The Institute of Population Health (IPH) will see some leadership changes in 2022, with Professor Iain Buchan moving to a newly created role as Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation.
As Chair in Public Health and Clinical Informatics at the University of Liverpool, and founding Executive Dean of the Institute of Population Health, Iain has led data-intensive research to address major societal challenges, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation he is now leading strategic projects and partnerships between the University, NHS, local government and industry partners. Iain is also currently working on digital/connected mental health, the Wellcome Trust Children Growing up in Liverpool birth cohort, and actionable analytics for integrated care systems, including medicines optimisation AIs and programmable equity in waiting lists and hospital discharge plans.
Speaking of his time with IPH, Professor Buchan said “It has been a great privilege to serve as the Institute of Population Health’s first Executive Dean, and to see wonderful colleagues pull together to enable our Institute to thrive, despite the challenges of Covid-19, while delivering world-leading pandemic responses.”
“Opened in lock-down, IPH has seen research income and impacts rise, new courses established and student satisfaction maintained – these are remarkable achievements that reflect a noble and scholarly community – the epitome of a civic university.”
“I look forward to my new role as Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, in particular to helping civic partners grow Liverpool’s capacity for inclusive problem-solving with pandemic momentum. As a child growing up in North Liverpool in the 1960s and 70s, I experienced vast needs for health innovation but few resources for tackling them, yet there was a technology revolution in more affluent places at the same time. Now, Liverpool is rising as a centre of agile design and evaluation of health technologies – small enough to move quickly and focus, yet large enough to develop whole system understanding. The grave and exceptional challenges the world currently faces make the need for a hopeful beacon of health innovation in Liverpool ever more important. I look forward to playing my part in this over the coming years, with a research base in IPH.”
Taking on the role of Executive Dean for the Institute will be Professor Sally Sheard. Sally has been Head of the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems since 2018. The department is one of the largest of its kind in the UK and has a world-leading status for its excellence in research and education. Sally also holds the Andrew Geddes and John Rankin Chair of Modern History.
“I’m delighted to be given this opportunity to build on the achievements made during the first two years of our institute. It is an exciting time to move from being Head of the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, as we continue to return to on campus activities.” said Professor Sheard.
“My teaching and research is focused on health policy development, especially the interface between experts and policymakers. I am passionate about collaborative and interdisciplinary working, in part stimulated by having had a split appointment across the HLS and HSS faculties. We have a wealth of teaching, research and practice expertise across our institute, with potential to build new partnerships, both internally and externally.
As a member of the Institute Leadership Team, I have been privileged to work with senior colleagues, and learn through them of the successes - and challenges – of their departments and schools. My priority is now to get to know the people who make this happen on the ground. Over the next few weeks I will be visiting teams across the institute – some virtually – but also I hope to meet many colleagues in person.”
Professor Martin O’Flaherty has been appointed as interim head of the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems. Martin is Professor of Epidemiology and leads the Modelling Group in the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Prevention and Food Policy Research Team.
On his new appointment, Professor O’Flaherty said:
“The challenging years ahead will need a robust public health voice as we recover from the pandemic. We will be that voice.
The people in our Department understand the importance, value and urgency of improving health for everybody in our communities. For that, they work hard, creatively and enthusiastically to discover new solutions through excellent research and contribute to educating the next generation of people who want to do the same.
Professor Sheard has led us through a challenging time, leaving us with a stronger and thriving department. In my new role, I hope to build on that legacy and support our people to achieve our shared goal of healthier, fairer, and thriving communities.”
We wish Iain, Sally and Martin all the very best in their new roles.