Posted on September 26, 2001 at 10:51 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) psychologist Jan Wallander, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the 2002 Lee Salk Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Pediatric Psychology of the American Psychological Association, (APA) Division 54. The award will be presented to Wallander during the APA convention next August.

Wallander is being honored for his contributions to the field of pediatric psychology. His research focus has been on the quality of life, well-being and health experiences of chronically ill or disabled children and teens. He also studies how families cope with the stress of raising and caring for chronically ill or disabled children. Recently he has investigated behavioral interventions for improving the health of children and teens with chronic illnesses.

Wallander directs the Institute for Human Development and Policy Studies at UAB and is a senior scientist with the Civitan International Research Center. He has been an executive board member of the Society of Pediatric Psychology for six years and was president of the organization in 1992.

He was associate editor of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 1989-1994. Since 1995, Wallander has been a representative to the Governor’s Council of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Wallander earned his bachelor’s degree in 1975 from Ashland University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Purdue University in 1977 and 1981 respectively. Wallander joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Psychology in 1986.