Steven Sharfstein
Encyclopedia
Steven Samuel "Steve" Sharfstein (born July 2, 1942) is an American
psychiatrist
. He was Secretary of the American Psychiatric Association
from 1991-95, its Vice President from 2002-2004, and President from 2005-2006. Sharfstein also received the Human Rights Award from the American Psychiatric Association in 2007.
and earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College
in 1964. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine
in 1968 and did his psychiatric residency at Massachusetts Mental Health Center
from 1969 to 1973. During that time he earned his M.P.A. fromom the John F. Kennedy School of Government
. He later completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School
. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer
of Sheppard Pratt Health System since 1992.
He has been a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University
and has served as Vice Chair and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of Maryland
. He held a variety of positions at the National Institute of Mental Health
, including Director of Mental Health Service Programs, as well as positions in consultation/liaison psychiatry and research in behavioral medicine.
Sharfstein has been involved in several prominent issues facing psychiatry, including the medical ethics of psychiatrists assisting with detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects at facilities like the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He has spoken at length about the biopsychiatry controversy
in his field. He has also expressed concern about conflict of interest
that can occur between psychiatrists and drug companies.
His son Joshua Sharfstein
, also a physician, was appointed by Barack Obama
as Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
. He was Secretary of the American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
from 1991-95, its Vice President from 2002-2004, and President from 2005-2006. Sharfstein also received the Human Rights Award from the American Psychiatric Association in 2007.
Life and career
Sharfstein was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1964. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a graduate school of Yeshiva University. It is a not-for-profit, private, nonsectarian medical school located on the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus in the Morris Park neighborhood of the borough of the Bronx of New York City...
in 1968 and did his psychiatric residency at Massachusetts Mental Health Center
Massachusetts Mental Health Center
Massachusetts Mental Health Center is a historic building at 74 Fenwood Road in Boston, Massachusetts.The center was built in 1912 as Boston Psychopathic Hospital by Taylor Kendall and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994....
from 1969 to 1973. During that time he earned his M.P.A. fromom the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
. He later completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Sheppard Pratt Health System since 1992.
He has been a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and has served as Vice Chair and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
. He held a variety of positions at the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
, including Director of Mental Health Service Programs, as well as positions in consultation/liaison psychiatry and research in behavioral medicine.
Sharfstein has been involved in several prominent issues facing psychiatry, including the medical ethics of psychiatrists assisting with detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects at facilities like the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He has spoken at length about the biopsychiatry controversy
Biopsychiatry controversy
The biopsychiatry controversy is a dispute over which viewpoint should predominate and form the scientific basis of psychiatric theory and practice. The debate is a criticism of a claimed strict biological view of psychiatric thinking. Its critics including disparate groups such as the...
in his field. He has also expressed concern about conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
that can occur between psychiatrists and drug companies.
His son Joshua Sharfstein
Joshua Sharfstein
Joshua M. Sharfstein is a physician and former principal deputy commissioner of the U.S Food and Drug Administration, until he stepped down from his post on January 5, 2011. He is the former health commissioner of Baltimore, Maryland....
, also a physician, was appointed by Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA in 2009.