Dr. Behar, a native of New York City, graduated at the age of twenty from Princeton University, where he majored in History and Philosophy of Science, and attended medical school at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, graduating four years later, in 1983. During his studies in medical school he developed his passion for Psychiatry.
Dr. Behar returned to his native New York to begin his Psychiatry Residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, at the time one of the largest hospitals with the most diverse patient populations in the city. While in training there he pursued his interests in public mental health policy and service delivery by earning a Post-Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Administration at the New School for Social Research. Dr. Behar then completed a two-year Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the world famous Bellevue Hospital of NYU Medical Center.
Dr. Behar returned to his native New York to begin his Psychiatry Residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, at the time one of the largest hospitals with the most diverse patient populations in the city. While in training there he pursued his interests in public mental health policy and service delivery by earning a Post-Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Administration at the New School for Social Research. Dr. Behar then completed a two-year Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the world famous Bellevue Hospital of NYU Medical Center.
Upon completion of his training, Dr. Behar was hired by UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark to develop and direct its first Child and Adolescent Mobile Crisis Program for Essex County. Dr. Behar was also a full-time faculty member of the medical school for four years, teaching and training medical students and residents.
In 1993 Dr. Behar became Director of Child and Adolescent Services for the Department of Psychiatry at Morristown Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of New Jersey Medical School, and then in 1997 he became the Medical Director of the entire department, incorporating both adult and child/adolescent services, continuing in this position for three years. He was most proud of establishing a clinical teaching program in Psychiatry at the hospital for third year medical students and for the many improvements in quality assurance and patient care during his tenure as Medical Director.
In 2000 Dr. Behar decided to turn his focus full-time to the treatment of patients: adults, adolescents, and children. He expanded his part-time practice in Summit while maintaining the intimacy and personal service of an “old time” solo practitioner. He, and frequently, his faithful and ever so friendly (and hypoallergenic) cockapoo Angus will greet you in his waiting room and bring you into his office. Dr. Behar, happily, would have it no other way.