The ARC OxTV is proud to announce that one of our leading researchers, Professor Mina Fazel, has been appointed Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
Professor Fazel, who has been supported by the NIHR ARC OxTV on several projects over the years, including the OxWell Student Survey, will lead the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry research group of 22 researchers. The team aims to better understand how to prevent mental health difficulties in children and how best to support children and their families both in the UK and across the globe.
As part of the ARC OxTV's "Mental Health Across the Lifecourse" research theme, led by Professor Cathy Creswell, Professor Fazel's research focuses on improving access to mental health interventions for children and adolescents. She also has a longstanding interest in the mental health of refugee children.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Creswell said: "We are thrilled that Professor Fazel has been appointed Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her expertise, passion, and collaborative approach have been invaluable to our Mental Health Across the Lifecourse theme in the ARC, and we look forward to continuing to work with her in this new role to improve the lives of children and young people."
Dr Paula Wray, NIHR ARC OxTV Senior Manager added: "We are incredibly pleased to see Professor Fazel's appointment as Chair. This is exactly the kind of capacity development and progression we hope the ARC supports. By nurturing talented researchers like Professor Fazel, we can continue to drive innovative research that makes a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our communities."
Professor Fazel, who also works as a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Oxford Children's Hospital, joined the University of Oxford's Department of Psychiatry in 2002 after training as a doctor in both Oxford and Cambridge. She will be taking up her post as Chair in June, replacing Emeritus Professor Alan Stein, who has taken up a senior position at the Blavatnik School of Government.
Professor Fazel said:
I am hugely looking forward to starting as Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This is such an exciting time to be working in this area. There is so much we need to learn to improve our understanding of what works best for children and young people, especially for those who are struggling.
I hope in this new role to encourage more researchers who are keen to work in this area to come and join us so we can really make a difference for as many young people as possible.”
You can learn more about Mina's work with the ARC here:
- (News) Bridging Data and Action: The OxWell Initiative's Journey into England's Youth Mental Health
- (News) Willingness of Children and Adolescents to have COVID-19 Vaccination
- (News) Many adolescents game a lot without negative effects on their wellbeing
- (Project summary) Unveiling New Insights into Student Mental Health - OxWELL
- (Project summary) Facilitating the Implementation of the OxWell Special Schools Survey
And read a feature about Mina and her work from the University of Oxford here.