The Academy of Psychological Clinical Science grew out of a conference on "Clinical Science in the 21st Century," hosted by Indiana University - Bloomington, and held in April 1994. Prominent scientists representing 35 graduate training programs in clinical or health psychology were invited to the conference; 25 were able to attend. In addition, one key administrator each from the National Institute of Mental health (Jane Steinberg) and APS (Alan Kraut) participated, along with doctoral students from Indiana's clinical science program.

The aim of the conference was to analyze the changing landscape in scientific clinical/health psychology and to chart a course for advancing the interests of clinical science.

The Academy was seen as a positive response to the serious challenges currently confronting clinical/health psychology. Foremost among these challenges are changes in:

• health care services
• funding for research on mental health problems
• the structure of higher education
• the priorities of professional organizations
• accreditation requirements and procedures
• licensing laws
• governmental priorities and policies
• career opportunities and preferences of students
• public demands for accountability and "truth in advertising"
• the scope and knowledge base of scientific psychology

These changes were perceived not only as challenges, but also as opportunities for the advancement of clinical/health psychology as a science.

There has been an increasing realization among clinical psychology programs that these issues are not being adequately addressed at the national level. But the new challenges are forcing clinical scientists to reexamine, refine, and reaffirm their values, mission, responsibilities, and goals. Furthermore, the challenges are prompting clinical science training programs to build new alliances -- such as the Academy -- based on shared values, and to work together to shape the future of the discipline. Such alliances, in turn, can foster self-improvement within member programs -- both in the quality of training and in the scientific contributions of the faculty and students.