Psychiatric Bulletin (2001) 25: 77. doi: 10.1192/pb.25.2.77-a
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2001) 25: 77
© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Rowan Adams
Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist at the Duncan Clinic, Edinburgh 1944-2000
Gordon Adams and
Ken Slatford
Rowan Adams was killed on 3 May 2000 in a climbing accident on the Jungfrau
glacier in Switzerland. The accident happened while she was practising safety
manoeuvres prior to an expedition to cross from Grindelwald to Grimsel Pass
with a small party of Scottish and Canadian skiers, headed by an experienced
Canadian guide.
Rowan was born on 30 October 1944 in Carlisle but spent most of her early
life in Canada, moving to Scotland in 1971. She came from a distinguished
medical family that included an uncle, Donal Sheehan — Professor of
Anatomy at New York University College of Medicine — and another uncle,
Harold Sheehan (of Sheehan's syndrome) — Professor of Pathology at
Liverpool. She attended the Central Collegiate Institute in Calgary, Alberta,
where she was awarded the Viscount Bennett Scholarship as best all-round
student in Alberta. She then went to McGill University in Montreal as a McGill
scholar, where she was particularly proud to be ‘top gentile’ in
her final medical exams. She received a BSc in psychology and genetics, and
MD.CM at McGill. She then trained at Ottawa Civic Hospital and in dermatology
at Vancouver General Hospital. In Scotland she worked as a dermatologist at
Dundee Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen,
Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Belvedere Hospital,
Glasgow. She was elected MRCP in 1981 and in 1986 MRCPsych. She was appointed
a consultant psychiatrist in Monklands Hospital before becoming a consultant
psychiatrist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in 1995.
Rowan was a committed doctor who always thought of her patients' interests
first. She was dedicated to her work, and passionate and strong-minded about
services. She was very kind, and her combination of care and attention to
detail encouraged many trainee psychiatrists and medical students in the Royal
Edinburgh scheme. She was heavily involved in the enhancement of the home and
community care team, which had started the year before her appointment, and in
developing a primary care liaison team with general practitioners in the
South-East of Edinburgh. In this work, again her commitment to high quality
care and a patient orientated service shone through. She was an examiner and
college tutor for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a national panellist
for the appointment of consultant psychiatrists.
Rowan was always busy outside psychiatry. She took a great interest in
cultural affairs, often being seen at the Traverse Theatre, the Queen's Hall
and the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. Her love of sports was also well known.
She was an expert downhill and cross-country skier. She enjoyed cycling and
swimming and made many canoe trips in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
She climbed and skied extensively in the Rockies, Selkirks, Alps, New England,
Scotland, Norway, Spain and Greece. She was well read, with a detailed
knowledge of Victorian women writers.
Rowan was a first class doctor, mother and wife, and will be greatly
missed. She is survived by her parents Margaret Hopwood and John Hopwood, QC
of Calgary; her husband Gordon Adams, an economist, whom she met at McGill and
married in May 1967; and by her two children Ewan (26), an educational
researcher at Bristol University, and Jean (22), a medical student at the
University of Newcastle.
