Dr. Freedman was born in Albany, New York, received an A.B. degree from Cornell University (1937), and his M.D. from the University of Minnesota (1941). He interned at Harlem Hospital in New York (1941–42) He served a psychiatric residency at Bellevue Hospital (1948–50) and trained in child psychiatry (1950–52). His psychoanalytical training at the William A. White Institute of Psychoanalysis in New York occurred after 1955.
Dr. Freedman spent four years in the U.S. Army and was discharged with the rank of Major. He spent a year training in pathology at Mount Sinai Hospital (1946–47) before starting psychiatric residency. After residency, and work in pediatrics, he was Director of Pediatric Psychiatry at the State Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York (1955–60). In 1960, he became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at New York Medical College, which included being Director of Psychiatry at Grasslands, The Flower-Fifth Ave. and Metropolitan Hospitals.
Dr. Freedman has been a prolific author of books and published articles. Together with Dr. H. Kaplan, he edited The Classic Comprehensive Text Book of Psychiatry (1967), three editions which are used worldwide. Many of his publications relate to his own research. He later served on Editorial Boards.
Dr. Freedman has been active in professional organizations. He was President of the American Psychopathological Association (1970–71); American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (1972–73); President of the APA New York District Branch (1967–68); and President, National Commission on Confidentiality of Health Records (1976). Among his memberships, he lists the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, American Association of Social Psychiatry, ADA, AMA, New York Academy of Medicine, and the Society of Biological Psychiatry.
Dr. Freedman received the Henry Wisner Miller award of the Manhattan Society of Mental Health (1964) and the Samuel W. Hamilton award of the American Psychopathological Association (1972).
Dr. Freedman served as President of the American Psychiatric Association (1973–74).