January 12, 2001

In memoriam: Frances Bonner, MD

Frances Bonner, MD, a 50-year veteran of the MGH Psychiatry Department, died in December at her home in Newton at the age of 81. Bonner is believed to be the first African-American woman physician to train on an MGH service.

Bonner came to the MGH as a psychiatry resident after completing her neurology training at Boston City Hospital. She started her research career at the MGH with a two-year fellowship from Radcliffe to study hysteria. Later, Bonner received her psychoanalytic certification at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute in 1975, and she and others began the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute of New England. Bonner devoted most of her career to clinical practice and supervising residents in individual psychotherapy.

An open house in her honor will be held at her home Feb. 10, 1 to 5 pm, 160 Lake Ave., Newton Centre.