Howard Roback, PhD

Dr. Howard Roback joined the Vanderbilt University Department of Psychiatry faculty in 1972, after receiving his PhD in Clinical Psychology from York University in Toronto, Canada, with a dissertation on treatment outcomes in group therapy.

In his years at Vanderbilt, Dr. Roback excelled in teaching and mentoring trainees, clinical care, and academic scholarship. He received Excellence in Teaching Awards by trainees in both Psychiatry and Psychology. He was also recognized by a Five Star Award in a national patient satisfaction survey.

Dr. Roback's scholarship has focused on three areas: negative psychotherapy outcomes, the intersection of law and group psychotherapy, and dysfunctional personality patterns in problematic physicians. He has published two books ("Group Psychotherapy Research" and "Helping Patients and Their Families Cope With Medical Problems: A Guide to Therapeutic Group Work in Clinical Settings"), approximately 80 articles, and has delivered presentations at professional conferences, including as a keynote speaker. He served as a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. His collaborative research on group interventions with impaired physicians was funded by the American Medical Association.

Dr. Roback served the Department of Psychiatry as a member of the Appointments and Promotions Committee, a junior faculty member's mentoring committee, and as Internship Training Coordinator of the APA-approved Vanderbilt-VAMC Psychology Internship Program. He was also Chair of the Standing Policy Committee-Faculty of the Faculty Advisory Council, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Dr. Roback was promoted to Emeritus faculty May 1, 2010.