Dr. Oldham is a graduate of Duke University and Baylor College of Medicine. He received his psychiatric and psychoanalytic training at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After several years on the faculty at Columbia, Dr. Oldham took a position in the department of psychiatry at Cornell University Medical College and New York Hospital, where he became actively involved in teaching and research. His research interests are focused on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe personality disorders.
In 1984, Dr. Oldham returned to Columbia, where, after several years, he became Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Vice Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Chief Medical Officer of the New York State Office of Mental Health. He was later appointed as the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and the Law and as Acting Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
In 2002, Dr. Oldham relocated to South Carolina, to become Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Executive Director of the Institute of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. He was subsequently recruited to return to his alma mater, Baylor College of Medicine, and he assumed positions as Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Menninger Clinic and Professor and Executive Vice Chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Oldham served as Past President of the American College of Psychiatrists, Past President of the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, and Past President of the Association for Research on Personality Disorders. In addition, he is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Psychiatric Practice and joint editor-in-chief of Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation.
Prior to serving as President-Elect and President of the APA, he served as President of the New York County District Branch, a member of the Council on Research and the Steering Committee on Practice Guidelines; Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee, and he chaired the Task Force on Quality Indicators. In addition, he served as Chair of the Practice Guideline Work Group on Borderline Personality Disorder, the Committee on Quality Indicators, and the Council on Quality Care. Dr. Oldham served on the Personality and Personality Disorders Work Group for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).