Lessons Learned—Individual and Collective Openness to Change
The pediatric psychologists sharing their perspectives in the Pioneers in Pediatric Psychology series may all tell the tale of the past 40 years in different voices and with different emphasis. What we all had in common, however, was our desire to invest in an interdisciplinary knowledge-base and network of teachers and practitioners to address the needs of children and families in some of the most complicated and stressful circumstances imaginable. I hope the current and future members of pediatric psychology will demonstrate the resilience and flexibility to change their personal pathways and if needed the organization's focus to follow where the data and times lead us.
In this commentary, I have reflected on changes in technology as well as advances from the traditional medical model to interdisciplinary collaboration and family-centered care. Through all the changes, the essential and stable ingredient of our forward progress has been our person-to-person mentor and collaborator relationships across professional generations, disciplines, and roles in the family care team. I have been honored to be part of the pediatric psychology family tree and look forward to sprouting a few more leaves and branches in the decade(s) to come.