Tim Lachman ’64 Focuses on Teaching and Fighting for Single Payer Healthcare

After a long career in private practice, Tim Lachman ’64 missed the teaching that he was exposed to and switched over from private practice to a faculty position at Temple University, where he is an assistant professor in Neurology. “It’s a very good decision,” he said recently. “I’m much more content teaching medical students and residents. It’s been a good transition . . . Mostly people go from the academic world into private practice, and this was a reverse move.” He’s also been involved in the movement for national single-payer healthcare for decades. “I was an odd person in my medical class because I had progressive views,” he said, “but I didn’t hook up with an organization until the late 80s, Physicians for National Health Program, so I joined and been a constant member and support their goals.” He continues, “In Philadelphia we have a community organization that generates actions, educational and demonstrations, to support national single-payer healthcare. So it’s kept me pretty busy!” He laughs, “We’ve been working in the dark for a long time. A lot of publicity has come about for the single payer healthcare in the past few months. It’s a good feeling but disappointment that the people are ahead of the politicians.”