Newswise — WASHINGTON - Terence M. Keane, PhD, professor of psychiatry and assistant dean for Research at Boston University, has been elected 2017 president of the American Psychological Foundation (APF). Keane will take office on Jan. 1, 2017. “I am honored to become president of an organization that has such a profound impact on so many lives,” said Keane. “I look forward to beginning my work as president to make a positive difference for people, especially those exposed to traumatic life events and who develop post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Keane is also director of the National Center for PTSD-Behavioral Sciences Division and associate chief of staff for research and development at VA Boston Healthcare System.

Keane’s research on psychological trauma has been recognized with many honors, including the John Blair Barnwell Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Clinical Sciences from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies and Outstanding Researcher Award in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from the Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapy. His current work focuses on the development of a nationally representative registry of PTSD patients and the construction of an internet-based treatment program for returning war veterans with risky alcohol use and war trauma symptoms.

Keane will succeed Dorothy Cantor, PsyD, who has served as APF president since 2001. Under Cantor’s leadership, APF held two major fund-raising campaigns that raised nearly $20 million and shifted its focus to providing research grants to early career psychologists and students. Since its founding in 1953, APF has supported innovative research, scholarships and projects for students and early career psychologists. APF has partnered with almost 20 other organizations, including APA divisions, to expand psychology’s reach in important areas, such as reducing prejudice, preventing violence and providing aid in disaster recovery.

Keane earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Rochester and a PhD in clinical psychology from Binghamton University-State University of New York.________________________________________The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 117,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.________________________________________

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