John A. Snowdon, MA, MD, MPhil, FRCPsych
(Australia), Board of Directors

John Snowdon, MA, MD, MPhil, FRCPsych, trained in medicine at Cambridge University and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. After two years as a medical registrar in Sydney, he trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, including six months working with Professor Raymond Levy. In 1977, he moved to Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney as medical superintendent of the psychiatry unit, and in 1984 he was made director of community health for the Eastern Sydney Health Service and an associate professor at the University of New South Wales. In 1992 he became director of the Central Sydney Area Psychogeriatric Service and an associate professor at the University of Sydney, where he takes a prominent role in the new teaching program for medical students.

Together with Ed Chiu, David Ames and others—and with the encouragement of Tom Arie—John helped establish the RANZCP’s Section in Psychiatry of Old Age in 1987. He was chair of the Section when it co-hosted the Sydney IPA congress in 1995. On January 1, 1999 (IYOP), this evolved to be a Faculty of the Australian and New Zealand College, with John as its first chair. He was succeeded by Pam Melding in 2001. John’s contribution was recognized by the RANZCP Citation in 2002. 

John Snowdon’s MD was awarded for his research on a typology of depression in old age. Other clinical studies and publications have focused on the epidemiology and management of depression in old age, mental disorders in nursing homes and suicide. By arguing against experts and ageists who have under-emphasised the high rates of suicide and disabling depression in old age, John has strongly advocated for proportional and appropriate development of mental health services for older people. 

Since 1981 he has been on the Board of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and has held executive positions on various other New South Wales voluntary associations. His major interests outside psychiatry are his family, tennis and the theatre.

Dr. Snowdon was recently re-elected to a second term on the IPA Board of Directors. He can be contacted at jsnowdon@mail.usyd.edu.au.

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