Interests
Sarah Cullum, MBChB, MSc, PhD
Academic Old Age Psychiatrist
To reduce the scale and impact of dementia, we need to raise global awareness about how important it is to look after our brain health, reduce stigma and support families providing care.
Current Work
Sarah is an Associate Professor in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland and a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at Counties Manukau in Auckland, New Zealand. She has over 20 years of clinical and research experience in dementia.
Personal Hero
Jacinda Ardern
Words of Strength
Building teams with big visions
Vision
To reduce the scale and impact of dementia, we need to raise global awareness about dementia and how important it is to look after our brain health, reduce the stigma surrounding dementia, be inclusive, and support families providing care.
Strategy
Sarah has led research on the epidemiology of dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand, assessed ethnic disparities in access to care, and co-developed a website to support carers in taking care of themselves and their family members living with dementia.
Impact
As an Atlantic Fellow, Sarah aims to develop innovative resources to raise public awareness and reduce stigma around brain health, while also supporting individuals and families currently living with dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Motivation
Dementia rates are nearly twice as high among Māori and Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand, likely due to a increased prevalence of risk factors. We need to find innovative ways to address these health disparities at a grassroots level.
Education & Experience
Sarah attended medical school at Leeds University in the United Kingdom (UK). During her training she took a year out to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology which ignited her interest in psychiatry. After graduating, she trained in psychiatry at the Charing Cross and Westminster Hospitals Training Scheme and at the East Anglian Training Scheme. While in East Anglia she met Professor Carol Brayne at the University of Cambridge, a pioneer of dementia epidemiology, who encouraged her to pursue an academic career. Sarah was awarded two Research Training Fellowships, enabling her to complete two Master's degrees and a PhD. After completing her PhD she worked clinically as a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry in Bristol, UK for ten years before emigrating to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2016. She is now an Associate Professor at The University of Auckland and a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry at a South Auckland Memory Service. Since her arrival, she has inspired a multicultural research team to produce the evidence that led to funding for the country’s first dementia prevalence study.
Send
Sarah
a NoteHave ideas for global brain health or a collaboration? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to send an introductory note.
