November 6, 2008 at 5:30 pm

What lessons can we learn from the experience of Vietnam to better support today's veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan? Dr. Israel Liberzon will explore this question in a talk at the University of Michigan Library on November 6, 2008. The event will take place at 5:30 pm in the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library (North) in the Gallery in Room 100.

The talk is one of a series of events related to the exhibit, "The Whole World Was Watching: Revolution and Protest in 1968" which is currently on view in the Gallery in Room 100. The exhibit examines 1968 through the perspective of the University of Michigan Special Collection Library's Labadie Collection of social protest materials. The Labadie Collection includes materials from 1911 to the present and is a rich trove of material from the 1960s featured in the exhibit.

Dr. Liberzon's talk is "1968-The Legacy of Vietnam and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Research and Understanding". "We wanted to address what the 1960s and Vietnam have meant in a social context for medical research and understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, now a recognized medical concern with tremendous implications for individuals, families, and our society," said Melissa Levine, Exhibits and Outreach Librarian.

This discussion is meant for a general audience, though Dr. Liberzon is known for his research. In 1992 he established a Post-traumatic Stress Disorder program at the University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Health System that grew, developed, and remains on the forefront of biological research of 'PTSD'. Dr. Liberzon's primary research focuses on stress and stress-related disorders, particularly in the regulation and dysregulation of stress response systems.

Dr. Liberzon is a leader in his field and was recently installed as the Theophile Raphael Collegiate Professor in Neurosciences in The Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Liberzon is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan; Associate Chair for Academic Development, Department of Psychiatry; Chief, Mental Health Service, Veterans Administration Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS); and Directory of the Psychiatry Residency Research Track. He received his medical degree from the Sackler Medical School at Tel Aviv in 1986 and completed post-doctoral training in physiology at Rappaport Institute, Israeli Institute of Technology in Haifa.

In 1988, he came to the University of Michigan for a residency in psychiatry. In 1992 Dr. Liberzon joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, subsequently in the Psychology Department and Neuroscience program. In 2005 he achieved his current title of Professor of Psychiatry and received a joint appointment as Professor of Psychology without tenure in 2007.

Jane Blumenthal, Librarian, Health Sciences Library, University Library said that "emotional and cognitive issues remain a mystery to many of us, and yet they are so important to our health and well being. Dr. Liberzon's work is an excellent example of basic research which translates into practical benefits for patients, family, friends, and the greater community."

There will be time for questions and discussion after Dr. Liberzon's talk which will be followed with refreshments. The event is sponsored by the University of Michigan's Health Sciences Library and is free and open to the public.

For more information about Dr. Liberzon's talk please call 734-615-3194.

The University of Michigan Library preserves and provides access to a collective record of intellectual and cultural achievement. With more than 8 million volumes and one of the finest digital collections in the world, our mission is to support, enhance, and collaborate in the instruction, research and service activities of the University and its community.

For more information, contact Melissa Levine by phone at 734-615-3194 or by e-mail at mslevine@umich.edu.