Scholarship Spotlight: Barbara Grogan

My journey into healthcare is not a traditional one. I have a BSc in communications and journalism; however, my career has always focused on health and care. With a background in sports and coaching, I several years in marketing, fundraising and community education with a specialty hospital and group of clinics in the US. This provides me with a broad perspective and insight into how health organisations and insurance frameworks affect care. 

Since moving to the UK, I’ve worked with several independent and global healthcare communications agencies to shape communications, medical education and stakeholder engagement. Working closely with leading clinicians and patient advocacy groups, I’ve developed and delivered high-quality scientific education and impactful behavioural-led communication initiatives that increased awareness and influenced policy. 

After 15 years in communications consultancy, partnering with organisations on product strategy and lifecycle management, I am pivoting toward public health with a focus on prevention. UCL’s Executive MBA Health (EMBA) aligns directly with this shift, offering the sector-specific focus that benefits my aspirations. UCL is a top 10 global provider and internationally recognised as a leader in research and education for health. 

I value the world-class expertise and pioneering medical knowledge that UCL and this programme offers and its potential to expand my career prospects. Its position within London’s innovation clusters of life, health and data sciences, plus its strong ties with industry, the NHS and health organisations, offers vast opportunities at the forefront of health. The EMBA design suits my career, enabling me to further my professional ambitions with guidance while remaining in the workplace, enabling me to fuse theory and practice.

I'm honoured to have received a scholarship recognising my achievements and potential for leadership in the global health sector. This scholarship, and the pursuit of an EMBA, represents a pivotal step in my journey to becoming a leader who is equipped to tackle complex problems with clarity and purpose. It also presents a unique opportunity to build on my skills in health management with leadership skills necessary to power systemic change and transform lives. I am deeply committed to addressing disparities in health outcomes and plan to use this degree to create sustainable changes in health prevention, especially in areas where socioeconomic inequality often influences health. 

Health outcomes continue to follow a steep socioeconomic gradient, shaped by deep-rooted structural inequalities. My future goals are on closing these gaps by inspiring change through physical activity to reduce risk of disease and associated health costs. This aligns with government initiatives such as the 10-year Health Plan for England and shift from treating illness to preventing it. It is also why I serve on the Board of Active Kent and Medway – one of 43 Active Partnerships with Sport England – which takes a place-based approach to reducing inequalities and affecting social change through physical activity and sport. By building partnerships, mobilising resources, and igniting collective action, I believe we can empower systems that address the root causes of health disparities. 

Transforming lives also requires a mindset shift and shared commitment to improving health equity, a challenge I am eager to undertake in this next phase of my career. My aspirations are to work with national and international organisations to understand barriers and implement innovative, behaviour-informed approaches that support better prevention. Together with this amazing network of peers and mentors, I will build upon my experience in sports, coaching, health education and communications to drive strategy designed to close health gaps, inspire change, and transform lives. The EMBA degree is not just a milestone in my professional journey – it is the catalyst for creating a healthier, more equitable future for all.