David Herzog
David Herzog’s Biography
Dr. Herzog began laying the foundation for his career at Rutgers University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in biological sciences. After completing his undergraduate studies, he gained acceptance to the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he received a medical degree with highest honors. Following this, he completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin before going on to become senior resident in pediatrics at Boston City Hospital.
In 1976, Dr. David Herzog started residency work in child and adolescent psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital and Judge Baker Guidance Center. Later, he became chief resident of the Psychosomatic Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital before completing his residency in adult psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Herzog was the first Endowed Professor of Psychiatry in the Field of Eating Disorders at Harvard Medical School. He founded and directed the Harris Center for Education and Advocacy in Eating Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and, prior to that, the Harvard Eating Disorders Center at Harvard Medical School. Dr. David Herzog designed and conducted the longest and largest prospective study on anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, mapping the course and outcome in 246 women followed at frequent intervals. This project has generated over 40 published articles about eating disorders, covering topics such as recovery and relapse, alcohol and substance use, depression, pregnancy and medical complications.
Dr. David Herzog has been awarded Fellow membership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association. In addition, he has been on the editorial board for a number of peer-reviewed publications, including the International Journal of Eating Disorders, the Harvard Review of Psychiatry, and the Journal of Adolescent Health. He has more than 280 peer-reviewed journals, chapters, and books.
Throughout Dr. Herzog’s career, one of his priorities has been to increase public awareness of eating disorders. He has provided information to media outlets for their projects on eating disorders. In July, 2012, Boston Globe magazine’s lead article, “12 Bostonians Changing the World,” included “MGH’s Dr. David Herzog has Brought Eating Disorders Out in the Open.” Boston magazine named Dr. Herzog one of the Boston area’s “TOP DOCS” and he received this honor for ten consecutive years. Dr. Herzog has also been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and Women's Wear Daily.
Beginning in 1997, Dr. David Herzog chaired public forums and conferences where body image issues and the modern concept of beauty were discussed. David Herzog, MD, partnered with leaders of the fashion industry such as Vogue's Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour and popular designer Michael Kors to improve the well-being of models and to encourage healthy lifestyles for all women. Dr. Herzog and Diane von Furstenberg – President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) – coauthored an essay calling upon everyone in the fashion industry to support the CFDA’s efforts to promote health.