The University of Plymouth today (2 July) announced the appointment of Professor Sube Banerjee MBE as inaugural Executive Dean of its new Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences.
The appointment follows the University’s decision to combine its Faculties of Health and Human Sciences and of Medicine and Dentistry to create one cross-disciplinary health Faculty, building on its already significant research and teaching strengths across the whole heath spectrum, as well as the University’s recent announcement of a significant investment to transform the landmark building at Plymouth’s railway station into a hub to educate the next generation of health professionals.
Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University said:
“This is an important appointment not just for the Faculty, but for the University and indeed the region. The University already has a significant track record in research and education across the whole health spectrum throughout the South West and through Sube’s leadership we will build on this position of strength.”
Professor Banerjee added:
“I am very excited by this fantastic opportunity to work with colleagues in the Faculty, the University and across the region to develop and deliver world-class health education and research that truly meets the health needs of the 21st century. Working in open, honest and respectful partnership with the NHS, social care and the public across the region, we can build something remarkable. Together we can create the integrative, innovative and inclusive healthcare education and research needed locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Together we can deliver the University’s mission to be ‘First Choice for Health’.”
Professor Banerjee will join Plymouth from Brighton and Sussex Medical School where he is Deputy Dean of the School, directing its strategy, and as Professor of Dementia leading its highly successful Centre for Dementia Studies.
He has helped build the School’s success in research and education while also developing world-leading research in quality of life and quality of care in dementia. His new £4.7m programme grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will explore definitively for the first time inequalities and inequities in dementia care.
He has an extensive background in clinical leadership roles as well as in academia. As Clinical Director at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and at NHS London, he built and led effective modern services for older people’s mental health and dementia. Professor Banerjee has worked nationally and internationally on strategy and policy development. At the Department of Health, he led the development of the National Dementia Strategy, and more recently has worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to make dementia a global priority resulting in its Global Action Plan.