About
Dan is a native of Baltimore, MD. After obtaining his PhD in biochemistry at University of Wisconsin, and while carrying out neurochemical research at the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Fisher was psychiatrically hospitalized and labeled with schizophrenia. He then recovered a full life in the community through loving relationships and peer support. To humanize the mental health system, he earned an MD at George Washington University. and completed his psychiatric residency at Harvard Medical School. He has worked as a community psychiatrist in inpatient, and community psychiatry for 43 years. He founded the National Empowerment Center thirty years ago, was a member of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, helped organize the advocacy organization, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, helped develop Emotional CPR, and wrote the book, “heartbeats of hope.” He is presently on the board of the NEC and practices Open Dialogue network therapy. He is a former professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.