Last updated on: 5/7/2012 | Author: ProCon.org

Robert L. Spitzer, MD Biography

Title:
Professor of Biometric Research at Columbia University
Position:
None Found to the question "Is Sexual Orientation Determined at Birth?"
Reasoning:

No position found as of Feb. 5, 2007

Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
     Key Experts
MD's and PhD's in psychology, with significant post-doctorate involvement in human sexuality issues. [Note: Key Experts definition varies by sites that have this designation.]
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Co-Editor of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Professor of Biometric Research, Columbia University
  • Chief of Psychiatric Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute
  • Member, American Psychiatric Association
Education:
  • MD, school unknown
Other:
  • Dr. Spitzer died of complications of heart disease on Dec. 25, 2015
  • “I believe I owe the gay community an apology for my study [“Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? 200 Participants Reporting a Change from Homosexual to Heterosexual Orientation,” Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2003] making unproven claims of the efficacy of reparative therapy. I also apologize to any gay person who wasted time and energy undergoing some form of reparative therapy because they believed that I had proven that reparative therapy works with some ‘highly motivated’ individuals.”
    “Exclusive: Dr. Robert Spitzer Apologizes to Gay Community for Infamous ‘Ex-Gay’ Study,” TruthWinsOut.org, Apr. 25, 2012