Lifetime achievement award for distinguished academic dedicated to combating eating disorders

An acclaimed academic from the University of Leicester is to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at an international event recognising his contribution to the study, treatment, education, and administration in the field of eating disorders for over 40 years.

Bob Palmer is honorary professor of psychiatry in the University’s Department of Health Sciences based at the Brandon Mental Health Unit, Leicester General Hospital. He is also a consultant psychiatrist in the Leicester Adult Eating Disorders which is part of the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. He has published widely on the subject of eating disorders and is Editor of the European Eating Disorders Review.

The award from the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) is a rare distinction – the worldwide organisation, based in the US, has conferred the award only seven times since the first occasion in 1995.

Professor Palmer will be presented with the award in Salzburg during a gathering of his peers at the 2010 International Conference on Eating Disorders in June.

He said: “I was gobsmacked but delighted at being given this award. It is recognises not only my own work but that of the whole Leicester clinical and research team. I am now working only part time and will soon be retiring completely but I am assured that the work will go on.”

Head of Health Sciences Professor Richard Baker added: “This is a terrific achievement. The award is only made on rare occasions, and it represents international recognition of the very highest order. Professor Palmer has combined the delivery of a top quality clinical service for people with eating disorders with a leading research programme that has had a worldwide impact. The Department is delighted for Bob.”

The award citation from the AED states: “One of the foremost scholarly thinkers in our field, Bob has led the way in pursuing an integrative understanding of eating disorders through his prolific research, writing, education and clinical activities. The author of numerous research and clinical articles, Bob has written three books and edited two others. His contributions to the AED and to the field earned Bob the 2005 AED Leadership Award for Clinical, Educational and Administrative Service. Still active in research, writing, and administration, Bob recently retired from clinical practice after 44 years of providing patient care. The AED is pleased and honoured to present our distinguished colleague, Bob Palmer, with the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for the impact his body of work has made in advancing new integrative directions in eating disorder research and treatment.”

More information at:

http://www.aedweb.org/about/awards10.cfm