Previous Recipients
Request for 2013 Nominations

Stephen R. McCutcheon, PhD Selected as Recipient of VA’s 2012 David M. Worthen Award for Career Achievement in Educational Excellence, Director of Psychology Training Programs, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington, has been selected by the Under Secretary for Health to receive VA’s highest recognition of academic accomplishments, the David M. Worthen Award for Career Achievement in Educational Excellence for 2012.

As Director of Psychology Training Programs at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System-Seattle Division since 1998, Dr. McCutcheon is arguably one of the most influential opinion leaders in the country in the education of professional psychologists. Of specific relevance for the Worthen Award is that his contributions have promoted the development of competency based training programs for psychologists, which has substantially contributed to the quality improvement of psychology educational programs, both in VA and nationwide. He has also provided strong leadership for the important effort to rectify the imbalance between the production of psychology doctoral students and the availability of predoctoral clinical internships, a required element of the doctoral degree. Dr. McCutcheon’s work has significant implications for the quality of the mental health training pipeline. In short, Dr. McCutcheon is a distinguished clinical and academic leader who is dedicated to enhancing the care of Veterans and improving the mental health workforce.

Implications: The Worthen Award may be given annually to recognize a VHA employee from any health care discipline who has made contributions of national significance to education in the health professions. The recipient shall receive a plaque and a cash award of $7,500. A plaque is also presented to the facility at which the recipient is employed. This award, which was first issued in 1988, commemorates David M. Worthen, MD, an inspirational leader of VA’s education mission.

POC: Deborah Ludke, MHA, Office of Academic Affiliations, (562) 826-5492; deborah.ludke@va.gov