News - New Professor for Medical School
Professor Christian Gericke has joined Peninsula Medical School as Professor of Public Health, and the Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (PenCLAHRC) as Deputy Director.
Professor Gericke comes to the South West from the University of Adelaide, where he was Professor of Public Health Policy and Director of the Centre for Health Services Research with a number of subsequent roles for the Australian federal and state governments. As Honorary Fellow of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies - a partnership between the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe, the European Commission, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and European governments and universities - he directed projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
He acts as a regular advisor to the European Commission, WHO, GTZ and the World Bank. His areas of expertise and research interests are in health services research, international health systems and policies, and the economic evaluation of health interventions. In the past year he has directed research and consultancy projects in Australia, Chile, China, Germany, New Zealand, Peru, Switzerland and Vietnam.
Professor Gericke studied medicine in Berlin, Montpellier and Boston and received an M.D. in neurosciences research from the Free University of Berlin. After completing clinical specialist training in neurology in Berlin, Strasbourg and Geneva, he studied tropical medicine in Aix-Marseille, obtained an M.P.H from the University of Cambridge, an M.Sc. in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics/London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a higher doctorate in public health from the Berlin University of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
His role at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry will complement PenCLAHRC's existing research focus through his experience in health policy and systems research, the use of routine data for improved clinical and policy decision making, and the economic evaluation of health interventions. Professor Gericke also plans to build a European research network in health services research that makes a difference for patients, their families and health professionals. This will both build on the strengths of PenCLAHRC and bring new ideas and collaborations to the benefit of people in the South West and beyond.
Professor Gericke said: "Peninsula Medical School and PenCLAHRC have reputations that are respected around the world, and as such I am delighted to join such a vibrant and research rich professional community. I am looking forward to using my knowledge and expertise to further the excellent work already being done here."
Professor Stuart Logan, Cerebra Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, Director - Institute of Health Service Research and Director - PenCLAHRC, at the Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, commented: "Christian will bring to his new role a wealth of international experience which will help us to develop still further our outstanding work in health service and policy research. He will also help us to expand the work of PenCLAHRC, which exists to ensure that medical research which has been recognised as important to the region by local health professionals and patients is utilised to its full potential."