Bryant Smalley, Ph.D., Psy.D., associate dean for research and accreditation and professor of community medicine and psychiatry at Mercer University School of Medicine, was recently elected chair of the Committee on Rural Health within the American Psychological Association.
 
The APA is the largest association of psychologists in the nation, with more than 115,000 members.
 
The Committee on Rural Health is a national committee within APA whose mission is to achieve optimal health and well-being for rural and remote populations. Its efforts center on ensuring equal protection and respect of residents of rural and remote regions, integrating rural perspectives into APA policy, and removing barriers to comprehensive health care for rural and remote populations.
 
As chair, Dr. Smalley will oversee the committee’s activities, serve as the primary voice for rural communities within APA, help shape APA’s rural-specific agenda, and liaise with other APA committees and working groups to ensure representation of the voice of diverse rural communities within all of APA’s activities.
 
“It is an honor to conclude my three years of service on the APA’s Committee on Rural Health by being elected its chair,” said Dr. Smalley.  “I look forward to working with my fellow committee members and APA at large to ensure that the needs of rural communities remain a priority for the organization.”
 
Dr. Smalley’s term as chair will begin on Jan. 1, 2018.
 
“Mercer University School of Medicine is delighted to have Dr. Smalley as a member of our faculty,” said Jean R. Sumner, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine. “He is a key part of our continued efforts to improve access to quality care in rural Georgia. He brings expertise in rural health, health disparities, social determinants of health care and many other needed topics that enhance MUSM’s work in these critical areas.”