The inaugural PCSAS student newsletter is a bellwether event. It clearly underscores the central role that graduate students have played in the evolution of the clinical science movement and their critical leadership role now and in the future. Although PCSAS’ long-term goals have been to harness existing science and foster new scientific discoveries to reduce the burden of mental illness, our proximal focus has always been on graduate education. This is not by accident.
It reflects a deeply held belief in the critical importance of fostering the best possible education and training for those who will lead the charge, harness the new methods, and do the trailblazing work in clinics, laboratories, and communities in the future.
The PCSAS student group and its new newsletter are strong statements of a willingness to accept the uncertainties that come from moving outside of the safe harbors of the status quo. Setting off in new directions, moving away from the comfort of familiar circumstances, and taking on the task of changing well-established systems and procedures are always difficult. This has certainly been the case with the development of PCSAS. Seeing PCSAS be embraced by so many clinical science training programs in the US and Canada is a testimony to the compelling nature of its mission and the vision it holds for the future. The new PCSAS student newsletter will play a vitally important role in helping us pursue this mission and realize this vision.
On a more personal note, I am extremely proud to see our students take such a principled stance regarding the future of clinical science training and greatly look forward to partnering with the PCSAS student organization and reading its newsletter as we move forward together.
Robert W. Levenson, President
PCSAS Board of Directors
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).