Prior to joining APA, Skillings’ professional career included leadership roles within large group practice settings and complex integrated health systems. Skillings served as chief of psychology at Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he led behavioral health strategy, program and talent development, clinical access, quality and safety, financial management, and system integration for this not-for-profit integrated healthcare organization. Under his leadership, behavioral health growth rose from 5 to 57 providers (including 31 psychologists), and psychology integration with many medical services like cardiology, surgery, and primary care. Skillings facilitated full medical staff privileges for psychologists and physician status for employment contracting and benefits.

In 2015, Skillings became the first early-career psychologist in the U.S. to be triple board-certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in clinical psychology, clinical health psychology and behavioral and cognitive psychology. He has served as chair or president of four independent psychology governance organizations, including 2018 president of the Michigan Psychological Association (MPA); 2017-18 chair of the ABPP Council of Presidents of Psychology Specialty Academies; 2017 chair of the APA’s Board of Professional Affairs (BPA); and 2016 president of the American Academy of Clinical Health Psychology.

Skillings completed his PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Toledo, with an internship in health psychology at the University of Miami (Florida) Medical School/Jackson Memorial Health System.