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* KEYNOTE SPEAKER *

SPONSORED BY:
ARTHUR C. EVANS, JR., PHD
CEO of the American Psychological Association

SATURDAY - 9 AM - 1 CE HOUR

"A Vision for the Future of APA and Psychology"

​This presentation will provide an overview of APA’s strategic goals and share examples of work the association is doing to advance each of these goals: Utilizing psychological science and knowledge to make a positive impact on critical societal issues; Elevating the public’s understanding, appreciation, and utilization of psychology; Strengthening APA’s roles as a leading voice for psychology; and Preparing the field of psychology for current and future opportunities and challenges. This presentation will also explore the reasons why our nation needs to expand our current paradigm to a population-based approach to behavioral health and, importantly, why psychology and psychologists need to be leaders in this movement. From scaling up evidence-informed approaches across systems, to using strategies to reach people before they are in crisis in the places where they live, work, play and pray, to shaping public policy, examples will be shared that make clear how psychological practice and research are essential to advancing this framework, ultimately better addressing the nation’s needs across the continuum of health and achieving greater health equity.   
ABOUT DR. EVANS...
Clinical and community psychologist, policymaker, and health care innovator Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. Evans holds a doctorate in clinical/community psychology from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in experimental psychology from Florida Atlantic University, where he also completed his undergraduate work.
 Evans previously served in public policy positions in Philadelphia and Connecticut, where he led the transformation of their behavioral health systems and their approaches to serving a wide range of individuals with complex needs. An unconventional leader, Evans has employed science, research, community activism, spirituality, traditional clinical care, policy and cross-system collaborations to change the status quo around behavioral health.​

He has held faculty appointments at Yale University’s and the University of Pennsylvania’s Schools of Medicine, and is the author or co-author of over 60 peer-reviewed research articles, chapters, reviews and editorials. Over the years he has received national and international recognition, including the American Medical Association’s top government service award in healthcare, the Lisa Mojer-Torres Award from Faces and Voices of Recovery, and the Visionary Leadership Award from the National Council of Behavioral Health, as well as being named as an “Advocate for Action” by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. A major emphasis of his career has been equity and social justice and he has received multiple awards named for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for this work.

*  PRE-Conference  *

Dr. CARLIE Nikel

FRIDAY - 9 AM - 1.5 CE HOUR

TOPIC: ​Health Psychology Today - Expanding Our Scope, Elevating Our Science in Medicine
​We practice in a time of expanding roles of clinical psychologists in the medical landscape. With our expertise and focus on applying evidence-based psychological interventions, we can improve overall patient health outcomes. Emphasizing integration within interdisciplinary teams, we will explore how clinical expertise in behavior change, coping, and chronic illness management is increasingly vital in medical settings. The session will highlight innovations in assessment, intervention, and consultation that elevate the impact of psychological science in patient care. Attendees will also consider how clinical psychologists can lead efforts to address health disparities and shape system-level change in healthcare.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  1. ​Attendees will learn about the foundational concept of the Health Psychology specialty and practice models.
  2. Attendees will identify emerging roles for health psychologists across diverse medical domains (e.g. primary care, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology) and evidenced-based approaches to common medical concerns.
  3. Attendees will evaluate opportunities for clinical psychologists to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
SPEAKER BIO:
​Dr. Carlie Nikel, PsyD is an Associate Program Director and Director of Behavioral Science at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Family Medicine Residency. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at UMKC School of Medicine. Dr. Nikel focused her clinical training, internship, and fellowship in integrated health psychology prior to joining faculty in 2016. In addition to program development and education of family medicine residents and faculty on behavioral science, Dr. Nikel also supervises doctoral psychology practicum students, and facilitates a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in integrated health psychology. As a licensed clinical psychologist, she provides integrated health psychology services at the University Health Lakewood Medical Center, which is home to the UMKC Family Medicine Residency. Additionally, Dr. Nikel specializes in physician and healthcare worker wellbeing by serving as chair and active member of physician wellbeing committees and workgroups. She has founded MedMind Psychological Services, L.L.C., which focuses on the psychological care of physicians, mental health clinicians, and other healthcare workers.

