Dr. Kutcher is an internationally-renowned expert in the area of adolescent mental health and a national and international leader in mental health research, advocacy, training, policy, and health services innovation. Dr. Kutcher uses his considerable expertise to advance the work of the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, building awareness and knowledge about mental health in young people through the development of program that addresses adolescent mental health promotion, education and research, locally, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Kutcher most recently served as Associate Dean of International Medical Development & Research with Dalhousie University's Faculty of Medicine. At Dalhousie, he has been chair of the Department of Psychiatry and has led the development of the Life Sciences Development Association, the Brain Repair Centre, and the International Health Office. He is also the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Mental Health at Dalhousie.
Amongst other awards and honors he was chosen by Atlantic Progress Magazine as one of the top 20 innovators in Atlantic Canada in 2003, was. named as the 2004 National Champion of Mental Health Research by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, received the 2005 Mary Seeman award from the Canadian Psychiatry Research Foundation and in 2007 was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association in recognition of his achievements in mental health work. He has been recognized as a "Best Doctor" in Canada, was awarded the 2008 Health Promotion Award by Doctors Nova Scotia and received the 2008 CCNP Medal for his contributions in the development of neuropsychopharmacology in Canada.
Dr. Kutcher was a founding member of the Canadian Association for Mood and Anxiety Treatment, the Advisory Board for the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions (Canadian Institutes of Health Research), the Science Advisory Committee of NeuroScience Canada, and the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research. He has served as a board member for the Canadian Society for International Health; and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation and is currently a member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Child and Youth Advisory Panel.
Internationally he has worked with various governments, international organizations (such as the WHO and PAHO) and through Canadian government agencies such as Health Canada and CIDA to address a variety of mental health issues. These have included but are not limited to: peer education to address mental health and peace building in northern Uganda; the development of national mental health policies and plans for Grenada and Guyana; training of health providers to deliver mental health care in a number of low income countries; the development of community based primary care mental health care capacity in Brazil; situational reviews of mental health care provision in the English speaking Caribbean, the development and delivery of a mental health clinical research training and capacity building program in Cuba, the development and delivery of a community based post disaster mental health care training program in Grenada, a public mental health/global mental health education and training program in various countries..
His current interests include translating mental health research into clinical care, patient and parent empowerment, health systems/health policy and optimization of mental health care/mental health clinical research through the training of community based health human resources in primary care. He has co-developed a number of innovative health human resources training programs for mental health competencies that have been delivered in different countries and has participated in the writing of a number of national mental health policies/plans. He is the author of more than 200 scientific papers and also author/co-author of a number of medical textbooks, has edited the. Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology News and has been a consultant to various organizations on issues pertaining to mental health treatments and program reviews in children, adolescents and adults alike.
Dr. Kutcher is a nationally and internationally active speaker, reviewer and technical consultant in psychiatry and mental health. His work in international medical development and research advances health sector knowledge in mental health across various disciplines and health care delivery systems. His knowledge and experience in policy development, research, health systems/service delivery, knowledge translation and clinical care provide him with a broad perspective on the many issues pertinent to mental health. His track record of innovation across multiple domains is consistent with his personal commitment to using best evidence to inform the creation and delivery of those programs, activities and interventions, which will improve the mental health of populations and enhance the quality of life of those with mental disorders.
