Psychology Takes Flight Opening Reception
February 5, 2025 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Remarks begin at 6:00 PM.
Cummings Center for the History of Psychology | 73 S. College St. Akron, OH 44325
Do you have what it takes to become a pilot, bombardier, or navigator in World War II? Find out at this free opening reception for our newest exhibit, Psychology Takes Flight!
Psychology Takes Flight explores the work of psychologists in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Psychological science played a key role in the war effort, as psychologists were called upon to redesign aircraft for maximum safety and efficiency, train and classify new recruits, and administer complex psychomotor tests. Visitors are invited to assess their skills and knowledge with interactive recreations of original tests.
During this free opening reception, we’ll be welcoming VA psychologists Dr. Bill Bobowicz and Dr. Clare A. Gideon as our featured speakers. Drs. Bobowicz and Gideon will discuss the ongoing role of psychological science in the U.S. Military and Department of Veterans Affairs in the 21st century. The presentation will include both personal reflections and historical context around psychologists’ roles in mental health, training, and research.
Remarks will begin at 6:00pm, and light refreshments will be offered throughout the event.
Please click the link below to RSVP for this free event.
About the Speakers
Dr. Bill Bobowicz, PsyD, ABPP is a psychology supervisor at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC. A native of Cleveland, he attended the University of Dayton and Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio where he earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, respectively in 1995 and 2002. Dr. Bobowicz’ post-graduate training has included certification as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist and in Neuropsychoanalysis where he is currently a Fellow in the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society. Dr. Bobowicz had worked in a variety of settings – including Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau, Connections community mental health center, and Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare – before joining the staff at the Cleveland VA in April 2017.
In addition to his civilian psychology career, Dr. Bobowicz was commissioned as a SERE & Aeromedical Psychologist into the United States Army Reserve on April 22, 2013 at the rank of Captain and promoted to Major in September 2019. He deployed with the 327TH MED DET COSC from Fort Dix, NJ in December 2019 and led a behavioral health team into Iraq where he was the Officer-in-Charge of the Al Asad Air Base Behavioral Health Clinic and of all mental health services in Western Iraq from January to September 2020. His team provided immediate treatment for traumatic brain injuries and combat stress reactions following the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Al Asad on January 8, 2020. For his extraordinary services to Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Enduring Freedom during his deployment, Dr. Bobowicz was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in September 2020.
Dr. Bobowicz currently serves as the Section Chief for the BHIP psychologists at Wade Park and Parma CBOCS, and the Family & Couples Counseling Services at the Cleveland VA; and as the commander of the 327th Medical Detachment Combat Operations and Stress Control Unit at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Dr. Clare A. Gideon obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University. She went on to complete internship at the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System and residency at VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, both of which had a special emphasis in gero- and health psychology. She joined VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System as a clinical health psychologist in 2007, providing embedded behavioral medicine support to a number of specialty medicine clinical areas. Dr. Gideon has held academic appointment at her alma matter since 2013 and served as Section Chief of Behavioral Medicine (Specialty) for 7 years before being selected for her current role as Chief of Psychology Service at VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System.
Plan Your Visit
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