Division of General Adult Psychiatry

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Dr. Volker Hocke

Overview

The Division of General Adult Psychiatry (GAP) is the largest division in the Department of Psychiatry. We are a group of more than forty-five engaged, enthusiastic and compassionate clinical-academic faculty of diverse backgrounds, interests and academic roles who share a vision of providing high quality, evidence-informed, person-centred, and responsive mental health care. We are based primarily out of London Health Sciences Centre and Parkwood Institute (St. Joseph’s Healthcare London), with connections to community-based programs, satellite sites, and expanded regional reach.

We are fortunate to count within our division, several faculty members who are prominent educators. We actively contribute to the academic mandate of the Department of Psychiatry, by providing core and elective educational experiences for medical students, psychiatry and other specialty residents, trainees in related health disciplines, and graduate students. We have been enthusiastically leading the Competency Based Medical Education curricular renewal process in our Department, working closely with the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Research is an important stream within our division, with expertise in psychosis, mood disorders, Indigenous mental health, trauma, anxiety disorders and PTSD, SMART e-health technology, homelessness, psychopharmacology and psychosocial rehabilitation.   Our clinical and research missions are intertwined with strong interdisciplinary collaborations within neuropsychiatry, brain imaging and clinical services.  Our Prevention and Early intervention for Psychoses Program (PEPP), First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP), and Traumatic Stress Service, are internationally renowned.

Our biggest strength is our dedicated faculty. We are passionate about our work and are known for our strong advocacy efforts for a psychiatric care delivery network that always puts the patient and their families at the centre. Importantly, our faculty stand out for their compassion and nurturing attitude towards their patients, trainees, colleagues and others in their midst.

Over the next 18 months, we are focusing our efforts on a number of key areas. We are ensuring that the undergraduate psychiatry training is well-aligned with the CBME curricular renewal process and our residency program supports structured stage-based training, real-time feedback and supervision.  We are also supporting resident and faculty well-being; identifying and supporting our faculty members’ academic goals, career growth, and balance in all spheres of life; and lifelong learning.  In short, we are channelling our collective energies to make our Division a vibrant workplace where people experience the meaning and joy of being a psychiatrist.

For an overview of the division’s varied programs please visit, the London Health Sciences Centre Psychiatry Based Services and the St. Joseph’s Health Care – Psychiatry Based Services on the Department of Psychiatry website, or reach out to one of us for a less formal review!