Our University, via the Institute for Life Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine, is a founding member of the Wessex Health Partners (WHP), a new partnership of universities, and NHS organisations in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The new Chair is Professor William Rosenberg, who holds the Peter Scheuer Chair in Liver Diseases at University College London and who is a clinical academic physician working at the interface between universities and the NHS with strong links to government, the third sector and industry.
Speaking about his appointment, Professor Rosenberg said: “I am delighted to be joining Wessex Health Partners as the organisation’s first Chair. Progress in science comes about through partnerships; equally, progress in translating science into improvements in health care and health comes about through strong partnerships. Having worked in the region earlier in my career and having lived in the region for past 25 years, I have first-hand experience of local health challenges and of the immense and diverse talent that the founding bodies behind Wessex Health Partners are bringing together to make a difference to health and care in Wessex, in the UK and internationally.”
The partnership’s common purpose is to learn together and accelerate improvements in health and social care through innovation, research and training, for the benefit of patients and wider society.
WHP has a vision to become a designated Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC). AHSCs are regional Higher Education Institution and NHS partnerships designated by NHSE and NIHR for demonstrating excellence in health research, health education and patient care.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Diana Eccles, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine said: “William comes to Wessex Health Partners with a tremendous track record in research, education, working with industry, and working in partnership with communities, patients and the public to design and deliver improvements to health care. We are really looking forward to the next steps in the evolution of our partnership with William’s appointment.”
