Peter Kopelman, 1951-2021

A leading medical expert on obesity, who led the University of London as an interim vice-chancellor, has died.

Peter Kopelman was educated at Felsted School, Essex, and St George’s University of London as an undergraduate.

He was active in health policy as well as medical education and research. After a spell as vice-principal at Queen Mary University of London, he served as principal of St George’s between 2008 and 2015. He was subsequently interim vice-chancellor of the University of London between June 2018 and June 2019.

His major research interest was in the field of obesity, including in possible genetic determinants, and he was a chairman of the Association for the Study of Obesity, president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, a trustee of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, and a member of the Department of Health and Food Standards Agency Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Professor Kopelman was also a member of the chief medical officer’s working group on physical activity.

He was chair of the Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) Committee on Nutrition and chaired the college’s working party on the management of obesity with particular reference to drug therapy. He also chaired the RCP’s working party on nutritional care of patients, which resulted in the publication of the report Nutrition and Patients: A Doctor’s Responsibility.

Professor Kopelman had a long-standing interest in diabetes care and initiated a district-wide scheme for integrated care in east London.

Most recently, he advised the University of London on the development of distance-learning programmes to support health professionals as well as being president of development in his support of the work of the Development Office. 

Wendy Thomson, University of London vice-chancellor, said: “With Peter’s passing, the university has lost a longtime supporter and friend. He was held in great affection by staff who came to know him during his time as interim vice-chancellor.”

She added: “Peter welcomed me when I arrived in 2019, when I benefited from his rich knowledge of the university’s history…Peter will be greatly missed and warmly remembered.”

Professor Kopelman entered palliative care following a battle with leukaemia and died at the Royal London Hospital surrounded by his wife, Susan, and their family.

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com