Psychotherapist
Dagmar Friedman holds two master’s degrees: one in public health from Columbia University, and another in social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley. She is a consultant to the Vision Rehabilitation Center at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, where she has a general adult practice, and is an outspoken advocate for comprehensive rehabilitation for all who have reduced vision.
Ms. Friedman’s early interest in patients with severe vision loss led her to establish the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic at Boston University Medical Center, where she served as administrative director during the 1960’s. Following a career move to New York, she returned to Boston in 1983 to focus her efforts on expanding the Vision Rehabilitation Service, urging the inclusion of social service as crucial to helping people cope with the intense psychosocial issues that are associated with vision loss. Today, thanks to her efforts, social workers routinely see patients on their initial visit to the Vision Rehabilitation Service.
Ms. Friedman taught students at Harvard University’s Medical School and at Boston University’s School of Medicine about blindness, and has led support and education groups for patients with vision loss at the Carroll Center and at the Infirmary. In addition, she has conducted numerous lectures and seminars for professional groups, has appeared on television and radio, and has served on national committees for the American Foundation for the Blind and the Agency for Health Care Policy Research.
Ms. Friedman served on CAST’s Board of Directors from 1992–2004. She now serves on its advisory council.