Dr. CINDY SCHMIDT

FRIDAY - 10:45 AM - 1.5 CE HOUR

TOPIC: Creative work in the liminal space of somatization
​Our world of empirically validated treatment protocols rest on the premise that client insight is necessary and that working directly with symptoms leads to improvement. Treating somatization disorders often requires working outside these assumptions. Operating in the liminal space between denial and authenticity, we can creatively engage the client's metaphoric reality.
Learning Objectives:
  1. ​Identify risk factors for somatization disorders.
  2. Distinguish somatization disorders in hypothetical clinical scenarios.
  3. Apply principles of treating somatization disorders to a hypothetical clinical scenario.
SPEAKER BIO:
Dr. Cindy Schmidt practiced clinical psychology for over 15 years. In addition to running a private practice, she has worked in pulmonary rehabilitation, community health, pediatric school assessment, and military mental health.
She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Dr. Schmidt completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Behavioral Health in Medicine Integration Project at Central Vermont Medical Center and interned at the Center for Children, Youth, & Families at Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Vermont. She is licensed to practice psychology in Missouri and Kansas.
Dr. Schmidt teaches behavioral medicine and research at Kansas City University, where she also directs faculty development. Her primary research interest is integrating spirituality in the teaching and practice of medicine.

 *  GENERAL Conference - FRIDAY  * 

PANEL DISCUSSION

Dr. GEORGE HARRIS

Dr. Steve Hazel

Dr. David Hill

DR. MARTIN ZEHR

FRIDAY - 1 PM - 1 CE HOUR

TITLE: ​Working smart: Build, strengthen and protect your practice
Gain practical tools to grow and safeguard your practice in an ever-changing landscape; essential for behavioral health professionals navigating private or group practice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  1. How to collaborate effectively with attorneys when asked to provide fact witness and expert witness testimony
  2. How to build clientele with emphasis on quality of service
  3. Recognize practice niches that pay appropriate compensation for doctoral level services
  4. Develop strategies for assessing profitability of various services
  5. Creating satisfaction in one's professional work
SPEAKERS BIOS:
​Martin Zehr, Ph.D. J.D. is a neuropsychologist and attorney. Dan Claiborn, Ph.D., George Harris, Ph.D. and David Hill, Ph.D. are psychologists with extensive forensic psychology experience. All presenters have worked in institutional practices and private practice. 

Danna Fowble, IOM, CCM

FRIDAY - 2:15 pm - 1 CE Hour

TOPIC: Prescriptive Authority – Coalition Building, Challenges and the Future
Discuss the current state and future of prescriptive authority for psychologists and its political challenges; important as the field continues to advocate for expanded scopes of practice.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  • Is this a tool for every psychologist?  How Oklahoma decided to introduce legislation 
  • Discuss Oklahoma’s three legislative years of educating lawmakers & building a coalition of support 
  • Where are we today and how will we get across the finish line
  • Other states and updates using resources from APA Division 31, Beth Rom Rymer, etc.
SPEAKER BIO:
​DANNA FOWBLE, IOM
Sole Owner, Solutions 501, L.L.C. – Association Management & Consulting
 
Danna’s career path in organizational management certainly makes her a leader in the association management and not for profit arena, having worked her entire adult career of 38 years in this profession.  Today, as Owner of Solutions 501 Association Management and Consulting, she serves as the President/CEO of the Oklahoma Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, Executive Director, Oklahoma Psychological Association and works with various not for profits on training and event management tasks. 
 
From her thirteen-year career in grassroots development and association management at the State Chamber of Oklahoma (April 2000-April 2013), the leading legislative advocacy organization in Oklahoma, Fowble was nominated by her SPTA peers to serve on the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Advocacy Coordinating Council (ACC), replacing Chuck Hollister.  She also serves as the CESPPA/SPTA representative on APA’s Division 31, which also puts her on the CESPPA Executive Committee. Through her strategic leadership, OPA was recognized in 2019 by APA for their federal advocacy efforts with a presidential citation and is admired by her peers for her advocacy knowledge and expertise.    
 
