Derrick Mackerras Lecture

Mental health advocate and 2010 Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry AO, will present the Derrick Mackerras Memorial Lecture at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute today.

The annual lecture series is named after QIMR Berghofer’s first two directors, Dr Ian Mackerras and Dr Edward Derrick.

Professor McGorry will speak about “Solutions for Psychiatry: Australia’s Opportunity”.

QIMR Berghofer Director, Professor Frank Gannon, said it was an honour to welcome Professor McGorry to the Institute.

“This annual memorial lecture series is dear to our heart, as a way of honouring our founding directors,” Professor Gannon said.

“We were thrilled when Patrick McGorry agreed to give the 28th lecture. He is a world-leading clinician, researcher and mental health reformer.

“Professor McGorry has played an integral role in the development of safe, effective treatments for young people with emerging mental disorders.

“We are very conscious of the huge burden mental illness places on society, and our own mental health program, led by Professor Michael Breakspear, also works on new diagnostics and treatments.”

Professor McGorry is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and Director of Orygen Youth Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Victoria.