About the Director

Werdie (C.W.) van Staden is professor of philosophy and psychiatry, and director of the Centre for Ethics and Philosophy of Heath Sciences at the University of Pretoria. His clinical attachment is as honorary psychiatrist at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, Pretoria.

Following his training as physician (MBChB) and specialisation in psychiatry cum laude (MMed(Psych)) at the University of Pretoria, he continued his clinical training in the United Kingdom in general adult psychiatry, psychotherapy and learning disabilities. He pursued formal study in philosophy at the University of Warwick (UK) resulting in a research doctorate in philosophy. He is a fellow of the College of Psychiatrists of the South African Colleges of Medicine.

He has published about a 100 articles in medical and philosophy journals and books. He contributed to and co-edited with Professors John Sadler (Texas) and Bill Fulford (Oxford) the Oxford Handbook of Psychiatric Ethics, published in 2015, which is the most comprehensive book in the field consisting of 94 chapters to which 140 international authors contributed. He also co-edited the book titled International Perspectives on Values-based Mental Health (2021). He had been the editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of Psychiatry for 11 years until 2017, is senior editor of the international journal Philosophy, Psychiatry & Psychology, co-editor of the International Journal of Person-Centered Medicine, and managing editor of Philosophy, Ethics & Humanities in Medicine.

He chairs the World Psychiatric Association’s Section for Philosophy and Humanities in Psychiatry, serves on the Steering Committee of the International Network for Philosophy & Psychiatry consisting of 43 national associations, is the honorary secretary of the World Psychiatric Association’s Section for Classification, Diagnostic Assessment and Nomenclature, and serves on the Board of the International College of Person-Centered Medicine.

He has been plenary speaker at many international conferences and lectured on invitation at the University of Oxford, University of Warwick, King’s College in London, and the University of Geneve. He has served on many scientific committees of international and national conferences, and chaired the organising and scientific committees of the 10th International Conference for Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology held in 2007 in South Africa. In 2006, he convened the national congress of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP).

He is the chairperson of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Pretoria. He founded and directs masters and doctorate degree programmes in Philosophy & Ethics of Mental Health.

He also studied music at the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the Trinity College of Music (London), achieving qualifications up to a masters degree level. He is principal flautist for the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra and his compositions include two symphonies, a flute and cello concerto, and other chamber and choir works. His compositions have been performed by the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra and the Teatro Del Lago Choir at the opening of an international scientific conference in Chile.

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences