News
Fuse five year funding renewal success
A North East research centre, working to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation, is set to expand its activities after successfully securing funding for a further five years.
(19 Apr 2013) » More about Fuse five year funding
Professor David Hunter becomes a member of the Advisory Group
Professor David Hunter has been invited to become a member of the Advisory Group for a Foresight Future of Demographic Change project in the Government Office for Science.
(22 Apr 2013) » More about Advisory Group membership
New Appointment of Professor of Global Health Policy
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Ted Schrecker to the position of Professor of Global Health Policy at Durham University.
(9 Apr 2013) » More about New Appointment of Professor of Global Health Policy
12th Brazilian Congress of Family Medicine Invitation
Professor David Hunter has been invited to take part in two sessions at the 12th Brazilian Congress of Family Medicine held in Belem, Brazil from 29 May to 2 June 2013.
(22 Apr 2013) » More about Brazilian Congress
Changes to NICE
Professor David Hunter continues to be a non executive director on NICE although the organisation has undergone a number of organisational and branding changes.
(22 Apr 2013) » More about NICE update
Presenting at the National Institute for Health Research's Advisory Board
Professor David Hunter has been invited to present at the next meeting in mid-May of the National Institute for Health Research's Advisory Board which exists to advise and support the Chief Medical Officer for England in her capacity as the lead for Research and Development at the Department of Health.
(22 Apr 2013) » More about Presenting
Health Improvement Scotland - Evaluation of healthcare improvement: how do we know we are making a difference?
Jonathan Erskine recently presented findings from the NIHR HS&DR-funded research project 'An Evaluation of Transformational Change in NHS North East' at a Health Improvement Scotland seminar titled 'Evaluation of healthcare improvement: how do we know we are making a difference?' on 19th March 2013.
(11 Apr 2013) » More about Health Improvement Scotland
Professor Hunter appointed as Special Adviser
Professor David Hunter has been appointed special adviser to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government select committee on its inquiry into The Role of Local Authorities in Health Issues. Further details on the areas being covered by the inquiry are available from www.parliament.uk/clg
The Committee's report will be published in January.
(16 Nov 2012)
Celebrating the first 10 years of the Medical Management Centre
Professor David Hunter recently spoke at an event to celebrate 10 years of the Medical Management Centre at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
(16 Nov 2012) » More about 10 year Celebration
WHO European Action Plan
David Hunter and Linda Marks contributed significantly to the World Health Organisation’s European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services. The Action Plan has been adopted by the 53 WHO Europe member states. http://www.euro.who.int/publichealth
(24 Sep 2012) » More about WHO European Action Plan
Durham International Junior Research Fellow joins CPPH
Paula Franklin is a Durham International Junior Research Fellow in the Centre for Public Policy and Health (CPPH), School of Medicine and Health and affiliated to the IAS and WRI. Paula's research interests include European public health policies, organisational narratives and political ethnography. She is currently exploring stakeholder involvement and governance arrangements in the process of forming the forthcoming revised EU Health Strategy and WHO Europe Health 2020 policy framework. She is working with David Hunter and Linda Marks on her research which is entitled Forming European Health Strategy: An Ethnographical Study of Stakeholder Positions and Governance in EU Policy Making. The duration of the Fellowship is 2 years from July 2012.
(18 Jun 2012)
Aptitude test may be fairer way of selecting medical school candidates
Medical schools that use the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) as part of their admissions process reduce the relative disadvantage faced by certain socioeconomic groups, according to a study published on bmj.com.
(19 Apr 2012) » More about Aptitude test may be fairer way of selecting medical school candidates
Durham to play key part in new national School for Public Health Research
With responsibility for public health set to switch from the NHS to local authorities, a ground-breaking research collaboration of the five North East universities has been selected as part of a new School for Public Health Research, tackling the big health challenges that lie ahead.
(19 Apr 2012) » More about Durham to play key part in new national School for Public Health Research
Encouraging partnership working to improve health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland
Professor David Hunter received top marks from his colleagues as he gave a presentation about public health partnerships called 'Strictly Come Partnering' - parodying the name of the popular BBC television dancing show - to over 200 delegates.
(14 May 2012) » More about Encouraging Partnership Working
Durham professor appointed as key adviser on cancer diagnosis
Durham University's Professor Greg Rubin has been appointed as the first ever Clinical Lead for Cancer for the Royal College of General Practitioners and Cancer Research UK.
(19 Apr 2012) » More about Professor Greg Rubin appointed as Clinical Lead for Cancer
Invitation to join an invited Public Health Stakeholder Group
Professor David Hunter has been invited by the interim Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Sally Davies, to join an invited Public Health Stakeholder Group to advise on, and contribute to, the forthcoming public health white paper expected in December 2010. The white paper will set out proposals for a new National Public Health Service.
(17 Sep 2010)
Commission by WHO (Regional Office for Europe)
Professor David Hunter and Linda Marks, director and senior research fellow respectively in the Centre for Public Policy and Health in the School of Medicine & Health, have been commissioned by the World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe) to develop a public health strengthening action framework for Europe.
The Regional Director of WHO Europe is committed to raising the profile of public health and the new health policy and strengthening public health capacity and services are central to the achievement of this goal.
Specifically, David and Linda will produce a report entitled Strengthening Public Health Capacity in Europe: A framework for action to accompany WHO's new European health policy, Health 2020.
The work will be conducted during 2011 and presented at two major meetings. An interim draft will be presented at a meeting of all European health ministers' representatives from WHO Europe member states in Andorra in March; a draft document will be presented at the 61st WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2011 in Baku.
(31 Jan 2011)
The Future of Public Health in Europe
Professor David Hunter has been invited to take part in a small high-level group at WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen to consider the future of public health in Europe. This initiative has the support of the newly appointed WHO Regional Director, Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab. The first meeting will take place in early November
(17 Sep 2010)
Medicine in the Community Australian scholarship tour
Dr Simon Forrest, Senior Teaching Fellow leading the Medicine in the Community course within Undergraduate Medicine, has been awarded an International Scholarship from the Higher Education Academy to progress academic practice and understanding of the role and contribution of non-clinical community-based learning to medical education.
(10 Sep 2012) » More about Medicine in the Community Australian scholarship tour
Leading endoscopy experts joins Durham University
One of the UK’s leading experts in endoscopy, Colin Rees, has been appointed as a professor at Durham University.
(24 Jul 2012) » More about Leading endoscopy experts joins Durham University
Professor Greg Rubin to light up Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Professor Greg Rubin from the School of Medicine and Health has been invited, by Cancer Research UK, to play a shining role in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Monday 4 June. He will join a group of cancer survivors, supporters and fellow scientists who are scaling Scafell Pike in the Lake District to light the charity’s ‘Beacon of Hope’, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons.
(28 May 2012) » More about Professor Greg Rubin to light up Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Second issue of High Force, the School of Medicine and Health Research Update, is released
The second issue of High Force, the School of Medicine and Health research update is now available for dowload.
High Force provides details of what's happening in research around the School. Paper copies will be available on notice boards around the campus.
Please feel free to contact helen.hancock@durham.ac.uk or duika.burges-watson@durham.ac.uk with comments or contributions to future editions.
(10 Nov 2011) » More about Second issue of High Force, the School of Medicine and Health Research Update, is released
Board Member for new HS&DR programme
A new NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) programme is to be established to fund a broad range of research of national and international importance. Professor David Hunter has been invited to be a member of the Board which will commission research. The new programme builds on the strengths and contributions of two current NIHR research programmes: the Health Services Research (HSR) programme and the Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) programme. These will be merged to form the new programme from January 2012. David has been a member of the SDO Commissioning Board since 2009. The new programme will be directed by Professor Ray Fitzpatrick (University of Oxford) who will also lead the researcher-led workstream. Professor Kieran Walshe (University of Manchester) will be the associate director and will lead the commissioned workstream.
(13 Oct 2011)
Working with WHO Europe
Professor David Hunter and Linda Marks, Centre for Public Policy and Health, are acting as consultants for the public health services division of WHO Europe in developing an action framework for strengthening public health capacities and services. A supporting paper is being jointly published by Durham University and WHO Europe. Following the success of the framework and the welcome it received at a meeting of all 53 member states in Baku in September, David and Linda have been commissioned to do further work on the framework to support the new European health strategy, Health2020, to be launched at the next Regional Committee in September 2012 in Malta.
(12 Oct 2011)
Dentists and Opticians could screen patients for Diabetes
Opticians and dentists should conduct simple pin prick tests during routine appointments to identify which patients have undiagnosed Type II diabetes, according to researchers.
(13 Sep 2011)
New Member of Staff for CPPH, School of Medicine & Health
CPPH would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr Amelia Lake who has been appointed FUSE Lecturer in Knowledge Exchange in the School of Medicine and Health.
Already an associate member of Fuse, Dr Lake begins her new role on October 17.
A dietitian and public health nutritionist, Amelia previously worked as a Senior Lecturer in Food and Nutrition at Northumbria University where she explored the Obesogenic Environment (factors tending to make individuals obese).
