WPA Obituaries • WPA

Obituary: Prof. Dan Joseph Stein (1962 - 2025)

WPA Obituary

Dec 23, 2025

Obituary: Prof. Dan Joseph Stein (1962 - 2025)

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of Professor Dan Joseph Stein, MD, PhD, who passed away on Saturday, 6 December 2025, at the…

In memory of Gabriela Cruz Ares passed away on the 18th of July 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.

WPA Obituary

Nov 24, 2025

In memory of Gabriela Cruz Ares passed away on the 18th of July 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.

Gabriela Cruz Ares was chair of the Section Public Policy and Psychiatry from 2022 until 2025. She joined the section in 2019 as co-chair. She was too young to leave…

WPA shares its heartfelt condolences following the passing of Prof. Julio Arboleda-Florez on 29 March 2020 at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where he was Professor Emeritus and Past Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at Queen's University. Photograph of Prof. Julio Arboleda-Florez Prof. Julio Arboleda-Florez Julio had graduated in Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa; in Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Toronto; and in Epidemiology (PhD) at the University of Calgary. He was Director of Queen’s/PAHO/WHO Regional Unit for Research and Training in Psychiatric Epidemiology. He was past-President of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health and World Association for Social Psychiatry. He had served WPA in a number of positions, most notably as Chair of the WPA Forensic Psychiatry Section.

WPA Obituary

Sep 20, 2020

Obituary: Professor Julio Arboleda-Florez

In a condolence message to Julio’s wife Heather Stuart, WPA President Helen Herrman said, “Your friends and colleagues in WPA salute you and Julio, and send our sincere condolences to…

Obituary: Remembering our friend and colleague, Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg (1960-2020)

WPA Obituary

Apr 27, 2020

Obituary: Remembering our friend and colleague, Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg (1960-2020)

It was with shock and sadness that the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) received the tragic news of the sudden passing of Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg on 23 April 2020.…

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Dr Ronald M. Wintrob on Monday 17 August 2020 after a chronic illness. Dr Ronald M. Wintrob Ron was one of the most prominent representatives and pioneers of cultural psychiatry. A past chairperson of the WPA Transcultural Psychiatry Section (WPA-TPS), he was an important WPA leader who uplifted the Section to help make it what it is today. Most international organizations in the transcultural field were either founded by him or benefited from his leadership as president.

WPA Obituary

Aug 22, 2020

Obituary: Dr Ronald M. Wintrob (1935 -2020)

Ron's energy and initiative were a great inspiration. He was a generous colleague and friend, always available for guidance and support. We offer our sincere condolences to his family. The…

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of renowned Pakistan psychiatrist, Dr. Hussain Mubbashir Malik, on Monday 10 August 2020. Dr. Hussain Mubbashir Malik News of Dr Malik's unexpected passing after a brief hospitalisation came as a huge jolt to the members and executives of not only the Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS), but also the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), Royal College of Psychiatrists UK as well as many other Psychiatric fraternities and organisations. A globally recognised psychiatrist, Dr. Malik was a champion of mental health. Throughout his career, he demonstrated immense enthusiasm and extraordinary commitment to his profession, students, patients and their carers.

WPA Obituary

Sep 14, 2020

Obituary: Prof. Dr. Hussain Mubbashar Malik(1945-2020)

Dr. Hussain Mubashir Malik was a professional par excellence, and a ‘titan’ in the arena of international psychiatry. He led an extraordinary professional life and achieved great recognition for Pakistan.…

It is with great sadness that WPA shares news of the passing of Dr. Said Abdel Azim on the 27 November 2020, in Cairo, Egypt. Dr Said Abdel Azim An esteemed psychiatrist and mental health advocate, Prof. Abdel Azim’s impact on the profession, and on those who were fortunate to know him, is difficult to condense. With over half a century of dedication to the field, he was a repository of knowledge, and an authority on clinical sexuality. Abdel Azim received his medical degree from Cairo University in 1964, and started his career as a surgeon in Suez University, before deciding to shift to psychiatry residency at Cairo University. He was awarded his M.D and Ph.D. in Psychiatry in 1974, and proceeded to establish the Psychosomatic Unit and the Human Sexuality Clinic at Cairo University Hospital.

WPA Obituary

Dec 14, 2020

Obituary: Said Abdel Azim, MD., Ph.D, FRC Psych., FAPA, WPA Honorary Member (1942-2020)

The knowledge and technical skills he gleaned as a physician, his ability to synthesize and interpret physiological and psychological cues, make decisions and communicate effectively, coupled with his God-given calmness,…

It is with great sadness that World Psychiatric Association (WPA) shares news of the passing of Dr Avdesh Sharma on the 10th March 2022 in Delhi, India. An esteemed psychiatrist and mental health advocate, Dr Avdesh Sharma's impact on the profession, and on those who were fortunate to know him, is difficult to put into words. Prof. Dinesh Bhugra (WPA Council Member and former WPA President (2014-2017), shares his recollections of Dr Avdesh Sharma and his great work: I first met Avdesh over two decades ago and we quickly bonded. His very kind nature and his total commitment to mental health and mental wellbeing was truly impressive. We were in regular contact over the years and each message that Avdesh sent was inspirational.

WPA Obituary

Mar 22, 2022

Obituary: Dr Avdesh Sharma (1956-2022)

He graduated from Maulana Azad medical College in Delhi in 1979 and went to NIMHANS to complete his psychiatry training where he met and married Sujatha. Avdesh set up his…

The sudden and unexpected passing of Professor Petr V. Morozov on the 17th July 2022 has come as a great shock and with huge sadness to his family, friends, colleagues and members of the psychiatric fraternity, all over the world. As World Psychiatric Association’s (WPA) current Secretary General, the news of Professor Petr Morozov has hit the WPA organisation deeply. He was an esteemed psychiatrist and mental health advocate who demonstrated immense enthusiasm and extraordinary commitment to his profession and colleagues.

WPA Obituary

Jul 20, 2022

Obituary: Professor Petr .V. Morozov (1946-2022)

His impact on psychiatry, and on those of us who were fortunate to know or work with him, is difficult to summarise in one article. Professor Petr V. Morozov was…

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Prof. M Parameshvara Deva (Malaysia) passed away on 7th August 2022. He was a senior leader of World Psychiatric Association (WPA) and has been active in WPA activities for several years. He called the first meeting to discuss the formation of the Malaysian Psychiatric Association in November 1976. Being a WPA Zonal representative, he highlighted the vision of WPA not only in his region but also played a vital role in promotion of psychiatry globally.

WPA Obituary

Jun 29, 2025

Obituary: Prof. M Parameshvara Deva

His contributions as chair of WPA Scientific Section on Education and pioneering role in establishing Section on Psychiatry in Developing countries will be remembered by the WPA leadership. He had…

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Pedro Ruiz, MD, who left us on the 14th of March 2023, 14 in League City, Texas, USA at the age of 86. Dr. Ruiz was a renowned psychiatrist, educator, and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of mental health throughout his distinguished career. As one of World Psychiatric Association’s (WPA) former President (2011-2014), the news of Professor Pedro Ruiz has come as a great shock and with huge sadness to WPA, his family, friends, colleagues and members of the psychiatric fraternity.

WPA Obituary

Mar 23, 2023

Obituary: Professor Pedro Ruiz (1936-2023)

Aside from his presidency with WPA, Dr. Pedro Ruiz was professor & Executive Vice Chair as well as Director of Clinical Programs at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences…