Ann, along with Drs Chris Donovan and Aidan Macfarlane, was a Founding Member of the AHG and her vision and passion lie at the heart of our group’s raison d’etre. She has inspired us all and her inspiration will continue to guide us for as long as the group is in existence.
Ann was a consummate communicator and only 2 weeks ago was awarded the 'BMJ Communicator of the Year Award'
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/111905.html.
Ann’s legacy was extraordinary. She has left us http://www.teenagehealthfreak.org (in collaboration with Dr Macfarlane) and was the co-founder of DIPEX: the charity of Oxford University Department of Primary Healthcare Health Experiences Research group (with pharmacologist Andrew Herxheimer).which now features 2,000 people stories and information on over 50 conditions. The project’s website has a sister site http://www.youthhealthtalk.org and I had the pleasure of contributing to the specific research project exploring young people’s experiences of depression, a project benefiting from Comic Relief money and Ann’s indefatigable drive.
Hugh Grant was her one of biggest fans and in March she was on TV with him to mark the 10th year anniversary of DIPEX.Motivated to share her own experiences of two diagnoses of cancer Ann contributed her own personal stories to show others they were not alone through DIPEX.
Most recently, Dr McPherson created the group Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD) which campaigns for greater patient choice at the end of life, including the option of assisted dying subject to legal safeguards. [http://www. hpad.org.uk/ ]
We will be preparing a fitting tribute to the central role Ann has played in the Group’s history and will continue to play in its future, and I will keep you posted on the website.My thoughts are with her family who must be feeling bereft.
YoursJane
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