-scale initiatives that benefit both individuals and communities. Additionally, serving as a board member of the American Board of Group Psychology (ABGP) has provided me with a unique platform to shape the future of group psychology as a discipline. This role has allowed me to contribute to the development of certification standards and promote the value of group interventions in various healthcare settings.

Perhaps most significantly, these roles have deepened my commitment to evidence-based practices and broadened my impact. In these capacities, whether responding to mental health needs in the military or public health emergencies, I have learned to work under pressure, make swift decisions, and apply the latest research findings to clinical and public health practice. Efforts such as the Mental Health Summit and deployment with USPHS have furthered not only my learning but also the professional development of colleagues nationwide. These experiences have solidified my commitment to caring for those who secure our country and the broader American public by linking individual mental health care with larger public health initiatives.

• What advice do you have for other military psychologists who may be interested in seeking board certification through ABPP?

To all military psychologists who may be considering pursuing board certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), I strongly urge you to do so for your own professional development. As a Board-Certified Group Psychologist serving within the Department of Defense, as well as with the United States Public Health Service, it has been an investment that continues to offer invaluable returns in my work with our military population and public health community. The process is demanding, but certification will be a great learning experience which will arm you with in-depth knowledge in your specialty area and force you to critically think about your practice. Start by researching the different specialties offered by ABPP, and what you discover may guide you to the one that best aligns with your interests and career aspirations within the DoD and public health sector. Plan well in advance by establishing a structured study plan; use all resources of the ABPP and colleagues who have achieved board certification. Additionally, leverage your experiences and expertise within the military, particularly in areas such as trauma, resilience, crisis response, and the psychological impact of deployment or public health emergencies. Stay current with research and best practices in the field; the certification process will evaluate your ability to demonstrate evidence-based practice in complex clinical scenarios. Be prepared to critically evaluate and articulate your theoretical orientation and approach to treatment, particularly in the unique contexts of military. Time management is critical, so ensure that you have prepared a realistic timeline and updated your supervisors regarding your plans. For those pursuing group psychology certification, do document thoroughly your group therapy work throughout your training. Be thinking about how your specialized skills can be utilized within the broader context of military mental health and public health efforts. Always remember, certification is more than just an exam pass; it demonstrates one’s competency and commitment to excellence within the field. While challenging, seeking ABPP certification can significantly improve your effectiveness as a military psychologist and an officer and opens opportunities for both leadership and subspecialization in these critical areas of service.