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David Berg, PhD

Clinical Professor in Psychiatry and Lecturer, College Seminar Program, Yale College

Biography

David N. Berg is an organizational psychologist with special interests in group and intergroup relations. He received a BA in psychology and an MA in administrative sciences from Yale University as well as a PhD in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan.

For fifteen years (1977-1992) Dr. Berg was a professor at the Yale School of Organization and Management (SOM) where he taught courses in organizational behavior, group dynamics, research methods and organizational diagnosis. He was the 1990 recipient of the SOM Alumni Award for excellence in teaching. While at SOM, Dr. Berg also served in a number of administrative roles including Director of Professional Studies for the masters program in public and private management and Director of Graduate Studies in the organizational behavior doctoral program.

In 1992 Dr. Berg opened a private practice in organizational psychology, continuing his work as a consultant to organizations and groups and as a teacher in executive programs and university classrooms. Dr. Berg has worked with private corporations, large and small, non-profit organizations and public sector agencies. In this work he strives to maintain connections between the world of ideas and the world of practice.

Dr. Berg is now a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. In this role his work involves helping residents, chief residents, fellows, faculty and administrators develop their understanding of groups and organizations and their capacity to work effectively and humanely in complex . In 2005 and 2008, Dr. Berg won the Psychiatry Residents Association Teaching Award. He was named the Outstanding Clinical Faculty member by Department of Psychiatry in 2010.

Dr. Berg was the Deputy Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science from 1994-2004. He is the author of numerous articles and books including Paradoxes of Group Life (with Kenwyn Smith), Failures in Organization Development and Change (edited with Philip Mirvis), The Self in Social Inquiry (edited with Kenwyn Smith) and ­­Rediscovering Groups (with Marshall Edelson).

Education & Training

  • PhD
    University of Michigan (1978)
  • BA
    Yale College (1971)

Activities

  • United Kingdom, Health and Social Care Leadership Development Program
    United Kingdom 2007
    Like many countries dealing with rising health care costs, aging populations and public calls for reform, the U.K. is making substantial changes to its National Health Service (NHS). To prepare NHS staff in leadership roles to navigate this reform, GHLI and the South Essex Partnership Foundation Trust created the Health and Social Care Leadership Development Program. Using expert speakers, case studies and site visits in both the U.K. and the U.S., the program focuses participant involvement o