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Contributing to Health Policy at the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (OHID)

21 February 2024

Building upon the success of the 2023 pilot scheme, four UCL academics have commenced their four-to-six-month Researchers-in-Residency (RIR) at the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (OHID), a pivotal division of the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

fellowship

OHID, an integral part of the Department of Health and Social Care, is dedicated to enhancing the nation's health, ensuring that everyone can anticipate a greater portion of life spent in good health. Moreover, OHID focuses on reducing health disparities, aiming to sever the connection between one's background and the prospects for a healthy life. 

Established  in collaboration with UCL Health of the Public and Public Policy, the RIRs are embedded within OHID, actively addressing some of OHID’s most urgent policy inquiries. Dr. Rebecca Irons is dedicated to researching preventive measures for bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in London. Dr. Emily Emmott's focus lies in the realm of family dynamics and weight management. Dr. Valentina Amuso is undertaking a comprehensive review and prioritisation of interventions aimed at addressing the impact of climate change on health inequalities in London. Lastly, Dr. Aradhna Kausal is committed to exploring and addressing ethnic health inequalities through an anti-racism approach.

Adopting a cohort approach to fellowships has proven instrumental in fostering robust partnerships and building networks among researchers, UCL, and OHID. This collaborative understanding between researchers and policy organizations is instrumental in unlocking current policy challenges. Dr Florence Sheen and Dr Shoba Poval’s case studies are testament to the hard work undertaken by researchers in bridging the gap between two organisations. 

Highlighting the tangible outcomes of this programme, two of our 2023 residents, Dr Asta Medisauskaite and Dr Shoba Poduval, will be sharing their experiences at  the upcoming Up Close and Policy seminar on the 13th March. Further details can be found here

The RIR scheme with OHID represents just one of the numerous fellowship opportunities offered by UCL Public Policy. Whether through advertised positions or self-directed initiatives, if you are interested in pursuing a fellowship, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Policy Fellowship Coordinator, Alice Tofts, at alice.tofts@ucl.ac.uk

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