George Engel: A Personal Reminiscence

Abstract

Objective To provide a review of my personal exposure to the Medical Psychiatric (Medical Psy) Liaison Group in Rochester during the tenure of a National Health of Medical Reseach Council Travelling Fellowship in the Clinical Sciences from June 1975 to March 1977. Method A personal reminiscence and review of a number of papers by George Engel. Results The Medical Psy Liaison Group had been developed by George Engel in 1946. My experiences were coloured by the fact that Engel had recently stepped down as Head and tensions in the structure and function of the group were obvious. Conclusion My personal experience with Engel, the Medical Psy Liaison Group, Rochester psychiatry and my exposure to American psychiatry all had major influences on my subsequent career but perhaps not in a way that I might have expected when I went to Rochester.