Visiting Professor appointed in prominent regional role

Professor Ian Ashworth has been announced as the Director of Population Health by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. 

The core focus for the role of Director of Population Health will be on understanding and enhancing the health and wellbeing of the people of Cheshire and Merseyside. 

As a member of both the Health and Care Partnership and Integrated Care Board, Ian will work closely with the nine Directors of Public Health and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Place Directors, to influence strategic system partnerships that focus on prevention, health inequalities and use of data, intelligence and evidence to improve population health. 

Ian has a background in delivering successful health improvement programmes within local authorities and NHS Trusts across the North West. 

He received a Master’s of Public Health Degree in 2009 and commenced specialist public health training in Greater Manchester in 2010.   

As Director of Public Health for Cheshire West and Chester, Ian led the borough-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic from the start. During the pandemic Ian was appointed to the Chair for the Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Collaborative and was the lead for the Cheshire Local Resilience Forum, providing strategic public health advice to the Strategic Co-ordinating Group for Cheshire and Warrington. 

Ian will continue in his role as Visiting Professor at the University of Chester.

Ian said: “I am delighted to be taking on this new position and looking forward to working with all of our partners to help promote prevention and tackle those difficult health inequalities that exist across Cheshire and Merseyside.

“My appointment will only further strengthen the great research and workforce links we have between the Universities, NHS and Local Authorities, that helps us to grow our future health and care professionals.”