Professor Andrew Hayward - New Interim Director for IEHC
20 January 2017
Professor
Andrew Hayward will start as
Interim Director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care on 1st
February 2017, moving from his current role as Deputy Director (Learning Health
Systems and Public Health) at the UCL Institute of Health Informatics and Farr
Institute London.
Professor Hayward said:
"As an epidemiologist and Public Health Physician, I am honoured and delighted to be Interim Director of IEHC. The Institute is an international jewel. Through its world-class cohort studies and population surveys, it has helped to define the role of many of the most pressing problems influencing health. The institute embraces interdisciplinary research and teaching to address these challenges improving population health and health care. Under the outstanding leadership of Professor Andrew Steptoe, the Institute has achieved an exceptional rating in the last Research Excellence Framework.
My group's research has focused on informing policy and practice in infectious diseases of public health importance including tuberculosis, influenza and antimicrobial resistance. This research has involved a wide range of interdisciplinary studies including trials, cohort studies, and electronic health records research. I am passionate about research that makes an impact and proud that our group was able to submit two Research Impact statements to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. These showcased our influence on influenza vaccine policy and the development of services for socially excluded tuberculosis patients.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/impact/case-study-repository/informing-influenza-vaccination-policy
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/impact/case-study-repository/find-and-treat-project
The team is leading research in Inclusion Health to document and address the extreme health inequalities faced by excluded groups such as homeless people, drug users, prisoners and vulnerable migrants. Through a UCL Grand Challenges Grant, we are seeking to develop a new cross-UCL theme in Inclusion Health. To find out more and join the network please complete our survey by 24th February. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/justice-and-equality/news/item/inclusion-health-at-UCL
Outside work I act as a trustee for a charity that is close to my heart: Pathway Healthcare for Homeless People which hosts the Faculty of Homeless and Inclusion Health. http://www.pathway.org.uk/
At the Institute for Health Informatics, I have been leading initiatives to use electronic health records and digital health technologies to understand and improve population health and health services, at home and abroad. During my role as Interim Director, an early priority will be to work with colleagues to develop stronger collaborations between IEHC and the Institute of Health Informatics. There is enormous potential to complement existing programmes of research through the effective use of electronic health records and digital technologies.
In the coming months I will also work with IEHC colleagues to plan how the Institute can best respond to the challenges and opportunities identified by the Academy of Medical Sciences Health of the Public 2040 report. This report emphasises the need to develop truly cross-disciplinary research approaches to address 21st Century health challenges.
http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk/policy/policy-projects/health-of-the-public-in-2040
I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and to working with colleagues old and new."