Geropsychology on an International Stage

Dr. Nancy A. Pachana is a clinical geropsychologist and professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland (UQ), and is co-director of the UQ Ageing Mind Initiative, providing a focal point for clinical, translational ageing-related research. She has an international reputation in the area of geriatric mental health, particularly late-life anxiety and driving in later life. Dr. Pachana was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia in 2014. Originally from the United States, she was awarded her B.A. from Princeton University in 1987 and her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1992. She is an avid bird watcher and a keen traveler.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this episode, listeners will be able to:

1. List factors that have facilitated the specialization of geropsychology in some countries.

2. List factors that are associated with delayed movement toward the specialization of geropsychology in some countries.

3. Describe the current state of geropsychology training across several countries.

4. Explain the importance of sharing research, clinical practices, and training initiatives on a global scale.

5. Identify ways to broaden your perspective on an international level.

For further reading on topics discussed in today’s episode:

- Woodhead, E. L., Emery-Tiburcio, E. E., Pachana, N. A., Scott, T. L., Konnert, C. A., & Edelstein, B. A. (2015). Clinical and counseling psychology graduate students’ expectations for future work with older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 38(5), 357-374.

- Pachana, N. A., Emery, E., Konnert, C. A., Woodhead, E., & Edelstein, B. A. (2010). Geropsychology content in clinical training programs: A comparison of Australian, Canadian and U.S. data. International Psychogeriatrics, 22(6), 909-918.

- Pachana, N. A. (2014). Why we need an international clinical geropsychology. In N. A. Pachana & K. Laidlaw (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of clinical geropsychology (pp. 1064-1081). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

- Pachana, N. A. (2015). International trends in geropsychology. In P. A. Lichtenberg, B. T. Mast, B. D. Carpenter, & J. Loebach Wetherell (Eds.), APA handbooks in psychology. APA handbook of clinical geropsychology, Vol. 1. History and status of the field and perspectives on aging (pp. 421-441). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.