Dr. Fink was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received his early education in the local public schools, and his undergraduate degree and M.D. from Temple University (1958). He completed his internship and residency at the Albert Einstein Medical Center and Philadelphia Psychiatric Center and received psychoanalytic training at the Philadelphia Association for Psychoanalysis (1966). For eight years, he served on the faculty at Hahnemann Medical College, advancing from instructor to professor (1964–72). For four years, he was Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Eastern Virginia Medical School (1972–76) and Director of the Norfolk (Virginia) Community Mental Health Center. He returned to Philadelphia as Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Jefferson Medical College, until 1983.
Dr. Fink was particularly active in psychiatric education; he was President of the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry (1980–81) and represented the organization at the Council of Academic Societies of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He was Chairman of the APA Council on Medical Education and Career Development and represented the APA at the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. He has been active in the Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He served as a senior examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the Residency Review Committee for Psychiatry, and led the APA Commission on Public Affairs, initiating an effective program against stigma.
Dr. Fink received the Bowis Award (1988) from the American College of Psychiatrists and the APA Seymour D. Vestermark Memorial Award (1982). He is the author of several books and many articles and chapters on psychiatry.
Dr. Fink served as President of the American Psychiatric Association (1988–89)).