Richard Walker: the "warmth and wisdom" of our Excellence Network

Richard has been a pillar of our Excellence Network since its inception in 2015. He served as our clinical lead for medicine until 2022 when he became joint clinical director, alongside Camille Carroll.

Camille said of Richard:

"Richard is a wonderful colleague – he combines sound judgement, pragmatism and good humour with infectious enthusiasm. He brings the broad perspective, the benefit of the global view and the bigger picture, while keeping older people with Parkinson's firmly in view. He is the warmth and wisdom of the Excellence Network. He will definitely be missed."

In his clinical work, Richard is consultant physician at North Tyneside General Hospital and honorary professor of ageing and international health at Newcastle University.

Annette Hand, Professor of Nursing at Northumbria University shared her appreciation for Richard's support over the years:

"Richard has made an enormous contribution to the Parkinson's community through his dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment to improving care for people with Parkinson's. I have always greatly valued his support, generosity and encouragement, both personally and to colleagues across the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network. It has been a real privilege to work with him, and I would like to thank him sincerely for all that he has done."

Richard has over 20 years' experience of looking after people with Parkinson's, and was previously Chair of the British Geriatrics Society Movement Disorders Section.

Throughout his career, Richard has pushed the boundaries of Parkinson's clinical research, both in the UK and in Tanzania, where he and his team completed the first Parkinson's prevalence study. He's collaborated with Parkinson's UK on a number of funded research projects, such as exploring the benefits of wearable technology on Parkinson's symptom management.

The expertise and guidance he's provided to the Network across the last 11 years has been immeasurable. He's helped shape our direction of travel and growth and will be a hard act to follow.

Please join us in thanking Richard for his years of service with us, and wish him well for his future.