Richard Isay facts for kids

Richard A. Isay (December 13, 1934 – June 28, 2012) was an American psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, author and gay activist. He was a professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College and a faculty member of the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research.

Biography

Richard Isay was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Isay graduated from Haverford College and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Soon after completing his psychiatry residency at Yale University, he completed his training at the Western New England Psychoanalytic Institute. Throughout his career, Isay maintained a private practice of psychiatry and psychoanalysis and was an influential teacher and supervisor. He was the program chairman of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA), the American Program Chairman of the International Psychoanalytical Association and chairman of the Committee on Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues of the American Psychiatric Association. Isay soon became the first openly gay member of the association.

In 1997, the APsaA became the first national mental-health organization to support gay marriage, a policy that was spearheaded by Isay.

Isay appeared on Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, The Morning Show and others.

In 1993 Isay was featured in the documentary "America Undercover: Why am I Gay? Stories of Coming Out in America".

In 1995 Isay was profiled in the book, Gay Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature, by Mark Thompson.

On August 13, 2011, Isay married Gordon Harrell (born 1958), his partner of 32 years.

On November 12, 2011, Isay received the highly prestigious Hans W. Loewald award, from the International Forum on Psychoanalytic Education.

Isay died on June 28, 2012, of complications of adenocarcinoma. He was interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Education

• Haverford College A.B.1952-1956
• MD University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1957-1961
• Intern (rotating) University Hospitals of Cleveland (Case-Western Reserve) 1961-1962
• Psychiatry, Yale University, Department of Psychiatry 1962-1965
• Psychoanalysis, Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis 1968-1973

Honorary

• Phi Beta Kappa, 1956
• Fellow, American Psychiatric Association 1979

Certification

• National Board of Medical Examiners July 1962
• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, October 1968
• American Psychoanalytic Association, December 1974

Professional career

• U.S. Navy Submarine Base, Groton, Connecticut 1965-1967
• U.S. Navy Medical Corps, Lieutenant Commander, Staff Psychiatrist 1967-1975
• Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University 1967-1975
• Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University, Department of Psychiatry and Yale Child Study Center 1975-1981
• Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical College 1981-1989
• Faculty, Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research 1981-2012
• Private Practice of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy 1981-2012
• Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical College 1989–2012, Lecturer in psychology: Columbia University,

Organizations

• American Psychiatric Association 1965-2012
• Western New England Psychoanalytic Society 1974-2012
• International Psycho-Analytical Association 1974-2012
• American Psychoanalytic Association 1974-2012
• Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis 1975-1988
• Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine 1981-2012
• Board of directors, National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation 1990, Vice-President 1992-1996
• Vice president, National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation 1992
• Board of directors, Hetrick Martin Institute for Gay and Lesbian Youth 1992-1995
• Senior consultant, Columbia University Center for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Mental Health 1994-1996

Committees

• Admissions Committee, Yale Medical School 1973-1981
• Chairman, Extension Division, Western New England Psychoanalytic Society 1974-1980
• Co-editor, Newsletter, American Psychoanalytic Society 1976-1980
• Secretary, Program Committee (31st Congress) International Psychoanalytical Association 1977-1979
• President, Western New England Psychoanalytic Society 1979-1981
• Chairman, American Program (32nd Congress) International Psychoanalytical Association 1979-1981
• Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on the Desirability of Non-Medical Training, American Psychoanalytic Association 1982
• Co-Chairman, Program Committee, American Psychoanalytic Association 1980-1981
• Chairman, Program Committee, American Psychoanalytic Association 1981-1984
• Committee on Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues, American Psychiatric Association, 1986–1993, Chairman 1991-1993

Awards

• Gay and Lesbian Analysts "for outstanding contribution to psychoanalysis". (New York City 1996)
• 1996 Best Psychology Book: Becoming Gay, Books For A Better Life, Pantheon Books (1996)
• Winfield Scott Award, "in recognition of outstanding contributions and his selfless approach to health care, education and activism on behalf of the Lesbian and Gay community". (July 28, 1998)
• AGLP 2000 Distinguished Service Award, "for his pioneering work in combating homophobia in the psychoanalytic community as well as his many publications on the process of coming out and the psychological development of gay men and lesbians". (May 17, 2000)
• Callen-Lourde Community Health Provider Award. Community Health Awards (November 15, 2005)
• Hans W. Loewald Memorial Award "for original and outstanding contributions to the ongoing development of psychoanalytic theory, practice and application". International Forum on Psychoanalytic Education, 22nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference (November 12, 2011)