Benjamin Rush Professorship in Psychiatry

The Benjamin Rush Professorship in Psychiatry was established in 2018.

Dr. Rush began his medical studies at age 15. In 1762, he was one of 10 attendees of William Shippen’s course in anatomical study, the first to be offered in this country. He received his medical degree in 1768 at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and returned to Philadelphia in 1769 as Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia, a precursor institution of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1789, he succeeded John Morgan, MD as Chairman of Theory and Practice of Medicine and, in 1791, was appointed Professor of the Institutes and Practice of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His work advanced the practice of medicine and modified the methods of diagnosing disease, in many cases originating new treatments. Dr. Rush was acclaimed for his bravery in addressing the yellow fever epidemic that attacked the citizens of Philadelphia in 1793. A signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was Treasurer of the National Mint, President of both the American Society for the Abolition of Slavery and the Philadelphia Medical Society, and a Founder of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Current Chairholder

The Benjamin Rush Professorship in Psychiatry is currently open.
 

Previous Chairholder:

• Henry R. Kranzler, MD 2018-2023