Beth N. Rom-Rymer, PhD, Named 2016 Alfred M. Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

 At the National Register’s spring meeting, the Board of Directors voted to present the 2016 Alfred M. Wellner, PhD, Lifetime Achievement Award to Beth N. Rom-Rymer, PhD.

The award, named after the first Executive Officer, Alfred M. Wellner, PhD, is the highest honor bestowed on a Registrant by the National Register to commemorate numerous and significant contributions to psychology during a distinguished career.

Upon receipt of the award, Dr. Rom-Rymer said, “I am humbled by the honor of having been selected as one of the two 2016 National Register’s Alfred M. Wellner PhD Lifetime Achievement Awardees. Having decided to be a psychologist when I was just 5 years old after a conversation with an uncle and an elucidating dream, my life has been shaped by my belief that psychological science can improve people’s lives and that we psychologists have a responsibility to reach across chasms of cultural, religious, geographical, and political differences and give voice to those who often are not heard. Dr. Wellner’s work has been an inspiration to us. I continue to strive to honor his memory and life commitments.”

Dr. Rom-Rymer earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is the recipient of many awards, most recently including the Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award and the APA Presidential Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Professional Psychology.

The nomination letter submitted by Dr. Terry Koller referenced her “advocacy in leading the successful effort to pass a prescriptive authority bill (HB 2187) into law (Public Act 98-0886) in Illinois in 2014. I believe that this achievement certainly supports the mission, vision, and values of the National Register by expanding the practice of psychology on the State level; invigorating more than 21 states around the country to aggressively pursue their prescriptive authority legislation; thereby making psychological services more accessible to consumers throughout our nation.”

Dr. Rom-Rymer has been credentialed by the National Register since 1998.

This announcement will also be featured in the National Register’s Fall 2016 issue of The Register Report.

About the National Register of Health Service Psychologists

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists is the largest credentialing organization for psychologists. Established in 1974, the independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving healthcare by identifying psychologists who meet specific credentialing standards to consumers, healthcare organizations, and regulatory bodies. For more information, visit www.nationalregister.org.

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For more information about this announcement, contact the National Register at 202.783.7663.