Dr. Abraham L. Halpern (February 2, 1925 - April 20, 2013) was a Professor Emeritus of

Psychiatry Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry. Initial psych ...

New York Medical College New York Medical College (NYMC or New York Med) is a private medical school in Valhalla, New York. Founded in 1860, it is a member of the Touro College and University System. NYMC offers advanced degrees through its three schools: the School o ...

and former president of The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. In a wide-ranging career, Dr. Halpern was a champion of human rights especially in matters of law and mental health and was one of the founding leaders of the psychiatric sub-specialty of forensic psychiatry. In 1965, Dr. Halpern participated in the

Selma to Montgomery marches The Selma to Montgomery marches were three protest marches, held in 1965, along the 54-mile (87 km) highway from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery. The marches were organized by nonviolent activists to demonstrate the ...

with Martin Luther King Jr., manning one of the ambulances in support of protestors. Dr. Halpern had been a long-standing member of the UN Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, representing both the International Council of Prison Medical Services and the

World Psychiatric Association The World Psychiatric Association is an international umbrella organisation of psychiatric societies. Objectives and goals Originally created to produce world psychiatric congresses, it has evolved to hold regional meetings, to promote profess ...

. Halpern was a board member of Friends of Falun Gong, USA. Halpern is also a very strong opponent of the death penalty; he has written extensively on the subject of physician participation in executions. Halpern has also spoke out in defense of the curative benefits of psychoanalysis. Halpern has advocated for the abolition of the insanity defense

Military service

Served on active duty in Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve from Sep. 24, 1942 to Nov. 30, 1945 in European, North Atlantic, and Pacific theatres. Rank on discharge: Petty Officer. Served in Royal Canadian Navy, 1953-1957, as follows: Medical Officer, R.C.N. Hospital, Esquimalt, BC, July to Nov., 1953. Medical Officer, H.M.C.S. "Cayuga", Nov., 1953 to Feb., 1955 - Far East (Korea). Medical Officer, R.C.N. Hospital, Cornwallis, NS, Apr., 1955 to Sep., 1956. Medical Officer, R.C.N. Hospital, Halifax, NS, Sep., 1956 to June, 1957. Rank on discharge: Surgeon Lieutenant Commander.

Awards

* In 2000 Dr. Halpern was given the Human Rights Award from the

American Psychiatric Association The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the largest psychiatric organization in the world. It has more than 37,000 members are involve ...

. * In 2003 he received the Medical Society State of New York's President's Citizenship Award. * In 2004 he received the William C. Menninger Memorial Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Science of Mental Health from the ''

American College of Physicians The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a national organization of internists, who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of adults.Sokanu "What is an Internist?" Retrieved October 20, 2014 With 161,000 members, ACP is the largest ...

''.
''College announces service awardees and new Masters'', March, 2004. Retrieved on 2015-05-23.

Published works

* 'Soviet Psychiatry:An Exchange' (1989) * ''Sweet Auburn: Recollections of a Prison Psychiatrist''. (Frank Nesbit, 1999). * 'The Culture of Control' (2003)

References

External links

Shrinkpod One on One Talk with Dr. Abraham Halpern (part 1)(part 2)(part 3)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halpern, Abraham American psychiatrists American human rights activists State University of New York faculty New York Medical College faculty 2013 deaths 1925 births