Wendy Burn

Wendy Burn, born in 1958, is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry and served as President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists from 2017 to 2020. She was raised in Oxford by parents who were both doctors; her mother was the first in her family to attend university. Burn displayed an early interest in medicine, joining the St John Ambulance brigade as a child. She studied medicine at Southampton University, where she also participated in theater and developed an interest in punk rock. Despite initial academic challenges, she excelled later in her studies while managing the medical school revue. Burn specialized in psychiatry after earning her medical degree and began her career working with underserved communities in Leeds. She held various leadership roles, including Chair of the Senior House Officer programme and examiner for the Royal College's Part One examination. Her research focused on dementia, and she sat on national committees for dementia care. In 2011, she became Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, overseeing clinical examinations and curriculum reforms before stepping down in 2016. During her presidency, Burn advocated for improved mental health services, particularly for older adults with depression, anxiety, and dementia. She highlighted inequalities in specialist care across the UK, notably in Wales. She also led initiatives to enhance neuroscience training in psychiatry through a project supported by the Gatsby Foundation and Wellcome Trust. Burn has received numerous honors, including an honorary award from the University of Leeds and appointment as Commander of the Order of ...