Oral History Interview with Matthew Friedman
Title
Oral History Interview with Matthew Friedman
Narrator (written)
Matthew Friedman
Narrator First Name
Matthew
Narrator Last Name
Friedman
Interviewer
Emily Cummings
Abstract
Matthew J. Friedman. Class of 1961. Oral history interview with the Dartmouth Vietnam Project. Friedman describes his experience at Dartmouth highlighting that he was the first math-psychology major and how he was a good student. He discusses his strong feelings about not wanting to participate in the Vietnam War as he did not support the war. Friedman attended Yeshiva University graduate school for psychology. Friedman discusses how he feared being sent to Vietnam because of his expertise in pharmacology and how he would have to participate in chemical warfare. He went to Kentucky to the Addiction Research Center and describes meeting people who were opposed to the war and living an alternative lifestyle. He studied neuroplasticity and was later accepted to Mass General Hospital where he studied for two years. Friedman completed his third year as a resident at Dartmouth. Friedman describes what it was like to live in the Upper Valley as an organic farmer and antiwar advocate. Friedman did not want to leave the area after his studies were complete and accepted a position at the Veterans Affairs hospital and has worked there for 42 years. Friedman was on the cutting edge of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) research and was asked by Congress to participate in a PTSD research project in 1984. He describes how the term PTSD came into common usage and its evolution within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Friedman explains how he became the Executive Director of the National Center for PTSD from 1989-2013. He concludes his interview by describing the future of PTSD research and care.
Date of Interview
November 10, 2015
Subject
Dartmouth Alumni
Dartmouth History
Political Participation
Protest/Antiwar Activism
Upper Valley Resident
Language
English
Rauner ID
DOH-483
Rights
Interview Audio Source (MP3)
https://rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/friedman_matthew/friedman_matthew.mp3
Interview Transcript Source (PDF)
https://rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/friedman_matthew/friedman_matthew_transcript_final.pdf
HTML
https://rcweb.dartmouth.edu/DDHI/histories/friedman_matthew/friedman_matthew_transcript_final.html