Raymond Monsour Scurfield
Encyclopedia
Dr. Raymond Monsour Scurfield, born in Chicago, IL, in 1943, is professor of social work
at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has been recognized internationally for his expertise in war-related and naturala disaster Psychological trauma
. He has 65+ published books and articles exploring the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both combat veterans and disaster survivors, including a trilogy of books about war’s impact. The trilogy’s third instalment, War Trauma: Lessons Unlearned from Vietnam to Iraq, was published in October 2006.
Scurfield has also written about the impact of Hurricane Katrina
, and helpful interventions to address post-Katrina mental health recovery. Scurfield has been recognized as a "Hero of Katrina" by the University of Southern Mississippi (2006), the 2006 Mississippi
Social Worker of the Year by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
, the 2006 and 2007 College of Health Distinguished Teaching Awards and 11 additional awards and recognitions since his tenure at Southern Miss.
Dr. Scurfield holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology/Anthropology in 1965 Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA), and both a master's degree in social work (1967) and doctorate in psychiatric clinical social work (1979)from the University of Southern California
.
, about 16 miles outside of Pittsburgh. In 1961 Scurfield enrolled at Dickinson College
in Carlise, Pennsylvania
. While at Dickinson, he enrolled in Army ROTC. While at Dickinson College he decided that he wanted to become a social worker and he applied to Schools of Social Work. Upon graduation from Dickinson College in 1965 as a Dinguished Military Graduate, Scurfield was simultaneously commissioned in the Army Medical Service Corps. In the summer of 1965 Scurfield arrived in Los Angeles
to attend the University of Southern California
. This placed Scurfield right next to where the Watts riots
happened. Scurfield has stated that this exposure to urban poverty and racism was a very important learning experience.
Scurfield spent four years in the Army, starting off as outpatient clinic social worker at William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas
. Complaining about his duty assignment in El Paso, Scurfield was soon given orders for Vietnam
. The Vietnam War
was a turning point in his life; as a fresh M.S.W., he was the only M.S.W. on a psychiatric team treating psychiatric casualties from I and II Corps of South Vietnam
. This was the beginning of Scurfield’s real-life education about trauma and its powerful impact, and getting first-hand knowledge about the terrible consequences of policies and decisions made by our government and military when war is waged.
Scurfield spent seven years (1985 to 1992) in the Gig Harbor/Tacoma/Seattle area, founding and directing the Post Traumatic Stress Treatment Program at the American Lake VAMC; and then four years (1992 to 1997) in Hawaii
, founding and directing the Pacific Islands Division, VA National Center for PTSD]. In March 1997 he negotiated a one-year position with the VA's National Center for PTSD at the Gulfport Division of the Biloxi VA. In 1998, he retired from the VA and accepted a tenure track position at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work, based at Long Beach
. He has made over 350 professional presentations nationwide and numerous media appearances,to include 60 Minutes, Nightline, National Public Radio, NY Times, Boston Globe and many other newspaper and media interviews.
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has been recognized internationally for his expertise in war-related and naturala disaster Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
. He has 65+ published books and articles exploring the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both combat veterans and disaster survivors, including a trilogy of books about war’s impact. The trilogy’s third instalment, War Trauma: Lessons Unlearned from Vietnam to Iraq, was published in October 2006.
Scurfield has also written about the impact of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, and helpful interventions to address post-Katrina mental health recovery. Scurfield has been recognized as a "Hero of Katrina" by the University of Southern Mississippi (2006), the 2006 Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Social Worker of the Year by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers is a professional organization of social workers in the United States. It had over 150,000 members as of January 2008 and provides guidance, research, up to date information, advocacy, and other resources for its members and for social workers in general...
, the 2006 and 2007 College of Health Distinguished Teaching Awards and 11 additional awards and recognitions since his tenure at Southern Miss.
Dr. Scurfield holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology/Anthropology in 1965 Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA), and both a master's degree in social work (1967) and doctorate in psychiatric clinical social work (1979)from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Background
Scurfield is the son Helen Monsour and his adoptive father Thomas Edward Scurfield. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 3, 1943, but raised in Elizabeth, PennsylvaniaElizabeth, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the east bank of the Monongahela River, where Pennsylvania Route 51 crosses, upstream of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census...
, about 16 miles outside of Pittsburgh. In 1961 Scurfield enrolled at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlise, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. While at Dickinson, he enrolled in Army ROTC. While at Dickinson College he decided that he wanted to become a social worker and he applied to Schools of Social Work. Upon graduation from Dickinson College in 1965 as a Dinguished Military Graduate, Scurfield was simultaneously commissioned in the Army Medical Service Corps. In the summer of 1965 Scurfield arrived in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to attend the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. This placed Scurfield right next to where the Watts riots
Watts Riots
The Watts Riots or the Watts Rebellion was a civil disturbance in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California from August 11 to August 15, 1965. The 5-day riot resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, and 3,438 arrests...
happened. Scurfield has stated that this exposure to urban poverty and racism was a very important learning experience.
Scurfield spent four years in the Army, starting off as outpatient clinic social worker at William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. Complaining about his duty assignment in El Paso, Scurfield was soon given orders for Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was a turning point in his life; as a fresh M.S.W., he was the only M.S.W. on a psychiatric team treating psychiatric casualties from I and II Corps of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. This was the beginning of Scurfield’s real-life education about trauma and its powerful impact, and getting first-hand knowledge about the terrible consequences of policies and decisions made by our government and military when war is waged.
Work history
During 1971-72 and 1974-82, Dr. Scurfield held several positions at the Brentwood (West Los Angeles) VA Medical Center, including Director of the Vietnam Veterans Resocialization Unit. He was a community social worker with the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center in Hilo and lower Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii (1972-73). Scurfield was appointed to the national level position of National Associate Director for Clinical Services from 1982-85 with the VA's Readjustment Counseling Service (the Vet Center Program) at VA HQ in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Scurfield spent seven years (1985 to 1992) in the Gig Harbor/Tacoma/Seattle area, founding and directing the Post Traumatic Stress Treatment Program at the American Lake VAMC; and then four years (1992 to 1997) in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, founding and directing the Pacific Islands Division, VA National Center for PTSD]. In March 1997 he negotiated a one-year position with the VA's National Center for PTSD at the Gulfport Division of the Biloxi VA. In 1998, he retired from the VA and accepted a tenure track position at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work, based at Long Beach
Long Beach, Mississippi
Long Beach is a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, USA. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He has made over 350 professional presentations nationwide and numerous media appearances,to include 60 Minutes, Nightline, National Public Radio, NY Times, Boston Globe and many other newspaper and media interviews.