Dr. Roger E. Meyer, a psychiatrist who served as vice president for health affairs at George Washington University from 1993 to 1995, died at home on May 11, from Merkel Cell Carcinoma and complications from West Nile Virus. He was married for 61 years to the love of his life, Sheila Meyer, a retired occupational therapist, photographer and quilter. He was the proud father of Tobie Meyer-Fong (Ming-Yuen Meyer-Fong), Stephanie Meyer and Jessica Meyer, and grandfather of Saul Meyer-Fong and Lucy Noah. He is also survived by his brother, Franklin Neil Meyer (Margaret Meyer).
The son of Carl E. and Sylvia G. Meyer and a native of New York City, Roger Meyer graduated from Stuyvesant High School, Hobart College and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Meyer had a distinguished record of service as an administrator, professor and research scientist at Boston University, Harvard University and the University of Connecticut Health Center. He was one of the world’s leading clinical research authorities on addictive disorders and alcoholism. He served as president of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the American Association of Chairmen of Departments of Psychiatry. He was the author of more than 175 papers and six books on drug addiction, alcoholism and the state of academic psychiatry. He served as consultant to federal agencies, including the White House drug abuse office, the VA, NIH and the FDA.
Following his departure from George Washington University, with four colleagues he established Best Practice, a consulting and project management company. In 2010, he began part-time service as professor of psychiatry at Penn State Hershey Medical Center where he mentored faculty and led research projects on addiction and on suicide risk, including as principal investigator on an NIH funded multi-disciplinary study of the recovery process in prescription narcotic dependent patients. Above all, Dr. Meyer will be remembered for his love of family, generous mentorship, principled leadership and penetrating intellect.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Harvard Medical School. Arrangements entrusted to Torchinsky Hebrew Funeral Home.