RMBF welcomes new President Elect

The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, the UK charity for doctors, medical students and their families, is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Sheila the Baroness Hollins as President Elect.

Baroness Hollins is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability at St George’s University of London and Honorary Professor of Spirituality, Theology and Health, University of Durham.

Sheila has worked as a consultant psychiatrist, teacher, researcher and policy maker in intellectual disability and health. In 2010 she was appointed an Independent Member of the House of Lords where she speaks on mental health, disability issues and adverse childhood experiences. She was a founder member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in 2014, where her focus was on the healing and care of victims/survivors.

Baroness Hollins has also served as President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and President and Chair of the Board of Science of the British Medical Association. She is currently President of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in the UK.

Professor Michael Farthing, RMBF Chair, commented on the appointment: “I met Sheila nearly 20 years ago when we were colleagues at St George’s. Her professional and personal skills and experience will contribute greatly to the work of the charity, and I really look forward to working with her again”.

Baroness Hollins reciprocated: “I have been a long-term supporter and admirer of the RMBF and it will be an honour to succeed Dame Parveen Kumar in the role of President. I am looking forward to contributing more directly to the charity’s work, which has never been more needed than now”.

Sheila will succeed the current RMBF President, Professor Dame Parveen Kumar DBE, at the RMBF’s Annual General Meeting on 21 September 2020.

Image credit: Roger Harris / CC BY