From the Editor’s Desk
Aric A. Prather, PhD
APS Newsletter Editor
Another Summer has come and gone and students again fill the halls of our Universities in the U.S. and abroad. While I certainly resonate with those who mark this transition with a hint of sadness and longing, I also find myself invigorated with the feeling of a fresh start and the anticipation of what this new academic year will bring. It is with quite the same excitement that I turn to our APS Society and all of the opportunities and events that lie ahead, from the upcoming Mid-Year meeting (see more information in this issue) to the annual meeting being held in Seville, Spain in March, 2017.
It is an interesting time in our history, both for science and for society. New discoveries are made with regularity, challenging scientific dogma. At the same time, political tensions across the globe set a tenor new to many of us. Such changes are nicely captured and contemplated in the President’s Message in this issue. Dr. Christoph Herrmann-Lingen provides poignant context for the challenges and prospects our science and our APS Society face. Please take a moment to read it in its entirety.
APS has a rich history and many of our members have played seminal roles in the shaping of Psychosomatic Medicine and Biobehavioral Medicine. One clear exemplar of such contribution comes from Dr. Redford Williams, who you can learn more about in the “Getting to know…” portion of the newsletter. Also in this issue we continue to look in on laboratories across the APS landscape, this time traveling to Houston, Texas to interview Dr. Christopher Fagundes of Rice University and learn about the exciting goings ons in the Biobehavioral Mechanisms Explaining Disparities (BMED) Laboratory.
In an effort to address important and timely issues in Psychosomatic Medicine, please take a moment to read the contribution by Dr. John Ruiz about the importance of reporting socioeconomic status in your research. Dr. Ruiz formally served as the chair of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Socioeconomic Status. Finally, as always, our esteemed Editor-in-Chief for Psychosomatic Medicine, Dr. Wijo Kop, provides us with highlights in the Journal. Thanks to all that have contributed to this newsletter. If there is something I’m missing or you have feedback, please contact me directly: aric.prather@ucsf.edu. Have a wonderful Fall!