Author Description

This is a much needed and long-awaited book as the field of medical family therapy reaches its current level of maturity. The authors are respected clinicians and researchers in the area and they share their expertise and wisdom in this book with elegance. An impressively practical book that is likely to become a very useful resource for all those looking for a “go to” book in this area! - Sy Saeed, MD, MS, FACPsych Professor and Chairman Department of Psychiatric Medicine Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University Editor-in-Chief Journal of Psychiatric Administration and Management (JPAM) As we seek to implement a medical system that meets the needs of all families, it is critical that we delineate and understand the skills, tasks and opportunities at every level of the healthcare process. Medical Family Therapists are at the core of this endeavor with a unique blend of clinical, organizational and leadership talents. More and more, these professionals are being invited to the table where they remind us to consider the family, and attend to the relationships within and between all involved in the delivery of efficient and effective care. This book guides the Medical Family Therapist as they step into these roles of influencing the influencers. It is a must read to understand the further complexities of the healthcare puzzle and the roles played in shaping a healthcare system that can both financially and physically heal us. - Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, LMFT Department of Marriage & Family Therapy Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington High praise to Hodgson, Lamson, Mendenhall, and Crane and in creating a seminal work for systemic researchers, educators, supervisors, policy makers and financial experts in health care. The comprehensiveness and innovation explored by every author reflects an in depth understanding that reveals true pioneers of integrated health care. Medical Family