She has a particular interest in the food environment, the environments of young people and the workplace environment. Her research involves transdisciplinary collaborations to examine how the environment interacts with individual's behaviours.
Amelia received her first degree from Glasgow Caledonian University and worked in the Health Service before taking up a research post with Newcastle University, where she completed a PhD.
She is a committee member of the Association for the Study of Obesity, a member of the Nutrition Society and also member of the British Dietetic Association. Amelia is a co-founder of the North East Obesogenic Environment Network (NEOeN) and chairs the North East Obesity Forum - the regional group of the Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO).
Amelia is currently a Beacon for Public Engagement Fellow as well as being a regular contributor to her profession's publications. She has extensive experience of working with non-specialist audiences as well as academics, and has produced various training programmes and related material.
(5 Sep 2011)
Research to Reality Programme Evaluation
The evaluation explores the extent to which a series of workshops (where academics and practitioners review and discuss the latest research evidence and examples of good practice in public health and well-being) can be used as a mechanism for knowledge exchange. It takes a realist evaluation approach to explore which part of the programme worked and for whom. The main findings are: that one-off workshops facilitate knowledge translation (the packaging and weighting of knowledge for different audiences); permit knowledge transfer (to a targeted audience); but that they fail to prompt knowledge to action (resultant changes to practice so far as they can be measured in the short term). Early gains on the day (enthusiasm, motivation to engage with new ideas, actions planning) are not followed through or sustained. These findings are discussed in the context of the current level of churn in the public sector.
(20 Jul 2011)
MeHRY - New Mental Health research collaboration
More about MeRHY
(5 Jul 2011) » More about MeHRY - New Mental Health research collaboration
MeHRY - New Mental Health Research Collaboration
(5 Jul 2011) » More about MeHRY - New Mental Health Research Collaboration
First issue of High Force, the School of Medicine and Health Research Update, is released
(6 Jun 2011) » More about High Force
Palestinian doctors on Teesside to see Medicine in the Community
In March 2011 two doctors from Palestine, Drs Samah and Krishi, visited the School of Medicine and Health under the aegis of the BeSST (Behavioural and Social Scientists Teaching in medicine) network and supported by sponsorship from the WHO.
(6 May 2011) » More about Palestinian doctors on Teesside to see Medicine in the Community
Therapy for depression can be delivered effectively by non-specialists
(23 Feb 2011) » More about Therapy for depression can be delivered effectively by non-specialists
Medical Student success celebrated at Campus prizegiving ceremony
Each year we are delighted to be able to award a number of prizes to our Medical students for outstanding work and effort. This year the prizes were presented to the students by Prof. John McLachlan, Associate Dean of Medicine.
(30 Nov 2010) » More about Medical Student success celebrated at Campus prizegiving ceremony
School hosts AGM and annual meeting of the Behavioural and Social Scientists teaching in Medicine (BeSST) network
Jodie Finlayson Burden presented with her award by Dr Christine Bundy
The School of Medicine and Health were delighted to play host to the AGM and annual meeting of the Behavioural and Social Scientists teaching in Medicine (BeSST) network on 18th October 2010. BeSST is the major UK network for sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists and other social scientists who contribute to programmes of medical education. The network has over 250 members.
(24 Oct 2010) » More about School hosts AGM and annual meeting of the Behavioural and Social Scientists teaching in Medicine (BeSST) network
WHO Programme of Public Health Services
David Hunter has been invited to serve as an expert in the field of public health, public health functions, services and capacities in support of the Programme of Public Health Services run by WHO Regional Office for Europe.
(7 Oct 2010)
Hot Seat session on NIHR SDO research project
David Hunter and Neil Perkins led a hotseat session organised by the Healthy Communities Programme at Local Government Improvement and Development at the end of September. They were live online for about two hours responding to queries and issues raised in response to their NIHR SDO research on partnerships and the proposed changes to partnership working set out in the recent NHS white paper. The SDO report is close to being finalised and will be available on its website in due course.
(1 Oct 2010)
Durham academic scoops national textbook prize
Dr Andrew Russell, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, Director of the Phoenix Programme and Durham's academic lead for the Beacon NE research engagement project, won the 'Student Textbook of the Year' award at the BMA Medical Book Awards 2010 at a ceremony in London in mid September.
Andrew's book, entitled The Social Basis of Medicine, is part of publisher Wiley-Blackwell's popular 'Lecture Notes' series and is aimed at giving medical students an understanding of how education, social class, family, economics and occupational circumstances, cultural and ethnic backgrounds all shape individuals and how understanding aids effective clinical practice.
