Hiring Stephani was one of the best decisions I made as Head of Department at that time. She had a stellar recommendation and has continued to produce great work for the IoPPN. We are fortunate she chose King's and this country as her second home. Her latest appointment as the IoPPN Vice Dean (Culture, Diversity and Inclusion) is another highlight in her long list of achievements.
Professor Sir Simon Wessely, Interim Executive Dean of IoPPN and Regius Professor of Psychiatry
19 April 2023
Professor Stephani Hatch receives standing ovation for inaugural lecture
Professor Hatch presented “Fighting for Health and Social Equity: Lessons from a southernplayalistic ATLien" on Thursday 30 March 2023 to a full house at the IoPPN Wolfson Lecture Theatre.
Professor Stephani Hatch is a Professor of Sociology and Epidemiology and Vice Dean (Culture, Diversity and Inclusion) at the IoPPN. She leads the Health Inequalities Research Group, an interdisciplinary research programme and public engagement activities focused on urban mental health, inequalities in mental health and health services, discrimination and young adult mental health.
In addition, Professor Hatch co-leads the Marginalised Communities and Mental Health programme within the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, focused on advancing research with communities that have often been ignored, to examine and disrupt structures maintaining social inequities in mental health, with an emphasis on race within an intersectionality framework.
She joined King’s College London in December 2006.
Interim Executive Dean of IoPPN and Regius Professor of Psychiatry Professor Sir Simon Wessely warmly welcomed the audience, especially Professor Hatch's friends and family many of whom travelled from the United States. Professor Sir Wessely reflected on Professor Hatch's arrival at IoPPN fondly.
Professor Stephani Hatch described her education and research background, inspired by her lived experience and family history. Her work identifies and tackles inequalities in psychology, sociology and psychiatric epidemiology. Professor Hatch discussed several major works, including the South East London Community Health (SELCoH) and Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in Health Services (TIDES). She ended her lecture by sharing some actionable insights with the audience.
"The onus is on organisations and institutions across sectors to think about and demonstrate how they are not enabling systems of oppression."
Professor Stephani Hatch, Professor of Sociology and Epidemiology and Vice Dean (Culture, Diversity and Inclusion)
Vice Dean (Research) and Director of NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre Professor Matthew Hotopf CBE closed the evening by thanking attendees and organisers.
It has been a privilege and a delight to have worked alongside Stephani for the last 15 years. Stephani’s commitment to improving health equity is a challenge to us all, and her ability to discuss the drivers of inequality, including discrimination, has been hugely influential not just as a topic of research but also about how we work together in the university. The standing ovation after her lecture was a fitting testament to her inspiring work.
Professor Matthew Hotopf, IoPPN Vice Dean (Research) and Director of NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
To view previous lectures and to find out about upcoming lectures in the Inaugural Lectures series, please visit Inaugural Lectures
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Vice Dean for Culture, Diversity & Inclusion