The Changing Face of Chairmen of Psychiatry Departments in America: An Opinion

Two decades ago psychiatrists were trained by a few charismatic, humanistic clinicians who did not have much to do with laboratories or fund raising. After World War II academic psychiatry was transformed, largely by federal money, into a multidimensional scientific enterprise, the leaders of which needed to be scientific entrepreneurs as well as persuasive humanists. But, the author believes, since the fantastic promise of a technology for universal well-being could not be fulfilled before the sources of financial support began to dry up, department chairmen are evolving from humanistic scientists into corporate executives who haven't the time or energy to pursue clinical elegance or rigorous laboratory research firsthand.