Drawing from his new biography, author and journalist Stephen Fried resurrects the most significant founding father we’ve never heard of. He discusses why Rush became known as the “American Hippocrates” for transforming medical training and institutions, as well as for revolutionizing the understanding and treatment of mental illness and addiction. He traces how this son of a Philadelphia blacksmith grew into an internationally renowned writer and reformer, a fierce progressive agitator who championed public education and opposed prejudice by race, religion, or gender—all among the reasons why Fried feels the overlooked Rush deserves a place in the pantheon of great American leaders.
Fried’s book, Rush: Revolution, Madness, and the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father (Crown) is available for purchase and signing.
Tickets: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/benjamin-rush-overlooked-founding-father