Dr. Edgar Paul Nace

Psychiatrists belong to a field of medicine that continues to evolve with the growing body of empirical research, but which also requires its practitioner’s treat those they help with utmost compassion and caring. Edgar P. Nace M.D. embodied both of these descriptions. Edgar, a pillar in the field of addiction psychiatry, died on September 23, 2023 at the age of 83 due to pancreatic cancer. His life’s work had an undeniably positive impact on a population that experiences enormous suffering, those afflicted with addiction and mental illness, and his career as a leader, teacher, researcher, and clinician deserves the highest recognition. Edgar graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, trained at the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, where he was mentored by and did research with Martin Orne, M.D., and served three years as a Major in the Army Medical Corp as a research psychiatrist at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. He established numerous substance abuse programs in both private and teaching hospitals, including The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, The University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital, and Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital.

Edgar was part of a small group including members of the alcohol and drug committees of the American Psychiatric Association in the early 1980s. These committee members met at the Lowe’s Anatole Hotel in 1984 in Dallas, Texas to plan out the birth of what was then named the American Academy of Psychiatrists in Alcohol and Addiction (AAPAA) and later renamed the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP). Seven years later, Edgar was a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s (ABPN) committee that founded and developed the first subspecialty examination and certification in Addiction Psychiatry. He was active in many organizations promoting the treatment of patients with addiction and dual diagnoses and was a Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association.

Edgar was a notable clinician, scholar, and educator, a man of faith and science. He exemplified his beliefs through his actions, being a generous contributor to a wide range of causes including Christian missionary trips to Russia and extensive work with numerous nonprofit organizations to establish and advance mental health treatment programs for the homeless a cause to which he was fully devoted. He treated all those he helped, whether elite professionals or homeless, with the same caring, diligence and respect. Even after reaching the “normal” age for retirement, he refused to slow down in his pursuit of helping others. He maintained a busy private practice of clinical, addiction and forensic psychiatry, as well as being medical director for Integrated Psychotherapeutic Services, which provides psychiatric services for the homeless. As part of his IPS duties, he supervised nurse practitioners entering the field of addictive disorders. In addition to his clinical and administrative work, he continued to be an active member in a number of professional and charitable organizations. Following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, he had hoped to have surgery in September, celebrate his birthday in October and return to work in November. Edgar‘s list of publications is extensive. He authored books, scholarly articles, journal articles, and chapters on diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders, physicians’ health, personality disorders, Twelve Step programs, and forensic psychiatry. His books include “The Treatment of Alcoholism” and “Achievement and Addiction” (both published by Brunner/Mazel), “Patients With Substance Abuse Problems: Effective Identification, Diagnosis, and Treatment” (Norton Publishing) and “Addiction Treatment: Avoiding Pitfalls - A Case Approach” (American Psychiatric Press). His books are classics used to help those who provide patients with addiction treatment.

Edgar was president of the North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians for three terms and president of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry for two terms. He also co-chaired the Addictions Committee of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry, was a Fellow in the American College of Psychiatrists and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He chaired the Texas Medical Association’s Physicians’ Health and Rehabilitation Committee for six years and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Task Force on Addiction Disorders. He received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, was voted into Top Doctors in Dallas by D Magazine multiple years, and served on the Board of the Grant Halliburton Foundation. In his private time, Edgar loved nature, birdwatching, art and literature. He had a catalog of the many bird subspecies he sought out and observed, often with considerable effort and travel, having learned the migratory patterns of many. He established several four-year scholarships at Muhlenberg College for pre-med students and contributed heavily to his church, without seeking recognition for doing so. He participated in and contributed to charitable organizations and associations including Turtle Creek Manor, Faith Mental Health Volunteer Program and Our Calling. He and his

wife participated in the Dallas Opera Guild, Dallas Museum of Art, Meadow’s Museum, Dallas Bach Society, Northshore Club, Sons of the American Revolution, English Speaking Union, Dallas Women’s Forum and numerous others. He exhibited humility in all areas of his life, including in the face of the vastness of what we don’t know, pursuing knowledge through science and yet remaining confident, and committed to his Christian faith. Edgar was a beloved member of First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Dallas and a dedicated member of their Sunday school class. In following his commitment to his faith, he co-founded and co-chaired the Mental Health Task Force at FUMC and co-founded the Mental Wellness Interfaith Alliance of North Texas. He was equally active in his previous church, Highland Park United Methodist Church, in which capacity he traveled to Russia to engage with the church HPUMC helped establish in Saratov, as well as engaging with his colleagues in the medical field. Despite all his achievements and accolades, he remained humble, and was respectful and kind to everyone, and no one was a better friend or mentor. Empathic, yet with steady calm, humility and gravitas, his compassion and thoughtfulness were powerful therapeutic ingredients. His life of service to his community was epitomized by his missionary work in Russia, bringing the best of contemporary treatment to hospitals there.

Above all, Edgar loved his family and led a life of service to his community. Dr. Edgar P. Nace is survived by his loving wife, Carol, and his cherished sons, Brad and Randy. His legacy lives on not only in his family but also in the countless lives he touched throughout his journey of compassion, dedication, and grace. In conclusion, Dr. Edgar Nace, M.D., was an extraordinary man of wisdom, empathy, humility, and grace—a remarkable friend and a great loss to his family, his community, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His memory will continue to inspire and guide us in the field of psychiatry and in our pursuit of compassion and care for others.

Service: October 14, 2023 at 10am.

Location: First United Methodist Church (FUMC). 1928 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75201

Link for Streaming: www.firstchurchdallas.org/nace-memorial