[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF DR. MELVIN SABSHIN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2011

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember former medical 
director for the American Psychiatric Association, Melvin Sabshin. He 
led the APA for nearly a quarter century from 1974 to 1997. Dr. Sabshin 
passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the age of 85.
  Dr. Sabshin's accomplishments during his tenure at APA were numerous 
and far-reaching. His years at APA included publication of new editions 
of the ``Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders''; 
creation of the American Psychiatric Press, Inc.; development of 
practice guidelines; and strengthening research, advocacy, education, 
and public affairs. Sabshin also increased the organization's 
international involvement, including working with the World Psychiatric 
Association and others to help end the use of psychiatry to suppress 
political dissent in the Soviet Union and other parts of the world.
  Dr. Sabshin completed high school at age 14 and undergraduate study 
at the age of 17. After brief service in the U.S. Army, he completed 
medical school and residency at Tulane University. He then took a 
position at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and in 1961 became 
the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois 
College of Medicine. During this time he became active in the APA and 
was elected to the Board of Trustees; and in 1974 he became the medical 
director of the APA.
  Upon his retirement from APA, he took a position as clinical 
professor of psychiatry with the University of Maryland and lived much 
of the year in London with his British wife, where he was an Honorary 
Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He remained active in the 
APA, attending Annual Meetings throughout his retirement.
  Dr. Sabshin was an author of dozens of scientific articles and author 
or co-author of 7 books, including his latest in 2008, ``Changing 
American Psychiatry: a Personal Perspective,'' in which he describes 
changes in psychiatry in the post WWII era and later and offers his 
insights into the process. Dr. Sabshin is survived by his wife, Marion 
Bennathan, his son, James Sabshin, MD, and 4 granddaughters.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in remembering the life of Dr. Melvin 
Sabshin.

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