connection December 1995/January 1996

Dr. Lili Kopala Joins Dalhousie
and the Nova Scotia Hospital

Dr. Lili Kopala, Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Psychiatry, is constantly pulled in two different directions, and she seems to enjoy it. She was recently appointed to two positions: Research Psychiatrist, and Co-ordinator of Community Education at the Nova Scotia Hospital. "I'm a scientist, an educator and a physician," she says.

Dr. Kopala arrived in Halifax from the University of British Columbia last September. She says she was attracted to the Nova Scotia Hospital because of its efforts to reach out to the community and to conduct research related to serious mental health problems. "At the same time, the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie is growing," she says, "And its new Head, Dr. Stan Kutcher, possesses a great vision for the future."

In her new home, Dr. Kopala wants to make her mark in dispelling the myths about mental illness within the community. "My long-term goal involves reaching school children to introduce the idea that mental illness is no different than any other treatable kind of illness," she says. "I want to educate younger people first because that's how you change attitudes."

She's also taking her educational goals to higher levels. Her involvement with the Medical School's faculty development and undergraduate education programs will enable her to reach current and future educators. She aims to ensure the myths and fears of mental illness are tackled at every level.

As far as research goes, Dr. Kopala's area of expertise is the biology of schizophrenia. Her first research project under her new appointment will be a two-year study of the effects of hormone replacement treatment in post-menopausal women with schizophrenia. Evidence has suggested this treatment may prevent some of the brain deterioration that occurs with the illness.

"This is unique and important research," says Dr. Kopala. "Traditionally, women with schizophrenia haven't received much attention. In particular, post-menopausal women have never been studied before." The Medical School and the Nova Scotia Hospital will be leading a collaboration of psychiatrists from Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax, along with a Dalhousie gynaecologist.

In another study, Dr. Kopala plans to examine the role of genetics in people with mental illness. She will conduct this project in conjunction with researchers in Toronto and New York.

Dr. Kutcher says Dr. Kopala's joint appointment to the Medical School and the Nova Scotia Hospital is just one of many partnerships to evolve. "It's important that teaching facilities play an active role in both research and education," he says. "My goal is to ensure that all teaching facilities have an equal opportunity to be involved in academic activities."

Dr. Kopala hopes to hire a community educator to help establish and evaluate community mental health programs. She believes a change in attitude is necessary at many different levels, and that assuming this task is a sizable undertaking.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This profile was adapted with permission from the Nova Scotia Hospital, Department of Community Relations