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Professor Rashid Chaudhry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

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Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Copyright © 2001, The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Professor Rashid Chaudhry died in Lahore on 13 August 2000. He was a pioneer in establishing psychiatry in Pakistan and started the first department of psychiatry in a general hospital in the country in the late 1960s and set the scene for expansion of this speciality in Pakistan. He was the first Professor of Psychiatry at King Edward Medical College, Lahore, and had served more than 15 years when he retired in 1982.

He was born in East Punjab and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. After graduating from King Edward Medical College he joined the Army Medical Corps and served in northern areas for about 2 years. He then proceeded to the UK for further study at the Maudsley, after which he started his career as a specialist at the Mental Hospital, Lahore. He was elected FRCPsych in 1972.

His vision to establish psychiatry as an important branch of medicine was reflected in his efforts to create more insight into mental health problems both among professionals and the general public. He also initiated the rehabilitation psychiatry in the country andfounded a rehabilitation facility in the name of ‘Fountain House’ at Lahore. This facility is now regarded as an important innovation and is now widely accepted as a medium for treatment and training.

Professor Rashid Chaudhry was respected for his work and expertise all over the world. He was elected office bearer of different International organisations. He received various awards from the Government of Pakistan, United Nations Organization, World Health Organization, world psychiatric bodies and voluntary organisations. He was also very active in establishing the World Islamic Association for Mental Health and served this organisation as its president for more than 5 years.

He will be remembered by a large number of friends, associates and students. His dedication and contribution in the field of mental health will continue providing inspiration for his fellow colleagues in Pakistan. May God rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family and friends to bear his loss.

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