Professor Sir David Goldberg wins Lifetime Achievement Award 2009
12 October 2009
The inaugural Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) Awards ceremony was held at the Royal Society of Medicine last week and included two IoP nominations in the categories of Psychiatric Team of the Year, Psychiatric Academic of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Emeritus Professor Sir David Goldberg.
The awards were attended by more than 300 RCPsych members and mental health professionals. The ceremony acknowledged and rewarded the best academics, the most talented trainees, the hardest working psychiatrists, the most innovative teams and services and the most influential public educator of 2009.
The IoP nominations were: Psychiatric Team of the Year – OASIS who deliver outreach support and early intervention services for psychosis to young people across South London; and Psychiatric Academic of the Year - Professor Simon Wessely. Unfortunately both nominations were pipped to the post by The Bridge Substance Misuse Service, Birmingham and Professor Michael Sharpe, University of Edinburgh respectively.
Dinesh Bhugra, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the IoP said: 'We were delighted to receive so many high quality submissions showcasing excellence in psychiatry and mental health. Today’s nominations are all an inspiration for others to follow.'
The lifetime achievement award was presented to Professor Sir David Goldberg by Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services. This award was in recognition of Sir David's dedication throughout his career to alleviating suffering, and leading on research and service development.
Sir David was Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Research and Development and Director of Education at the IoP from 1993 to 1999. Throughout his career Sir David contributed prodigiously and fruitfully to academic activity. His influence on the teaching of psychiatry and his research activities extend far beyond his own generation.
Professor Bhugra added: 'David has humility combined with a sense of justice, purpose and wisdom. He is able to pull things together and ensure people collaborate to improve psychiatric services.'
Professor Bhugra concluded: The RCPsych Awards bring the work of those working in mental health services the national recognition they deserve and in the process raise staff and service morale as well as boosting public awareness of excellence in mental health.
Nominations for the RCPsych Awards 2010 will open in December 2009.