Obituary- Dr. Duncan Pedersen (1939-2016)

We are very saddened to annouce the passing of Dr. Duncan Pedersen, our dear colleague and friend. Dr. Pedersen had a sudden illness while in Chile for work on a project in Global Mental Health and passed away on January 27, 2016 . Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones at this difficult time. Details for his memorial will be circulated as they are finalized.

A world renowned researcher, Dr. Pedersen was Associate Scientific Director of International Programs at the Douglas Institute and held the rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry. He was fully engaged in the upcoming launch of the Global Mental Health program at McGill.

As a researcher and physician trained in public health, social epidemiology and medical anthropology, Dr. Pedersen had an extensive research experience in Latin America, mostly amongst indigenous peoples and the urban poor in countries of the Andean region (Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru), the Amazon basin and Northeast Brazil. More recently, he had extended his global mental health research to Guatemala, Jamaica and Nepal.  His interests were in global health research and cross-cultural, ethnographic and epidemiological research on violence and mental health outcomes, where the issues of traumatic memory and trauma-related disorders, resilience, healing and coping strategies were his most prominent concerns.  

His passing is a terrible loss and his dedication, expertise and enthusiasm to the field of Global Mental Health will be greatly missed.