George Tarjan

George Tarjan
Born1912
Zsolna, Kingdom of Hungary (now Žilina, Slovakia)
DiedDecember 7, 1991(1991-12-07) (aged 78–79)
EducationUniversity of Debrecen
University of Budapest (M.D.)
OccupationPsychiatrist
OrganizationsAmerican Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles
Known forChild psychiatry, intellectual disability research, President of the American Psychiatric Association
SpouseHelen Blome (m. 1941)
ChildrenRobert Tarjan; James Tarjan

George Tarjan (1912 – December 7, 1991) was a Hungarian-born American psychiatrist who specialized in child psychiatry and intellectual disability. He served as the 112th president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) from 1983 to 1984 and directed the Division of Mental Retardation and Child Psychiatry at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. He was the first international medical graduate to serve as president of the APA.

Early life and education

Tarjan was born into a Jewish family in 1912 in Zsolna, Hungary (now Žilina, Slovakia).[1] His father taught German and Hungarian literature, and his mother came from Vienna. His family moved to Miskolc after World War I.[2]

Tarjan entered medical school at the University of Debrecen, but his education was interrupted by required military service. He later transferred to the University of Budapest, where he received his M.D. in 1935. He completed an internship at the Jewish Hospital in Budapest, where he decided to specialize in psychiatry.[2][3]

Tarjan left Hungary in 1939.[3] He escaped Europe before the outbreak of the Second World War and immigrated to the United States. His parents and younger brother later died during the Holocaust.[2]

Career

Tarjan passed the New York medical licensing examination and completed an internship at Menorah Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He then completed a residency at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, Wisconsin, followed by a psychiatric residency at Provo State Hospital in Utah.[2][3]

He became a United States citizen in 1943 and served in the United States Army during World War II. He later retired from the United States Army Reserve with the rank of colonel.[2]

Following military service, Tarjan became Director of Clinical Services at Peoria State Hospital. In 1947 he joined Pacific State Hospital in Pomona, California, becoming medical director in 1949. During his sixteen-year tenure he expanded research and clinical services for people with intellectual disabilities.[2][3][4]

In 1965 Tarjan joined the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute as director of its Division of Mental Retardation and Child Psychiatry.[5] At UCLA he established research programs in developmental disabilities, secured federal and state funding, and trained physicians and researchers.[6][2][3][7]

Public service and leadership

Tarjan served on the National Advisory Mental Health Council and was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as vice chairman of the President's Panel on Mental Retardation. He later served on Jimmy Carter's President's Commission on Mental Health and advised the Select Congressional Panel on Promotion of Child Health.[2]

He served as president of the Southern California Psychiatric Society, secretary of the American Psychiatric Association, president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and president of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.[8][2][3]

In 1983 Tarjan was elected the 112th president of the American Psychiatric Association. He was the first APA president whose medical education was completed in a language other than English. During his presidency he led the APA delegation to the World Psychiatric Association meeting in Vienna.[2][3]

Tarjan authored six books, more than 100 scholarly articles, and 39 book chapters, primarily on intellectual disability.[9]

Personal life

Tarjan married Helen Blome in 1941. They had two sons, Robert Tarjan and James Tarjan.[2]

He died of mitral stenosis on December 7, 1991.[2][10]

Legacy

Tarjan expanded services for children with developmental disabilities and contributed to research on intellectual disability. He also influenced psychiatric education and public policy and encouraged the participation of international medical graduates in American psychiatry.[2][3]

The UCLA Tarjan Center is named in his honor.[11]

The American Psychiatric Association established the George Tarjan Award in 1992 to recognize physicians who have made significant contributions to the integration of international medical graduates into American psychiatry.[12]

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry presents the George Tarjan, M.D., Award for Contributions in Developmental Disabilities to a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has made significant contributions to the understanding or care of individuals with developmental disabilities.[13]

Archival records and oral history interviews relating to Tarjan are preserved by the National Library of Medicine[14] and the UCLA Library.[15]

Awards and honors

Tarjan received numerous honors during his career,[9] including:

  • APA Leadership Award
  • AAMS Award (1970)
  • Kennedy Foundation Award (1971)[16]
  • Award of Merit, Presidential Commission on Mental Retardation (1972)
  • APA Distinguished Service Award (1973)

References

  1. ↑ Moffic, H. Steven (2 May 2024). "In Memoriam: George Tarjan, MD, From the Holocaust to Honoring International Medical Graduates". Psychiatric Times. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pasnau, Robert O.; Work, Henry H. (May 1993). "In Memoriam George Tarjan, M.D. 1912–1991". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 150 (5): 691–694. doi:10.1176/ajp.150.5.691.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sabshin, Melvin (August 1984). "George Tarjan, M.D., One Hundred Twelfth President, 1983–1984". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 141 (8): 931–934. doi:10.1176/ajp.141.8.931.
  4. ↑ "Pacific State Hospital Gets $3 Million Grants". Los Angeles Times. 4 June 1964. pp. I1 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "UCLA Picks New Mental Unit Chief". Los Angeles Times. 22 August 1965. pp. WS15 – via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ "Our History". Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, UCLA Semel Institute. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "'69 Opening Slated for Unit for Retarded". Los Angeles Times. 8 June 1967. pp. WS7 – via ProQuest.
  8. ↑ "Pomona Man Elected". Los Angeles Times. 20 April 1958. pp. A7 – via ProQuest.
  9. 1 2 "George Tarjan, M.D." American Psychiatric Association Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "George Tarjan; Specialized in Child Psychiatry". Los Angeles Times. 18 December 1991. pp. A32 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ "UCLA Tarjan Center". UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "George Tarjan Award". American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Distinguished Member Awards". American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Dr. George Tarjan" (PDF). National Library of Medicine Digital Collections. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Interview of George Tarjan". UCLA Library Center for Oral History Research. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Director of Center Wins Kennedy Award". Los Angeles Times. 19 December 1971. pp. WS14 – via ProQuest.
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