Dr. Herbert David Kleber was an important figure in the field of addiction medicine, he was a psychiatrist, researcher and mentor. At a time when addiction was often seen as a moral failing, Kleber devoted his life to prove that it as a medical condition that needed scientific understanding, compassion and solutions.
Dr. Kleber’s Age & Early Life
Herbert Kleber was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jewish parents. His father, Max Kleber was a trained pharmacist who worked in the family’s luggage business, and his mother, Dorothea Schulman Kleber was involved in community fundraising. Growing up in this environment, Kleber learned values of hard work, empathy and community service.Since childhood he showed intellectual curiosity.
Dr. Kleber’s Education Qualification
Kleber studied psychology during his school time, he later earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. In 1964, he was assigned to the federal prison hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, it was one of the few institutions that were treating addiction at the time. There Kleber saw the reality of untreated addiction, from there he committed his life in understanding and healing addiction.
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Dr. Kleber’s Career Journey
In 1966, Kleber got many opportunities in Yale University, that allowed him to research more about addiction. In 1968, he founded the Drug Dependence Unit at Yale University, creating one of the first academic programs in the United States which was dedicated to addiction treatment and research.
He focused on scientific reasons rather than moral judgment for people struggling with addiction. Under his leadership, the unit was able to develop new treatment models for opioid and stimulant addiction, conducted many innovative studies and trained many doctors and researchers. Kleber’s work at Yale helped in establishing addiction medicine as an important branch of psychiatric care.
Under President George H.W. Bush, Kleber became the Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the White House, there Kleber helped in making and implementing strategies for reducing illegal drug purchase through education and treatment.
After his government service, Kleber joined Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. In 1992, he and his second wife, Dr. Marian W. Fischman co-founded the Substance Abuse Division, which became one of the nation’s leading research and treatment programs for cocaine, heroin, opioid, alcohol and marijuana addiction. He also co-founded the National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA).
Kleber authored and co-authored more than 250 scientific papers, co-edited the American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment, and also guided clinicians and scientists who worked in the same field.
Dr. Kleber’s Achievements and Awards
Dr. Kleber received vast recognition for his pioneering work:
- He was elected Member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) in 1996.
- Received the Nathan B. Eddy Memorial Award.
- Honoured with numerous other awards, prestigious professional listings such as Best Doctors in America and Best Doctors in New York and multiple honorary degrees.
- Google made a Google Doodle dedicated to him, celebrating his life’s work and his election to the National Academy of Medicine.
Dr. Kleber’s Spouse & Personal Life
Dr. Kleber married his high school sweetheart Joan Fox in 1956. They had three children together before later divorcing. Then Kleber married an addiction researcher, Dr. Marian Fischman who became his collaborator in founding Columbia’s Substance Abuse Division. Fischman passed away in 2001.
Kleber married his third wife, Anne Bur lock Lawver a photographer, in 2004. She was his companion until his death in 2018 while vacationing in Santorini, Greece. Kleber’s family life had deep connection, shared values and a commitment to do something meaningful.
FAQ
What made Dr. Kleber’s approach to addiction treatment different?
He emphasized addiction as a medical disease, using scientific research and evidence-based treatments, not moral judgment or punishment.
Did Dr. Kleber only work with drug addiction?
No. His work included treatment and research on opioids, cocaine, alcohol, marijuana and more.
Is Dr. Kleber’s work still influential today?
Yes. Clinicians, researchers, and policy makers continue to build on his legacy in addiction medicine and public health.
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