2025 John Fryer, M.D. Award Winner



AGLP is pleased to announce Chris McIntosh, M.D., as the recipient of the American Psychiatric Association’s 2025 John Fryer Award. Dr. McIntosh began his career as an outstanding student of science, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (First Class Honours, Distinction) at Mount Allison University in Canada. Three years later, he received his Master of Science degree at the University of Ottawa in Molecular Biology. More than prepared for the science of medicine, he entered medical school at the University of Toronto, receiving his M.D. in 2001 with Honours Standing. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, from 2001-2006; chosen as Chief Resident from 2005-2006. His academic interests have included mental health and the LGBTQ+ community, teaching medical students and residents, general psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

The University of Toronto has remained Dr. McIntosh's academic home ever since. He has risen to the rank of Associate Professor. Clinically, he has served on the staffs of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Toronto East General Hospital. One patient review described him as "compassionate, thorough and respectful". And so he is, always. Dr. McIntosh is an outstanding researcher, writer, editor, administrator, and leader in addition to his work as a clinician. He is highly respected and valued by every colleague. Never seeking the spotlight, he is rather a beacon to the rest of us as he has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental health for the last decade, as he chaired the LGBTQ+ Committee of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (and is currently on the Publications Board and Steering Committee) and held leadership positions in AGLP: The Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists.

A look through his years leading the Journal and chairing the GAP LGBTQ+ Committee will cover every single major issue for our community. And in the process, countless students, residents, clinicians, researchers, and academics have had their work nurtured, encouraged,and strengthened.

The John E. Fryer, MD, Award honors an individual whose work has contributed to the mental health of sexual minorities. It was named for John Fryer, the psychiatrist who appeared as “Dr. H. Anonymous” at the 1972 APA meeting and helped move forward the process of removing the diagnosis of homosexuality from the DSM. The Award is funded by AGLP members, a matching grant from the Gill Foundation, and a bequest from AGLP founding member Frank Rundle, MD. 

The award is named for John Fryer, M.D., the Philadelphia-area psychiatrist, who appeared with Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny as “Dr. H. Anonymous” at the 1972 APA Annual Meeting and helped move forward the process of removing the diagnosis of homosexuality from the DSM.  John Fryer, MD was born in Kentucky in 1938.  He attended medical school at Vanderbilt University and completed his psychiatry residency in Philadelphia and spent the rest of his career in Philadelphia.  His early years as a psychiatrist were difficult because of his sexual identity.  He was forced to leave the University of Pennsylvania’s Psychiatry Residency Program when it was discovered that he was gay, and later he completed his residency at Norristown State Hospital. Dr. Fryer was never apologetic about who he was or how he presented himself, and he went on to have a distinguished career as a professor of family and community psychiatry at Temple University.