Fowble is past president of the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives (OSAE) and is the recipient of their 2017 George Nigh Association Executive of the Year, the highest award given by OSAE.  Prior OSAE recognition includes 2007 Professional of the Year award and two key awards for outstanding membership recruitment.  Named in 2011 as One of the Top thirteen Chamber Professionals who shape people in the organizational management profession by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Fowble was nominated for the 2007 Journal Record’s Woman of the Year, was Gov. Frank Keating’s appointed representative to the first ever 1995 White House Conference on Tourism and currently serves on the board of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association (OTIA) as well as the National Electronic Security Alliance.  
 
Danna has a bachelor’s degree in business with emphasis on meetings and destination management from Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, Okla., and is a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institutes for Organization Management (IOM) program.  Danna earned the distinction of Certified Chamber Manager (CCM) shortly after she joined The State Chamber.  She is also a nationally certified fitness professional through the American Council on Exercise instructing more than six fitness classes per week.

Dr. Randy Flanery

FRIDAY - 3:30 PM - 1 CE HOUR

TOPIC: Maintaining Humanity with New Technology Loneliness 
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 
COMING SOON!
SPEAKER BIO: 
COMING SOON!

DANNA FOWBLE, IOM, CCM

FRIDAY - 4:45 PM - .5 CE Hour

TOPIC: Supervised Billing of Commercial Insurance – How Oklahoma and APA are working to change the US landscape
 Hear firsthand insights on navigating complex insurance systems in Oklahoma and lessons Missouri psychologists can apply locally, critical for improving client access and reimbursement success.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  • What is Supervised billing and how does it impact a psychological practice
  • What did Oklahoma accomplish in high level conversations for 18 months with Blue Cross Blue Shield?
  • What does this look like for psychology across the US
SPEAKER BIO:
DANNA FOWBLE, IOM
Sole Owner, Solutions 501, L.L.C. – Association Management & Consulting
 
Danna’s career path in organizational management certainly makes her a leader in the association management and not for profit arena, having worked her entire adult career of 38 years in this profession.  Today, as Owner of Solutions 501 Association Management and Consulting, she serves as the President/CEO of the Oklahoma Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, Executive Director, Oklahoma Psychological Association and works with various not for profits on training and event management tasks. 
 
From her thirteen-year career in grassroots development and association management at the State Chamber of Oklahoma (April 2000-April 2013), the leading legislative advocacy organization in Oklahoma, Fowble was nominated by her SPTA peers to serve on the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Advocacy Coordinating Council (ACC), replacing Chuck Hollister.  She also serves as the CESPPA/SPTA representative on APA’s Division 31, which also puts her on the CESPPA Executive Committee. Through her strategic leadership, OPA was recognized in 2019 by APA for their federal advocacy efforts with a presidential citation and is admired by her peers for her advocacy knowledge and expertise.    
 
Fowble is past president of the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives (OSAE) and is the recipient of their 2017 George Nigh Association Executive of the Year, the highest award given by OSAE.  Prior OSAE recognition includes 2007 Professional of the Year award and two key awards for outstanding membership recruitment.  Named in 2011 as One of the Top thirteen Chamber Professionals who shape people in the organizational management profession by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Fowble was nominated for the 2007 Journal Record’s Woman of the Year, was Gov. Frank Keating’s appointed representative to the first ever 1995 White House Conference on Tourism and currently serves on the board of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association (OTIA) as well as the National Electronic Security Alliance.  
 
Danna has a bachelor’s degree in business with emphasis on meetings and destination management from Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, Okla., and is a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institutes for Organization Management (IOM) program.  Danna earned the distinction of Certified Chamber Manager (CCM) shortly after she joined The State Chamber.  She is also a nationally certified fitness professional through the American Council on Exercise instructing more than six fitness classes per week.

 *  GENERAL Conference - SATURDAY  * 

"Hot off the Press" STUDENT DATA BLITZ

Don't miss the "Hot Off the Press!" research presentations and literature reviews at the MOPA 2025 Annual Conference—an energizing session showcasing brief, impactful research talks from psychology students and early-career professionals. In just five minutes, presenters distill key findings and practice implications across a range of topics, making it easy for attendees to absorb fresh insights. It’s a great way to support the next generation of psychologists, stay current on emerging trends, and leave with practical ideas you can apply in your own work.

