From the President's Desk  Early Intervention - A
Multidisciplinary Effort Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D. President,
American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress  In describing
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, we refer to
our association as being multidisciplinary. However, if the
Academy defines traumatic stress as "the emotional, cognitive
and behavioral experience of individuals who have been exposed
to, or who witness, events that are extreme and/or life
threatening," then why not focus on establishing a strong
network limited to mental health practitioners?  What do an
orthopedist, a dentist, a cardiovascular surgeon, a police
sergeant, or a pediatrician have in common that suggests a need
to bring them under one umbrella and further, to identify
expertise among them in the field of traumatic stress? Why
should they not simply recognize the need for a mental health
consultation and provide appropriate referrals?  For years I
have believed that by reaching people early following a
traumatic