Member Article

Priory consultant’s influential contribution to mental health recognised by The Powerlist for fourth year in a row

• Powerlist honours the most influential black Britons in the UK • Dr Ian Nnatu recognised as a role model in the ‘Medicine and Science’ category • Dr Nnatu has now achieved a place on the list four consecutive times • Says he hopes it will inspire more young people from African, African-Caribbean and African-American heritage to enter psychiatry

Priory consultant psychiatrist Dr Ian Nnatu has secured a place on The 2022 Powerlist, which recognises the UK’s most powerful people of African, African-Caribbean and African-American heritage.

It is his fourth consecutive appearance and he is one of only two mental health professionals on the list.

The Powerlist was launched in 2007 to honour standout people in fields including business, science, technology and the arts. This year it is topped by Microsoft’s Chief Digital Officer Jacky Wright, and includes Bafta winner Michaela Coel and footballer Marcus Rashford.

The Powerlist names 100 people who are considered highly influential. It is distributed to schools and universities to help young people have high-quality role models, and it also showcases high achievement within the black British community.

Dr Nnatu is a consultant psychiatrist who holds practising privileges at Priory Hospital North London and Priory Wellbeing Centre Harley Street. He first made the Powerlist in 2019, and has now featured in every year since.

Dr Nnatu said; “It’s a great honour to be included on the Powerlist for the fourth time. I hope my inclusion can help inspire young people to choose a career in mental health. Working in medicine requires hard work and dedication, but for young people willing to apply themselves, a fulfilling and rewarding career can await.”

Dr Nnatu studied for his MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1994, before moving to the UK to complete a postgraduate degree in psychiatric training in London with the Charing Cross and St Mary’s training scheme, and was awarded the MRCPsych in 2002. The MRCPsych is a postnominal qualification awarded to physicians who have completed the prescribed training requirements and membership examinations mandated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

He has since completed a postgraduate diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) at Kings College London in 2006, and in 2020 he received an MSc in Healthcare Leadership from the NHS Leadership Academy.

Dr Nnatu has over 20 years’ experience working as a psychiatrist for the NHS and was appointed consultant psychiatrist in 2006. He has a particular interest in the treatment of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders.

Dr Nnatu also received recognition for his contribution to psychiatry when he was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych) in 2013.

About Priory Group

The Priory Group is the leading provider of behavioural care in the UK, caring for conditions including depression, anxiety, drugs and alcohol addiction, eating disorders and self-harming.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Imogen Daldy .