Price Cobbs

The son of a Los Angeles physician, Price Cobbs, M.D., had an interest in medicine long before earning a Doctor of Medicine in 1958 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. A private practice psychiatrist in San Francisco beginning in 1962, Dr. Cobbs spent most of his career focusing on racism and diversity issues. In an attempt to provide guidance on eliminating misconceptions and prejudices arising from ethnic and racial differences, he pioneered the discipline of ethnotherapy. The clinical model uses group therapy to challenge those differences and serves as the foundation for Valuing Diversity, an award-winning video series that Dr. Cobbs co-produced.

Recognized internationally for his expertise in the field of psychiatry and diversity management, the San Francisco resident founded Pacific Management Systems in 1967. He serves as the firm’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Price Cobbs consults with organizations of all sizes and types, from community groups to multinational corporations providing leadership and executive development guidance and strategies on dealing with diversity in the workplace.

A noted author, Dr. Price Cobbs began his consulting business after co-authoring two books. Black Rage portrays the tremendous anger and frustrations of life for blacks in the United States based on histories of African Americans who underwent psychotherapy in the early 1960s. The second book, The Jesus Bag, takes a look at the complex role religion plays in the black culture. The books were written by Dr. Cobbs and fellow psychiatrist and University of California professor William Grier following the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Following acceptance in the academic world of the books as classics in the studies of African American literature, Dr. Price Cobbs published a memoir, My American Life: From Rage to Entitlement.

Dr. Price Cobbs’ career accomplishments include providing seminars and conferences around the world. He has participated in the Second Mount Kuchumaa Symposium Series in Tecate, Mexico, and the first diversity conference ever held in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the 1990s, Dr. Cobbs established a relationship with Diversity Dynamics, a firm in Johannesburg, and continues today to provide consultation services through Pacific Management Systems.