MBBS (Pb), MRCPsych (London), FRCPsych (UK), FRCP (Ireland), Diploma in Psychiatric Practice (DPP) UK, Diplomat Austrian Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (FACHARZT), Fellow of American College of Physicians (FACP), Fellow of American Psychiatric Association (FAPA)

It is impossible to summarise the long list of Professor Chaudhry's achievements, contributions and work in a few paragraphs.

Born in 1955, and after early schooling in Lahore, Pakistan, Haroon graduated from King Edward Medical College, Lahore, in 1980. His commitment to the specialty of psychiatry was early and solid. He completed his postgraduate training in psychiatry in Pakistan as well as in Austria, where he obtained his higher degree (Diplomat Austrian Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - FACHARZT). After his return to Pakistan in 1985, he rapidly established himself as a specialist in mental health in Lahore. He was awarded a string of honours: Fellowship of the American College of Physicians, Membership and then Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK and Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, Ireland. He became Professor of Psychiatry at Fatima Jinnah Medical College, University of Punjab, in 2001.

His passion for rehabilitation psychiatry was evident, with his close association to the Fountain House Lahore, founded by his late father, Professor Rashid Chaudhry. As executive director, Haroon turned the Fountain House into a centre of excellence for psychosocial rehabilitation. His profound understanding of religious and spiritual beliefs of his patients made the clinical services culturally appropriate.

Haroon was a gifted man with a lot of abilities. In spite of a heavy clinical and research workload at both the Medical College and the Fountain House, he continued to carry out voluntary work. For over 20 years, he ran a free clinic for people with epilepsy and he contributed significantly to training and teaching the general public and other groups such as primary care physicians.

He published more than 140 papers as well as 10 books and monographs. He also received Dr (Miss) Rose Madan President's Gold Medal for best research scholar of Fatima Jinnah Medical College for the year 2001 from the President of Pakistan.

While serving the Pakistan Psychiatric Society as its President at the time of his death, he was heavily involved in raising standards of healthcare and training. Psychiatry in Pakistan has indeed suffered an irreparable loss.

Haroon was a world-renowned figure for his contribution to the World Psychiatric Association (as WPA Zonal representative for Western and Central Asia 2002-2008), the World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, the World Federation of Mental Health, the Indo-Pak Punjab Psychiatric Society (founder General Secretary), the SAARC Psychiatric Federation (current General Secretary) and the South Asian Forum (founder member and Secretary for Pakistan-Chapter). He had extraordinary abilities for organisation and arranged a number of extremely successful international meetings in Pakistan.

Professor Chaudry was indeed an extraordinary person. Everyone who came across him soon became aware of the velocity and force of his intellect, yet he remained modest and unassuming, always gentle and respectful even to contrary opinions. He inspired the loyalty of his trainees, colleagues and above all his patients. A generous, caring man and a brilliant psychiatrist, he enjoyed a very high stature among his peers. Gifted with high intelligence, equable temperament, outstanding passion, a sense of humour and integrity, his death is a major loss to psychiatry both locally and internationally.

Haroon died on 5 October 2010 and is survived by his wife Maryam and four children, Saad, Shehrish, Waqas and Ahmad.

Dinesh Bhugra, the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, adds:

I first met Professor Haroon Chaudhry over a decade ago. His energy, commitment and enthusiasm for his patients and their needs were stunning. His generosity of spirit, hospitality and care were something to be seen to be believed. When I met him at the regional symposium of the World Psychiatric Association, which he had organised, he took care of the smallest detail. His affection for the subject shone through. His loss is a tremendous one not only to the profession in Pakistan but to world psychiatry. His work in the Fountain House and the regard with which he was held by the staff and patients alike were superb. Psychiatry has lost a champion and we will miss him.