Damon Tweedy, MD has recently published his second book, Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine. Dr. Tweedy takes an insightful look at the tension between psychiatry and the medical profession, in the ways that it is taught and practiced. Through patient narratives, personal reflections, and discussions with experts, he highlights the perception of psychiatry as secondary and distinct from other medical disciplines. Dr. Tweedy recognizes that “facing” the invisible and hard-to-measure aspects of mental illness is the first, critical step toward putting the whole range of mental health concerns on par with physical health issues and moving toward a more holistic approach to health and well-being.
Dr. Tweedy is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine; Staff Psychiatrist within the Durham Veteran Affairs Health Care System. His first book, Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine, made the New York Times bestseller list and established him as a nationally-known writer. He has published articles and commentaries widely on topics of race, medicine, and mental health.