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Congratulations to Steven Reisner, PhD, Beacon Award Winner

Physicians for Human Rights? is proud to announce that PHR advisor Steven Reisner, PhD, received the Beacon Award at the New York State Psychological Association’s annual conference in May 2010.The Beacon Award is given annually to a psychologist whose leadership or advocacy has established a guiding light for the profession of psychology. Dr. Reisner's ongoing dedication to ending the participation of psychologists in interrogations where torture and abuse occur has been just such a guiding light for the profession and the nation. His leadership has ranged from influencing APA policy change through his work with the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology to founding the New York Campaign against Torture.Dr. Resiner has contributed significantly to the work of PHR as Advisor on Ethics and Psychology and has provided important leadership to PHR's Campaign Against Torture, which works to end health professional complicity in torture worldwide. We are honored to have such an influential and accomplished health professional as a part of our team.The official citation from the New York State Psychological Association is below. PHR salutes Dr. Reisner for his commitment to ending torture and and defending human rights and medical ethics.

The Beacon Award is presented to a psychologist whose leadership or advocacy has established a guiding light for the profession of psychology. This year NYSPA is honoring Dr. Steven Reisner for his leadership in the protest against the participation of psychologists in interrogations where torture and abuse occur. He helped found the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology and was a key leader in the fight to change APA policy on this issue. He was active in organizing and leading protests at APA conventions in 2007 and 2008, and in 2008 he ran for the APA presidency on this issue. An eloquent spokesperson upholding the ethical tradition of the profession of psychology, his clear and decisive articulation of principle helped bring about the passage of the APA referendum on psychologists and torture and the subsequent change in APA policy. He continues to be active as a founding member of the New York Campaign against Torture.Dr Reisner is a psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. He is Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Medical School and a faculty member of the NYU Psychoanalytic Institute. He has been active in a therapists' network to treat survivors of torture and was education director and clinical supervisor for the International Trauma Studies Program in New York City. He has given talks and written numerous articles on trauma and the use of drama and the arts in its treatment.

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