Interview with our next President
Last week Dr Lade Smith CBE was elected as the next President of the RCPsych, in a ballot which saw a turnout of 39.4% – the highest turnout in a College Presidential election since 1993, when Professor Fiona Caldicott was elected.
Lade will become the 18th President of the RCPsych and will replace current President Dr Adrian James when he demits office on 11 July, at the College AGM, which is being held during the RCPsych International Congress in Liverpool.
Lade is a consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and an academic at King’s College London.
We interviewed Lade to ask her about winning the election, what type of President she will be, and what it will mean to become the College’s first black President, and the fifth female leader of the profession.
Q: Lade, congratulations on winning the Presidential election. How did it feel when you were told that you had won?
Thank you! I was overwhelmed and humbled. What an honour and privilege.
It took a few days for the news to sink in. I was particularly pleased that there was such a big turnout at this election. It shows that psychiatrists want to be more involved in the College and want to be part of change.
I plan to build on this enthusiasm and strengthen the voice of psychiatrists in the delivery of mental health services.
As a united body, we can make our case more powerfully to improve mental healthcare for patients, carers and our staff.
Q: Who was the first person you called after being told the good news?
I told my Mum and she was so happy to hear the news, which meant a lot to me.
I wish I could have told my Dad. My father had been very unwell over the summer of last year. It was during his last days that I sought his advice, and he encouraged me to run for RCPsych President.
Unfortunately, he died a few days after I declared that I was putting my hat in the ring. He would have been pleased that I won.
I wanted to let everyone who supported me in my journey and during the campaign know about the election outcome, but I was at the RCPsych-WASP conference and about to chair a session.
Fortunately, the College informed the membership almost immediately and it was lovely to receive all the congratulatory messages from so many. Thank you for having faith in me.
Q: You’re the College’s fifth female President and first black President, what does that mean to you?
To me, the main thing is that the work I have done over the years that got me to this point, has been recognised by my peers.
However, I understand what it means for people to see that someone like me, someone from a very ordinary background, can aspire to and achieve such a position in our profession.
I hope this will inspire many others to believe in themselves and fulfil their potential.
And of course, I am thrilled to learn that I am the first Black female President of a UK Royal Medical College.
Q: What sort of President will you be, and what can we expect from your presidency?
I want Members and all psychiatrists to know and expect that I will dedicate my energy to achieving the objectives of my manifesto.
I will represent and argue for all psychiatrists to ensure that there is fairness for staff, and for our patients and carers.
Psychiatry needs championing in such challenging times, and I will continue to influence the policymakers to put mental healthcare at the top of the agenda and provide evidence-based arguments and solutions.
I will always rely on the knowledge and sense of the doctors who work in real world settings. I aim to deliver on my commitment to equality in mental healthcare and help embed systems and processes that support mental health organisations to make a real difference in access, experience and outcomes for all our patients.
I will be an accessible President, and I will always make time to listen to and learn from the experience of psychiatrists across the different nations.
In return, I will need the contributions and support of psychiatrists at all stages and grades of career to drive forward improvements and positive change in mental healthcare.
Q: What was it like to be an RCPsych election candidate, and what did you enjoy about the campaign?
As a presidential candidate, I delighted in meeting psychiatrists from across the four nations of the UK and the world. So many great ideas.
It was striking how each area has its own unique set of challenges. There is no ‘one size fits all’ and solutions for these challenges have to be tailored to each region and their needs. Meeting so many caring, compassionate and knowledgeable people was the highlight of the entire campaign.
The campaign was intense, at times gruelling, however, I am incredibly grateful to my fellow candidates, Russell and Kate for challenging me to do better, for making me think more, learn more and reflect more. I look forward to working with them in the future.
Q: What will you be doing between now and July, when you become President?
I will be meeting with the College Officers, staff, and psychiatrists who have furnished some fabulous ideas for how to improve things.
I will be getting first-hand accounts of the challenges that lie ahead. I’ll use the time to develop a robust project plan for how best to deliver my manifesto aims. I will also have to relinquish some of my existing roles and ensure succession planning and continuity - crucial for the kind of work we do.
Finally, I will definitely be having a break. It’s been a full-on campaign on top of doing the normal day job, so it’s been tiring.
It’s so important to ensure you look after your health and wellbeing so you can do more for others. So, I’m going to try and have a good holiday and spend time with family and friends. I aim to start in July rejuvenated, ready to face the challenges ahead.
Back to our January 2023 eNewsletter.