Karl Gunnar Götestam was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1938. He became a certified physician in 1968, a specialist in psychiatry in 1972 and a certified psychologist in 1978. Few other scholars can display such an impressive merit list as this man can claim. With more than 30 years in Norway, he has had an immense influence on Norwegian psychiatric care through his outstanding research and clinical career.
He arrived in Trondheim in 1977, and has been the longest sitting professor of psychiatry, and for 25 years he was the head of the Department of Psychiatry at Østmarka Hospital. He quickly became known as the gentleman always dressed in a light suit, wearing colourful rose painted clogs, which was a somewhat unusual attire in the hospital setting at that time. The sound of the clogs coming down the hall always announced his presence and the looks of them made it virtually impossible not to take notice of him or at least remember him! I think many hold just that image when thinking of Karl Gunnar.
Throughout his career, he always had a special interest in the research area of psychiatry and devoted increasingly more of his time to do research work. His research areas have predominantly been within anxiety, phobia, obsessive–compulsive disorder and eating disorders, but he has been involved in many other areas, mainly as a supervisor of doctoral theses (such as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, smoking and health, pain, fibromyalgia, cancer, animal studies, religiosity and mental health). In 1987, he founded the “Elementære forskerskolen i psykiatri – ELF” (Research training in Psychiatry), which has had great influence on establishing a respectable scientific milieu that fosters many new talents and psychiatric research projects. From what was a virtual non-existing research area, he has diligently worked to develop and expand psychiatric research in Trondheim and today's respectable research base in Trondheim is witness to his vast contributions. His charismatic, warm and including persona has motivated, helped and urged over 20 Ph.D. students to complete their degrees and find enthusiasm in the research fields of psychology and psychiatry in both Norway and Sweden. In his supervision and guidance, he has always showed great openness to include professionals from all areas within healthcare, as long as they showed motivation and interest in carrying out research and developing healthcare for the better. His scientific legacy, this far, includes more that 200 international peer-review articles, he has authored or contributed to 25 books, written 60 popular articles and presented more than 300 abstracts at international conferences. His scientific achievements have earned him a place amongst the most honoured individuals who through their work have contributed to society in important ways. In 2002, he received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, in 2003, he received the Knight's Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit and, in 2004, he received the Prize for Dissemination of Knowledge at the Faculty of Medicine for his contributions to public information about research. Recently, he was also nominated for the Prize of Internationalization at NTNU, which honours individuals who have achieved great international recognition through their outstanding scientific work, which surely shows that he is still a powerful force to reckon with at the age of 70.
With his impressive merit list, it is hard to conceive that Karl Gunnar could possibly have had time for anything else in his life. However, Karl Gunnar's great love for music has always been present in his life. He plays the piano, organ and recorder, and for over 50 years he has been singing in choirs, holding the position as a tenor. Although his choir career started well before he arrived in Trondheim, he has been a member of Nidaros Cathedral Oratory Choir for 25 years. As with his professional career, he has shown immense enthusiasm and dedication to the music area as well, and he has served on numerous committees involving music throughout his life. To mention a few—he served as chairman of the Baroque Organ Restoration Committee from 1983 to 1995, which realized the restoration of the 250-year-old Wagner Organ in the Nidaros Cathedral in 1994–95 in Trondheim; he is the Deputy chairman of the Friends of the Concert Hall; he worked to raise Olavshallen—a concert hall; he is the Chairman of Trondheim Song and Music Council; and he is the sitting president (from 2000) of the Society of the Leufsta Bruk Cahman Organ, with the aim of restoring the 275-year-old Baroque Organ in Leufsta Bruk, just north of Uppsala.
Of all his accomplishments, the one he perhaps is the most pleased with was achieved as early as in 1960, when he met a wonderful lady named Bengta and married her in 1962. Bengta was a young psychologist student when they met. When they later moved to Trondheim, she worked for many years at the Brøset psychological clinic. In 1966, their first daughter Carina was born, a year later Olof and in 1970 their youngest daughter, Cecilia. Their children have proven to walk in their parents footsteps as I'm sure they have been great role models throughout their lives; Carina is a physician, head of rheumatology in Ålesund, Olof is a psychologist with child services in Oslo, while Cecilia is a musician playing the cello in Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. The family has now been extended with the addition of eight grandchildren—I can only imagine how proud he must be when he looks at his family!
Throughout his career, he has found much joy in hosting, participating and attending national seminars and international conventions. The collaborative atmosphere, lively discussions, and the chance to meet with new and old friends and colleagues has been a prosperous and motivating factor in his life. He can be proud to know that his contributions were always valued! The great collegial relations he has with professionals from many parts of the world has been valuable and also given him the opportunity to spend several sabbatical years at Stanford Medical School. He was a visiting professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences–Behavioural Medicine Program at Stanford in the years 1986–87, 1992, 1994–95 and 2000–01. On his visits, he was accompanied by Bengta and these years were joyous for the both of them as they got to enjoy California. These years gave new inspiration, memories and the opportunity to nurture the professional and personal friendships with fellow professionals. His expansive network of colleagues and connections has aided in placing Scandinavia on the map in regard to psychiatric research.
With such an impressive life to look back at and with so many accomplishments, it is with confidence he passes on the torch, knowing how competent and willing the new generation is to continue his work. His work will continue to foster great improvements within research as his inspiration and visions live on in all his students who he has helped and guided along the way. He urges research today not to focus only on the large research projects and neglect the “everyday research”, as this can have negative effect on the future development of the research department.
After living a life full of activity and vigour, the future holds some uncertainties. After being diagnosed with Parkinson disease in 2004, certain adjustment to his former way of life has been unavoidable. However, through contact with the Parkinson Society and the mental health society, he has received much support. The relationship between patient and the society has interested him a great deal.
With the admiration, respect and awe from all of his colleagues, friends and students present here today, he has all of our support and good wishes for the future. It is with great honour that we are here today celebrating Karl Gunnar Götestam's contributions to the field of psychiatry in Scandinavia!