American College of Orgonomy

For the second time in its history, the American College of Orgonomy has conferred its highest tribute.

The ACO Board of Regents presented Charles Konia, M.D. with the Wilhelm Reich Award on October 20, 2001. The ACO established the award more than thirty years ago with the intention that it be given perhaps once in a decade or two, only to those individuals who have demonstrated unflagging loyalty to the College and a great depth of understanding of the science of orgonomy. Dr. Konia’s long career of service to his fellow man as a psychiatrist, and his forty years of work as a medical orgonomist, have defined the highest standards of work in the field of orgonomy.

Dr. Konia has inspired and instructed a generation of medical orgone therapists. He attended seminars in medical orgonomy conducted by Elsworth F. Baker, M.D. from 1962 until 1985. He went on to become board certified by the American Board of Medical Orgonomy in 1984. Just three years later he became a Fellow of the board. For the past nine years he has served as vice president of the ACO, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Orgonomy, and chairman of the training and education committee.

Members of the Board of Regents shared their thoughts and feelings in a tribute of personal recollections during the award ceremony. Speakers included Howard Chavis, M.D., Peter Crist, M.D., Robert Harman, M.D. and Richard Schwartzman, D.O. Following the tribute, Dr. Konia was given a gold medallion as a symbol of the Wilhelm Reich Award.

In a brief acceptance speech, Dr. Konia said that he told Elsworth F. Baker, M.D. (1903-1985) that he would carry on training and education in orgonomy. Dr. Baker had assumed responsibility for training and education after Reich’s death.

Dr. Baker founded The Journal of Orgonomy in 1967 and the American College of Orgonomy in 1968. He became the first recipient of the Wilhelm Reich Award in 1973.