SATURDAY - 8:00 AM - 1 CE Hour

​Dr. Vetta Sanders-Thompson

Saturday - 10:30 AM - 1 CE Hour

TOPIC: Psychology and Ensuring Inclusive Communities and Culturally Informed Care: Not a Political Ideology
​Efforts toward increasing access, belonging, cultural competence/humility and related values have recently been described as political ideology that violates the law by promoting discrimination. It important that psychologists understand the role of psychological science in carefully developed, intentional implementation strategies designed to increase inclusive selection processes, environments that promote accessibility and belonging, as well as relevant professional training. 
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  1. ​Participants will be able to identify and cite research that addresses the value of cultural inclusion, including its impact on care and well-being.
  2. Participants will be able to identify and use research that supports and guides the development of culturally inclusive services and environments.
  3. Participants will be able to provide and discuss three reasons inclusion is important to the work of psychologists.
SPEAKER BIO: 
​Vetta Sanders Thompson is the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Studies, Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of diverse communities, particularly the African-American community. She is also a faculty affiliate of the Department of African and African-American Studies. Dr. Sanders Thompson’s research attempts to support community ability to improve health and well-being through education and opportunities for action. She has over 150 publications, including three edited and two multi-authored books. Her work addresses racial identity and socialization, implications of experiences of discrimination and socio-cultural determinants of cancer screening, vaccination, and disparities, and community engaged research. She teaches courses in human diversity, social determinants of health and mental, and disparities. 
 
Dr. Sanders Thompson is the former Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and the former Co-director of the Center for Community Health Partnership and Research at the Washington University Institute for Public Health. 
 
As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Sanders Thompson is active in professional associations. She has served as an associate editor for the APA journal PsycCritiques, is a past Chair of the State Committee of Psychologists, and past President of the Missouri Psychological Association and has been honored by the St. Louis community, as well as her peers in the profession. She currently serves on the editorial board of Preventing Chronic Disease. 

PANEL DISCUSSION About the Future of MO Psychology

From political chaos to insurer roadblocks to scope encroachments—what lies ahead? Hear from national and state leaders on:
  • The future of the doctoral degree
  • Psychology’s evolving identity
  • How to safeguard your professional relevance
  • How to join the conversation and share your voice
SPONSORED BY:

