Note: FELLOWS in the Newsletter of April 1974 From: Morris I. Vilkin, M.D.
I agree with Dr. Bellak that we need a designation reflecting quality standards, (for membership in the APsaA)
Since 19711 have put forth the following suggestions in Los Angeles and again at the annual meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association in Hawaii in 1973.
I suggest that the American Psychoanalytic Association form the American College of Psychoanalysis, and that graduates of Institutes affiliated with the American Psychoanalytic Association become Fellows of the American College of Psychoanalysis, with the letters F.A.C.P. after their name. There are already American Colleges of Physicians, Pathologists, and Pediatricians; all using the now prestigious F.A.C.P. after their names. This simple idea was referred to a committee at the Hawaii meeting. It seems to have died a quiet death.
My other thought was for Institutes to grant Ph.D.'s in psychoanalysis to existing members, as well as new members. We all complete a rigorous curriculum with stringent requirements. These degrees would have to be granted by proper authorization of the Department of Education of each of the states.
These suggestions would obviate the need for continuing the twenty-five year debate regarding Boards in psychoanalysis. I doubt that many of us at the approximate graduating age of forty, want to take another examination. The Ph.D. or F.A.C.P., with the latter granted by the American Psychoanalytic Association, would indicate to fellow M.D.'s, psychiatrists and the laity that we indeed possess special skills and training that are not part of general psychiatry.
I would welcome replies and or comments.
Morris I. Vilkin, M.D., Inglewood, Cal.
It is not possible for an institute to grant a Ph.D. unless it is so authorized by its State degree-granting authority. Here in the State of Illinois, the Office of the Superintendent of Education has authorized the Chicago Institute to grant the degree of Doctor of Psychoanalysis. We spent many years discussing and evolving a plan and, as you know, this is currently being discussed by the Board and Council of the American Psychoanalytic Association. There is a difference between a professional degree such as the Doctor of Psychoanalysis and an academic degree which includes research and scholarly applications instead of a clinical focus. The academic degree is the Ph.D. and, to the best of my knowledge, no institute has been granted the authority to grant this degree.
We have offered to help other institutes in their applications for doctoral degree granting but I believe this will have to wait until the American decides on the Chicago Proposal.
George H. Pollock, M.D.
Dear Dr. Vilkin:
Obviously, the issues you raise are very much in the forefront of current concerns and thinking at the American. As you know, an active Committee on Certification (Burness E. Moore, M.D., Chairman) is working on many of the questions you pose; and I hope that the Committee will be able to offer some reasonable and helpful answers to those questions. We are also involved with the appropriate body within HEW in an effort to have the APsaA designed as the accrediting organization for psychoanalysis—an accreditation which would carry with it a considerable amount of prestige and authority.
As far as a Ph.D. degree is concerned, this is a step which is available to at least some — if not all — local institutes. The Chicago Institute has, as you may know, received authorization from the State of Illinois to grant such a degree.
So, the whole issue has by no means died a “quiet death.” In fact, the question is being studied in a number of different ways by a variety of groups within the APsaA.