Dr. Brodie was born in Stanford, Connecticut. He received an A.B. degree from Princeton University (1961) and the M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1965). He interned at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital (1965–1966), followed by two years of residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. He then spent two years at the National Institute of Mental Health (1968–70). He moved to Stanford University as an assistant professor (1970–74) and returned to serve as professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University (1974–82), a post he left to become president of Duke University. Dr. Brodie has the unique distinction of being the president of a major university. He was also President Emeritus of Duke University, and Javier B. Duke was Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University.
Dr. Brodie was a member of his local and state medical societies and served as Secretary of the AMA Section on Psychiatry (1971–77), a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Southern Psychiatric Association, the Society of Biological Psychiatry (1970–85), representing the APA, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Medicine (1980). He received numerous awards and honors, including Sigma Xi (1961); the A.E. Bennett Clinical Research Award (1970); the Edward Strecher Award (1980); an honorary doctorate from the University of Richmond (1987); a Doctorate of Humane Letters from High Point University (1991); and the William Menninger Award of the American College of Physicians (1994).
Dr. Brodie was a prolific author, including 50 articles and 25 book chapters. He authored, co-authored, or edited fourteen books and served as an Associate Editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry (1973–81).
Dr. Brodie was elected Secretary (1977–1981) and served as President of the American Psychiatric Association (1982–83).