Charles Mertens de Wilmars
Encyclopedia
Charles Mertens de Wilmars (Leuven
, 21 November 1921 – 1994) was a Belgian
psychiatrist
. He was a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, and held the honours of Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold, the Order of the Crown
, and Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
.
He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
in 1948, and became a licensed psychologist in 1949. He was taught neurology
by Paul van Gehuchten. He spent time at the Maudsley Hospital
Medical School, funded by the British Council
, after which he benefited from the bursary
of the Belgian American Educational Foundation to travel to the United States
to meet his colleagues in the field of psychiatric anthropology at Cornell University
from 1949 to 1951. He was a visiting lecturer there in 1952, and was then appointed as a professor at Harvard Medical School
in which capacity he served for 26 years — from 1966 to 1992. During this period, he rose to be Chair of the Department of Psychiatry.
While doing that, he still kept his interests at the Leuven university, and became Professor at its Faculty of Medicine and Psychology until he retired in 1987.
In 1984, at the request of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, he founded a center for the psychological support of priests, and in the year he retired he received an honorary degree: a Bachelor of Theology
He had eclectic interests, and was known all over the world for his research and teaching.
He was the brother of Josse Mertens de Wilmars
.
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, 21 November 1921 – 1994) was a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
. He was a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, and held the honours of Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold, the Order of the Crown
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
, and Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
.
He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1948, and became a licensed psychologist in 1949. He was taught neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
by Paul van Gehuchten. He spent time at the Maudsley Hospital
Maudsley Hospital
The Maudsley Hospital is a British psychiatric hospital in South London. The Maudsley is the largest mental health training institution in the country...
Medical School, funded by the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, after which he benefited from the bursary
Bursary
A bursary is strictly an office for a bursar and his or her staff in a school or college.In modern English usage, the term has become synonymous with "bursary award", a monetary award made by an institution to an individual or a group to assist the development of their education.According to The...
of the Belgian American Educational Foundation to travel to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to meet his colleagues in the field of psychiatric anthropology at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
from 1949 to 1951. He was a visiting lecturer there in 1952, and was then appointed as a professor at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in which capacity he served for 26 years — from 1966 to 1992. During this period, he rose to be Chair of the Department of Psychiatry.
While doing that, he still kept his interests at the Leuven university, and became Professor at its Faculty of Medicine and Psychology until he retired in 1987.
In 1984, at the request of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, he founded a center for the psychological support of priests, and in the year he retired he received an honorary degree: a Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
He had eclectic interests, and was known all over the world for his research and teaching.
Family
He was survived by his wife Marie-Thérèse Mertens de Wilmars. They had five daughters and twenty-two grandchildren and great-grandchildren.He was the brother of Josse Mertens de Wilmars
Josse Mertens de Wilmars
Baron Joseph Marie Honoré Charles Mertens de Wilmars was a Belgian jurist who became a member of the European Court of Justice and then its sixth President....
.
External links
- Charles Mertens de Wilmars (1921–1994), University of Louvain