Former Durham Medicine student Darren Price, in a review on the Amazon website, says 'This is a nice easy read which incorporates the first 2 years of the MiC/PPD strand of medicine. The author was a lecturer of mine and the book covers everything which was in his strand in the medicine course. I took notes in the lectures and this book covers the additional information I felt I needed to take note of at the time.'
(20 Sep 2010)
Georgia One Day Event
In his capacity as a non executive director of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) David Hunter has been asked to chair and facilitate a one day event in Georgia with senior Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs policy-makers to consider the relevance of NICE's work to the health system in Georgia. The meeting is being organised by NICE International.
(17 Sep 2010)
Medical Education Research Group presents at the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) International Conference
The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) International Conference was held this year in Glasgow. There was a very significant representation of the School of Medicine and health at this meeting, and the papers and posters presented are listed below. In addition, an exhibition "Flex and Ply", describing a Wellcome Trust funded project was staged in the Anatomy Museum of Glasgow University, as an adjunct to the conference.
International conferences of this kind are an invaluable support for the research work of the School, since it enables staff to meet with colleagues from all of the world to form networks and develop collaborations, to showcase their work, leading to greater impact in citations, and to greater familiarity on the part of grant and journal referees, and the chance to receive constructive feedback from participants. The high profile of the Medical Education research team internationally is confirmed in the number of successful submissions to the conference, which was very high for a single organisation.
(10 Sep 2010) » More about Medical Education Research Group presents at the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) International Conference
Professor Greg Rubin’s Inaugural Professorial Lecture
Professor Greg Rubin is to give his Inaugural Professorial Lecture entitled 'Early diagnosis of cancer: whose problem and what can we do about it?' at 6.15pm on 11th October in D003, Ebsworth, Queen's Campus.
More on Professor Rubin's Inaugural Professorial Lecture
(6 Sep 2010)
Heart specialist to work with long-term patient in new role at Durham University
A consultant cardiologist will be working with one of his long-term patients to develop better treatments and care for people with heart failure in his new role at Durham University.
(21 Jul 2010) » More about Heart specialist to work with long-term patient in new role at Durham University
Tees-based learning: Learning about medicine and health via community placements
The programme in Phase 1 medicine at Durham University is distinctive for the many opportunities it provides for students to experience patient contact and community-based healthcare early in their training. Central to these opportunities is the community-placement in which students spend time as participant-observer with a Teesside agency involved in health, education and social welfare. The aim of the scheme is to broaden students' experience of medicine in the community and understanding of health and welfare issues from the patient and provider perspective. Seeing health being 'done' in this way also helps students to better understand how social factors such as gender, class, housing and environment affect both health and health services.
The scheme at Durham is unique in its scope and duration. There are currently over 60 organisations offering placements to students ranging from public health to children's centres and special schools, mental health support groups to hospices. Students spend a full year working with their placement provider on a weekly basis.
(21 Jul 2010) » More about Tees-based learning: Learning about medicine and health via community placements
Recent CPD events were well received
The School of Medicine and Health recently held a number of CPD events for primary care professionals in the north-east of England. Each was very well received and received excellent evaluations.
(7 Jul 2010) » More about Recent CPD events were well received
Dr Lutz Sauerteig promoted to Senior Lecturer
Congratulations to Dr Lutz Sauerteig on his promotion to Senior Lecturer. Lutz, whose work is in the field of the History of Medicine, with a particular interest in the history of sexualities and bodies, has been researching the history of sex education in Germany, 1880s-1970s. He is currently working on a project about the German sexologist, medical ethicist and psychologist, Dr Albert Moll (1862-1939) and on a project on the history of infant and childhood sexualities. Lutz is the Deputy Director of the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease, Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute and Chair of the Society for the Social History of Medicine.
(30 Jun 2010)
Arrival of the Strategic Health Authority's Medical Education team
The School of Medicine and Health and the Wolfson Research Institute welcomes the arrival of the Strategic Health Authority's medical education team to the University. This follows success in a competitive bid, which was highly praised by the SHA. The group, led by Dr Jan Illing, will join Professor John Mclachlan at the School for Medicine and Health.
(21 Jun 2010) » More about Arrival of the Strategic Health Authority's Medical Education team
League Table success
The Complete University Guide 2010-11, published by the Independent, places Durham University 4th in the UK and for Medicine, also 4th, after Oxford, Edinburgh and Imperial College.
These standings take into account research performance, entry standards and staff-student ratios. They confirm Durham as one of the best places for study in the UK.
(17 Jun 2010)
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