In 1969, Dr. Pieczenik was drafted into the United States Public Health Service where he eventually obtained the rank of USPHS Captain (O6). He was sent to run three psychiatric wards at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC. After receiving one of four prestigious National Institutes of Mental Health scholarships allowing him to attend any psychiatric residency program in the United States, he enrolled in a residency program in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical College at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. Dr. Pieczenik became board certified in Psychiatry and was a board examiner for ten years in both Psychiatry and Neurology.
During his residency program at Harvard, Dr. Pieczenik simultaneously got a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Toward the end of his residency he received two Harry C. Solomon Awards for his research on Hierarchy of Ego Defense Mechanisms in Foreign Policy Decision Making and Cognitive Behavioral Determinants for the Treatment of Borderline Patients. This latter paper became the foundation for utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder. No one else in the history of Harvard Medical College has ever received two Harry C. Solomon Awards. Historically, recipients of the award go on to become chairmen of academic departments and major leaders in Psychiatry. However, Dr. Pieczenik's career took a different path.
[edit]Government Work
Dr. Pieczenik received the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) fellowship where he was recruited by Lawrence Eagleburger as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Management. In that position he created the Office to Combat Terrorism and the Family Liaison Office. He reorganized the medical department within the State Department, and merged and reorganized the Department of Cultural Affairs and US Information Agency into one organization: the International Communications Agency.
Dr. Pieczenik created first hostage survival courses in the US government and became famous for developing the strategy and tactics for rescuing hostages around the world. Through his hostage negotiation skills he helped save many lives. He developed the basic tenets for psychological warfare, counter terrorism, strategy and tactics for trans-cultural negotiations for the US State Department, military and intelligence communities and other agencies of the US Government.
Dr. Pieczenik served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and/or Senior Policy Planner under Secretaries Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance, George Schultz and James Baker. Dr. Pieczenik continues to consult to the Department of Defense.