Chester M. Pierce, M.D.

1986 Solomon Carter Fuller Award Recipient

Lecture Title: Unity in Diversity: 33 Years of Stress

Dr. Pierce earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1952. Following his medical education, he pursued an internship and residency training in psychiatry at Cincinnati General Hospital. Dr. Pierce held prominent positions, including Commander in the US Navy and senior consultant to various esteemed organizations such as the Surgeon General of the US Air Force, the Children's Television Network (Sesame Street, Electric Company), the US Arctic Research Commission, the Peace Corps, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Throughout his career, Dr. Pierce made significant contributions to academia and clinical practice. He served on the faculty of the Harvard School of Public Health, held the position of senior psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and worked as a psychiatrist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for nearly 25 years. Remarkably, he became the first African American full professor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, he played pivotal roles as the founding president of the Black Psychiatrists of America (BPA) and as the National Chairperson of the Child Development Associate Consortium. Dr. Pierce chaired committees for esteemed organizations such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Research Council, the National Science Foundation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He also served on 22 editorial boards and authored over 180 books, articles, and reviews.

Dr. Pierce's outstanding contributions were widely recognized through numerous honorary degrees and fellowships, including honorary fellowships in the Royal College of Psychiatry and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. He was the recipient of prestigious awards such as the 1986 APA Solomon Carter Fuller Award and the 2015 APA Human Rights Award. Dr. Pierce was renowned for his groundbreaking research on humans in extreme environments and his lifelong advocacy against disparities, stigma, and discrimination. He notably coined the term "microaggression" in 1970, leaving a lasting impact on the field of psychiatry and social justice.