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 Prof Patrick McGorry named Australian of the Year
26 January 2010
Leading youth mental health psychiatrist Prof Patrick McGorry was today named Australian of the Year for 2010 by the Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd.
Prof McGorry is Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health (part of NorthWestern Mental Health). Orygen is Australia’s largest youth mental health organisation, which has a clinical service for young people with emerging serious mental illness, and a world-renowned research centre. Prof McGorry is also Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and Director of the National Youth Mental Health Foundation (headspace).
Prof McGorry is a world-leading researcher in the area of early psychosis and youth mental health. His innovative, groundbreaking research has played an integral role in the development of safe, effective treatments that have helped transform the lives of tens of thousands of young people the world over.
Orygen Youth Health’s early psychosis service, known as EPPIC, was founded by Prof McGorry in 1992, and has been hugely influential internationally.
Its evidence-based model has been exported to many countries, and early intervention in psychosis has become one of the major growth points in international mental health reform.
Melbourne Health Chief Executive Linda Sorrell congratulated Prof McGorry, saying: "This is an outstanding achievement and highlights the groundbreaking work being undertaken in youth mental health treatment and research.
Prof McGorry receives the award from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,
assisted by National Australia Day Chairman Adam Gilchrist.
Ms Sorrell also acknowledged two other recipients who were made Members in the General Division (AM) in the Australia Day Honours announced today:
- Prof Jack Cade AM for his work as an intensive care clinician, researcher, educator, and involvement in professional associations. Prof Cade was the first Director of the RMH Intensive Care Unit and led the unit from 1974 to 2008. He continues to work in the ICU as Principal Specialist.
More information about Prof Cade can be found in Melbourne Health Matters, Issue 21, Winter 2008, page 5.
- Prof Graham Brown AM, cited for service to medicine: malaria, professional, research, and advisory organisations. Prof Brown established the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service at RMH in 1996, and was appointed James Stewart Professor of Medicine in 1999. He left the hospital in 2007 to take up new roles as Foundation Director of the Nossal Institute for Global Health and Foundation Chair in Global Health at the University of Melbourne.
More information about Prof Brown can be found in Melbourne Health Matters, Issue 20, Autumn 2008, page 3.
"Congratulations to Prof McGorry, Prof Cade and Prof Brown on receiving these well-deserved honours, which recognise careers that have been dedicated to advancing the treatment and care of our patients," Ms Sorrell said.
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