In Memoriam—Paul Fedoroff
Dr. Paul Fedoroff, a highly respected forensic psychiatrist based in Ottawa, Canada, passed away on January 16, 2023. He was a renowned expert in the field of deviant sexual behavior and a leading figure in the mental health community.
Dr. Fedoroff was the Director of the Sexual Behaviours Clinic (SBC) at The Royal (formerly the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre) since 2001. He provided psychiatric consultations locally, nationally, and internationally, and his primary interests involved the assessment and treatment of individuals with problematic sexual interests and behaviors.
He was the first Director of the Forensic Research Unit at The Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research and held numerous academic positions, including Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Division of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He was also a Past-President of both the International Academy of Sex Researchers (IASR) and the Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (CAPL). He was involved in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He acted as a Program Chair for the Psychiatry and Behavioral Section several years ago and had submitted his application for becoming Fellow a few months ago.
Dr. Fedoroff published over 100 papers and chapters, and his work supported the idea that problematic sexual behaviors are not only treatable but can actually be prevented. This belief was the inspiration for The Prevention Study, a research study in the SBC that encourages men with a sexual interest in children to seek treatment before acting on their interest.
In 2014, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons named Dr. Fedoroff as Specialist of the Year in Ontario and Nunavut. In 2015, the SBC received the American Psychiatric Association's Gold Achievement Award, their highest honor for an academic clinical research program in North America. In 2018, Dr. Fedoroff and the SBC received Crime Prevention Ottawa's Innovation Award for their contributions to public safety.
Our thoughts go to his wife, Evelynn.
The views and opinions expressed in the articles contained in the Academy News are those of the identified authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Academy.