Dr.
Pursch arrived in America with $2.73 in his pocket. He has become one of our
country's leading authorities on Addiction Medicine.
As director of the Alcohol Rehabilitation Service at the Naval Regional Medical
Center in Long Beach, California from 1973 to 1980, Dr. Pursch gained national
attention for the successful treatment of several notable celebrities and
public figures. Since he left the Navy, his private practice has treated hundreds
of celebrity patients and professional athletes.
As Program Manager for the Men's International Professional Tennis Council,
Dr. Pursch supervised the drug testing program for players, linesmen, and
other officials at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open Championships and other Grand
Slam tournaments.
He is a consultant to the FAA on issues regarding dependent pilots and has
helped several major airlines develop and manage alcohol policies and procedures
for their pilots.
Dr. Pursch lectures worldwide and has served as an expert witness in legal
cases.
Bestselling
Author & Syndicated Columnist:
His
weekly column, Dry Doc, was syndicated worldwide by The Los Angeles
Times Syndicate for 13 years.
His best selling book, Dear Doc, sold over 350,000 copies (Order
it)
Awards, Honors
& Special Appointments:
- The
Distinguished Service Medal from the President of the United States
in 1980
- Airline
Medical Director’s Award
- Association
of Military Surgeons – William C. Porter Award
- Appointment
to President Carter’s Commission on Alcoholism in 1980
- Appointments
to President Reagan’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Drunk Driving
in 1982
- R.
Brinkley Smithers Award in 2001
Current
Affiliations:
-
Consultant
to the Federal Aviation Administration
-
Consultant
to the U.S. Navy Surgeon General on Addictions and Alcoholism
-
Visiting
Professor, Department of Psychiatry of the Uniformed Services
-
University
of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
-
Board
of Trustees, National Commission Against Drunk Driving
-
Board
of Directors, National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence,
Inc.
Military
Career:
- 1960
– 1963
Navy Flight Surgeon aboard aircraft carrier USS Forrestal
- 1963
– 1966
Psychiatric Residency at Bethsda Naval Hospital; also personal physician
to the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Nitze, during Kennedy/Johnson Administration
- 1966
– 1968
Assistant Chief of Psychiatry, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, and
Special Board of Flight Surgeons; Chief of Psychiatry, US Naval Hospital
Pensacola, Florida
- 1968
– 1970
Chief, Neuropsychiatry Outpatient Clinic, Naval Dispensary, Washington,
D.C.; Medical member of Chief of Naval Operations Drug Abuse team, Giving
presentations at Department of Defense installations and U.S. Embassies
worldwide
- 1970
– 1973
Chief of Psychiatry, U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy; established
U.S. Navy’s first overseas alcohol/drug rehabilitation program
- 1973
– 1980
Director, Alcohol Rehabilitation Service, Naval Regional Medical Center,
Long Beach, CA, designed a physician training course for substance abuse
treatment and achieved national prominence with the treatment of high-ranking
military and civilian members of the U.S. government
Education:
-
Graduate
of the University of Indiana School of Medicine
-
American
Psychiatric Association Fellow
-
Aerospace
Medical Association Fellow
-
American
College of Physicians Fellow
Awards
& Honors
Network
Television Appearances
Published
Works
Professional
Biography
