In the domains of mental health, community development, and social problems, Dr. William Ryan worked as a sociologist, writer, researcher, and consultant. He contributed to a number of professional journals and national publications. Dr. Ryan was a long-time participant in civil rights protests, pamphleteering, and political engagement. Distress on the City: Studies in the Design and Management of Urban Mental Health Services, released in 1969, was also edited by him. His book Blame the Victim, published in 1971, was a seminal work in the disciplines of social justice and human services.