Inspires confidence and independent thinking.
Dr Francis Goodstadt is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, Faculty of Medicine. He earned a BA (Hons) in Physiological Sciences from Oxford University, an MB BS from the Royal Free Medical School in London, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Family and Systemic Therapies from the University of Otago. After studying medicine in the United Kingdom, he relocated to New Zealand in 2002, where he spent five years working in paediatrics before training in psychiatry. He currently practices as a Community Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the Wellington region, providing care across all ages. His previous clinical roles include Paediatric Consultant-Liaison Psychiatry, Youth Forensic Psychiatry, and work with the Ministry of Health Mental Health Directorate. As a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, he serves on the RANZCP Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's New Zealand and Binational Committees.
In medical education, Goodstadt convenes the fifth-year MB ChB module in Psychological Medicine, which includes a one-week didactic programme, four weeks of clinical placements, and a service-user component led by the World of Difference team. He also contributes to Psychiatry Registrar training for Fellowship and is a member of the Academy of Medical Educators. He has been awarded two school-wide teaching prizes for outstanding teaching and pastoral care, an Exceptional COVID Response Award from students in 2020, and excellent evaluation feedback from the Quality Advancement Unit. His research specializations as an early career researcher include child and adolescent psychiatry, medical education, neurodiversity and family systems, nature's interface with mental health and neurodiversity such as ADHD and autism, telehealth, COVID-19, parenting interventions, youth suicide, and DBT supporting autonomy. A key publication is 'Growing the lived experience voice in psychiatry education and research: An academic department’s journey' (2024, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry), co-authored with Snita Ahir-Knight, Giles Newton-Howes, and Susanna Every-Palmer.