Saturday - 1:00 PM - 1.5 CE Hours

Dr. Arthur Evans

Dr. Dave ​Lutz

Dr. Angela KING

Dr. CURT MATTSON

DR. Mary Weatherford

Dr. Chuck Hollister 

Moderator

Dr. Tristen Winston

Saturday - 2:45 PM - 1 CE HOUR

TOPIC: Cannabis Conundrum
​Cannabis use across the country has greatly increased with the legalization of medical and recreational use. Understanding the legal and political climate and the varied impact on local policies related to cannabis use are crucial to engage patients in conversations about their cannabis use. In this ever-changing social landscape, psychologists need to address the impact of cannabis use with patients in all clinical practice settings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  1. Attendees will gain basic knowledge about cannabis use, including types of cannabis, THC/CBD, routes of administration, impact of use, withdrawal symptoms, and diagnostic considerations. 
  2. Attendees will review current cannabis related policies, specific to KS and MO.
  3. Attendees will receive an update on current cannabis research.
  4. Attendees will identify basic skills to assess and evaluate cannabis use and tactics to navigate discussions with patients regarding the impact of their use.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Tristen Winston is Board Certified in Addiction Psychology, a Licensed Psychologist in CA, KS and MO, Nationally Certified as a Master Addiction Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor in KS.
Dr. Winston is a California girl and left the sun and sand for the Kansas City area in fall 2018. She earned a PsyD in Clinical Psychology in 2013 from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and holds a Masters in Psychology, Executive Coaching, and a BA in Theater/Film from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Winston is an addiction treatment specialist serving patients in her pre and post licensure roles including a post-doctoral fellowship. Her career has included clinical, academic and administrative roles, and she has held a variety of positions such as Clinical Director, Supervisor, Trainer, and Clinical Consultant. Dr. Winston was instrumental in expanding access to addiction treatment, by opening new treatment facilities across the country and also “spent some time in prison”, working as a contract psychologist for the California Department of Corrections, where she was assigned to a men’s maximum security state corrections facility. 
Once in the Kansas City area, Dr. Winston worked at an FQHC, as the Director of Behavioral Health, for Primary Care Integrated Behavioral Health, as a staff psychologist and internship supervisor in a community mental health outpatient clinic, and as the Addiction Psychologist in the residential substance abuse program (DOM-SUD) at the Kansas City VA. Dr. Winston currently works for University Health, Behavioral Health, Lakewood Counseling, in Lee’s Summit, MO. 
In addition to her addiction specialty Dr. Winston is certified in CPT and EMDR for the treatment of trauma, and is trained as a couple’s therapist by the Gottman Institute. Supporting her care of military services members, veterans and first responders, she also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Military Behavioral Health from Alliant University.
Dr. Winston has a passion for training the next generation of psychologists. Throughout her career she has developed several clinical training programs and served as a clinical supervisor for masters and doctoral level psychology students. In addition to proving clinical training she has provided psychology internship didactic trainings, related to addiction, for the National Psychology Training Consortium and served as an adjunct faculty member, most recently with Avila University. 
In her spare time, Dr. Winston donates her time by providing clinical treatment for military service members, veterans, and their families, through several non-profit organizations and is currently training her rescue puppy to become a Certified Therapy Dog.

​

DRS. Alec Pollard & Melanie Vandyke

SATURDAY - 4 PM - 1 CE HOUR

TOPIC: TREATMENT RESISTANCE
Even the most effective treatment cannot help someone who never receives it. In fact, most individuals with mental health problems do not receive treatment and many of those who do fail to receive adequate levels or types of care. Of course, one major obstacle is lack of access. However, even when treatment is available, there are those who refuse to accept help, seek the wrong kind of help, or find the right kind of help but are unable to participate effectively. These individuals are engaged in what we have termed “recovery avoidance,” a second major obstacle to effective care. In this presentation, we will define recovery avoidance, suggest factors that might lead someone to behave in ways that are inconsistent with recovery, and review interventions developed by our team and others to address different manifestations of recovery avoidance.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
  1. Articulate the definition and examples of recovery avoidance.
  2. Identify various factors that can contribute to recovery avoidance. 
  3. Describe interventions developed to address treatment-interfering behavior. 
  4. Explicate the 5 steps of family intervention designed to address treatment-refusal. 
SPEAKERS BIOS:
C. Alec Pollard, Ph.D.
 
Dr. Pollard is Founding Director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute and Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is a licensed psychologist who works with a range of obsessive-compulsive and anxiety-related disorders, with a special interest in obstacles that inhibit the pursuit of recovery or interfere with effective participation in treatment. He is on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and chairs the organization’s Training Subcommittee, including a national training initiative called the Behavior Therapy Training Institute.  Dr. Pollard is former chair of the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and has authored over 100 publications, including 3 books – The Agoraphobia Workbook, Dying of Embarrassment: Help for Social Anxiety & Phobia, and When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim Your Family’s Well-Being.
 
 
Melanie VanDyke, Ph.D.
 
Melanie VanDyke, PhD is a licensed psychologist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. Dr. VanDyke specializes in treating anxiety-related disorders such as social anxiety, panic, hoarding, and OCD. She was awarded Missouri Psychological Association’s Psychologist of the Year in 2023 and serves as the Chair of the Evidence-Based Practice Committee. Dr. VanDyke is the Missouri Representative to the American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives. She was awarded Special Recognition for her contributions to the Public Education Committee for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Dr. VanDyke has authored numerous research articles, book chapters, and educational materials for professionals, patients, and families. She was a co-investigator on the family well-being consultation research project and a co-author of the newly released book, When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment: How to Promote Recovery and Reclaim your Family’s Well-Being. Dr. VanDyke supports interprofessional healthcare professionals through training, consultation, and supervision.