The sixth annual Edmond J. Safra Memorial Lecture was held at King’s College London on 14 November

The sixth annual Edmond J. Safra Memorial Lecture, entitled ‘Mind the gap: How do we integrate mental and physical healthcare for chronic diseases?’, was held at King’s College London on 14 November. The event raised awareness of the College’s largest fundraising campaign World questions|King’s answers, and in particular of the campaign pillar Neuroscience & mental health. This pillar raises money to combat diseases that were the subject of the evening’s lecture, such as Parkinson’s disease. Over 200 guests attended the event, which took place in the Edmond J. Safra Lecture Theatre at the Strand Campus.

The discussion featured a dynamic panel of clinicians and researchers from King’s College London; Professor Amanda J Ramirez, Director of Cancer Research UK London Psychosocial Group; Professor K Ray Chaudhuri, Director National Parkinson Foundation International Centre of Excellence at King’s College Hospital; and Professor Matthew Hotopf, Professor of General Hospital Psychiatry at Institute of Psychiatry. The panel was also joined by Europe’s foremost female saxophonist, Barbara Thompson MBE and her husband and carer, musician Jon Hiseman. Thompson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1997 and is currently being treated by Professor Chaudhuri.
The talk was moderated by the College’s Vice-Principal (Health) and Executive Director of King’s Health Partners, Professor Sir Robert Lechler. Professor Lechler facilitated the discussion with the panellists, on the interplay between mental and physical health, particularly in relation to Parkinson’s disease, cancer and chronic illnesses. This was followed by a lively discussion with the audience.

To listen to the Podcast, please follow this link: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kingsanswers/news/6th-safra-write-up.aspx