Abraham Halpern
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Dr. Abraham L. Halpern was a Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at New York Medical College 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 March on Selma with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., manning one of the ambulances in support of protestors. [1]
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.
Halpern was a Board member of Friends of Falun Gong, USA.[2] Halpern is also a very strong opponent of the death penalty; he has written extensively on the subject of physician participation in executions.[3] Halpern has also spoke out in defense of the curiative benefits of psychoanalysis.[4] Halpern has advocated for the abolition of the insanity defense[5]
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.[6]
- In 2003 he received the Medical Society State of New York's President's Citizenship Award.[7]
- 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.[8]
Published works
- 'Soviet Psychiatry:An Exchange' (1989)
- Sweet Auburn: Recollections of a Prison Psychiatrist. (Frank Nesbit, 1999).
- 'The Culture of Control' (2003)
References
- ↑ The New York Times, New York Doctors Barred at Scene, March 08, 1965. Retrieved on 2015-05.
- ↑ Abraham L. Halpern, Letter to the World Medical Association, April 15, 2007
- ↑ short bio of Halpern
- ↑ Hapern letter to the editory of Psychiatric News.
- ↑ abstract of article by Halpern
- ↑ Psychiatric Services: News & Notes American Psychiatric Association, June 2000. Retrieved on 2007-11-06.
- ↑ Psychiatric News, June 20, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-11-06.
- ↑ College announces service awardees and new Masters, March, 2004. Retrieved on 2015-05-23.